A Secured Environment, Steady Power Supply, Panaceas for Sustainable Development

A secured environment, steady power supply, panaceas for sustainable development

By: Oriaifoh Godwins 

 Honourable Peter Eboh, an All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain in Edo state, has revealed that, for any meaningful development to be achieved and sustained in Edo state, the security of lives and properties as well as a steady supply of power are germaine. Hon. Eboh made this clear recently in a chat with a team of Journalists in Benin, Edo state. He said the lingering security challenges in Edo state, as well as the epileptic power supply has been a cog in the wheels of development in the state in particular and in the country in general. According to him, the fixing of these two areas, will automatically set the stage for the effectiveness of other sectors of the economy. Hon. Eboh, who harped on the extensive use of the vigilante and Neighborhood Watch security networks in addition to the already existing/conventional ones, said the Vigilante group and the Neighborhood Watch security networks, because of their closeness to the people at the grassroots, if properly trained and managed, will keep hoodlums at bay. He said not only will information gathering be effective, identification of strange faces as well as connivers in the midst of the local people will also be easier. This done, travellers, farmers as well as artisans will be free to move around to carry out their activities without fear, saying the absence of a safe environment and power supply impede the realization of the full potential of the people. Speaking on the youth, Hon. Eboh said; "...Edo youths are one of the most vibrant, innovative, hard-working and resilient youths in Nigeria, however, the absence of enabling environment just as I earlier enumerated, has been and still is a major challenge in the actualisation of their full potentials". He added that, a proper coordination of the youths in ensuring that those with skills are provided with the requisite tools to enable them set up their enterprises, will take many out of the vicious circle of poverty. Hon. Eboh who said gone are the days when the youths depended on the government for employment, said: youths that provide goods and services that are needed by the people are better off today. Hon. Eboh, who condemned the compulsory vaccination of people as mandated by the government of Mr. Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, added that people would have voluntarily come out to take the Covid-19 vaccines, but for the controversies trailing the vaccines, a lot of people are apprehensive. He said a lot needs to be done by the world leaders and manufacturers of the vaccines in allaying the fears that are currently being entertained by the people on the vaccine, adding that, it sounds absurd for any government to force the people to take a vaccine that ordinarily is expected to be in the people's interest, especially when a competent court of law has ruled against such. Finally, in his assessment of the performances of Mr. Obaseki and President Buhari governments, he clearly pointed out that they have both scored below average as their performances is far below the yearnings of the people.