PDP says Obaseki has failed to fulfill 200,000 jobs promise

Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Orbih, has blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government under Governor Godwin Obaseki for the poverty, hunger and neglect of youths in the state.

He said the state government’s failure to fulfill it campaign promise of creating 200,000 jobs for the youths was responsible for the massive migration of Edo people to Libya and other countries in search of greener pastures.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Benin City, Orbih noted that Edo people were experiencing extreme poverty, hunger and neglect due to Obaseki’s failure to fulfill his campaign promises of providing 200,000 jobs to Edo youths.

Orbih also alleged that the economic challenges and security issues faced in Edo were as a result of Obaseki’s failure to fulfill his promises.

He lamented the alleged waste of public funds on protocol, entertainment and beautification, particularly the proposed planting of flowers at the cost of N1 billion in the city centre in the 2018 budget.

Obaseki recently signed the 2018 budget of N150b as passed by the state House of Assembly.

The PDP Chairman also faulted the budget and accused the governor of allocating huge sums to sectors, which the party considered outrageous in the budget.
Orbih, who frowned at the increment of the budget by the state House of Assembly and Obaseki’s speedy assent, described the budget as a budget of padding and deceit.

But in a swift reaction to the PDP’s allegations, Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, in a statement, said 2018 budget was realistic.

“It was designed to propel economic growth. The PDP couldn’t appreciate the plans and initiatives contained in the budget because it was still stuck in primitive politics and a system that glorifies avarice,” the statement reads.

Osagie, added that the budget has been hailed by experts in the development and academic circles, as well as civil society for its focus on fortifying growth enabling sectors of the economy and its forthrightness.