Expressing his Kingdom’s readiness to partner with the Edo state government for development, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has assured Governor Godwin Obaseki of his support and also praised him for the inauguration of the committee on the Gelegele project.
According to Ceoafrica, the 39th monarch of the Benin Kingdom spoke at the Government House in Benin, the Edo state capital, after a closed door meeting with the governor, where he hinted that issues of mutual cooperation were discussed.
The Benin monarch said he was passionate about the establishment of the proposed Export Free Processing Zone in Gelegele, Ovia North East Local Government of the state.
The Benin monarch said further that instead of Gelegele Seaport, he chose to focus on Export Free Zone because he was so advised by experts, adding that he and governor Obaseki also discussed roads that will link up with the Export Free Zone and the Gelegele Seaport among other things.
According to him, “I am passionate about the Export Free Processing Zone. That is what the Federal Government will easily accept. The Gelegele seaport will be tied to the Export Free Processing Zone project for the evacuation of proceeds”.
The Oba said the governor is not just a politician, but also a technocrat as he was described, advising him to match his words with action as he has always done.
On his part, Governor Obaseki informed the monarch that he has made difficult but necessary decisions in the 70 days of his administration.
Obaseki said he dealt with the issue of financial and fiscal responsibility by producing a budget proposal that would take the state out of the current economic challenges.
Obaseki said he has secured several investors’ confidence in China to come and invest in different sectors in the state.
He said he would soon send a bill criminalising activities of Community Development Associations in the state to the state House of Assembly,
The governor noted that without proper land administration, his administration would not able to create the 200,000 jobs it promised.
In his words: “In the last 70 days, we have been able to take difficult but necessary decisions.
“We are dealing with issue of financial and fiscal responsibility.
“We look at the future and current situations we are facing and we produced a budget we believe will take us out of economic challenges.”