By Frank Momoh
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has taken a swipe at the opposition candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, noting that his manifesto, Simple Agenda, cannot solve complicated problems facing the state.
Ize-Iyamu’s road map through his SIMPLE Agenda, the governor noted cannot solve the uncertainties thrown up by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and low revenue caused by sliding crude oil prices.
The governor made the submission during a debate organised by the British Broadcasting Service (BBC) via zoom for candidates of three political parties ahead of the poll scheduled for September 19, 2020.
He noted that the Simple Agenda was not only defective as it was out of synch with prevailing realities, but that the supposed proponent, Ize-Iyamu lacked cognate experience to understand the intricacies of economics and public policy, as he had no real work experience and only played politics all his working life.
“When someone is proposing a simple agenda for a complicated problem, he would not know where to start from. You do not diversify an economy in two months. This is what you get when you do not have proper working experience. He hasn’t done much in life except politics.”
The governor noted that a lot of work goes into diversifying an economy, which includes creating the right environment for businesses to thrive; providing electricity to power industries and providing support to drive agricultural development.
The governor had earlier excused himself to attend to an important matter of state before joining back to continue the debate. The deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Comr. Philip Shaibu, was initially penciled down to continue the debate but the APC candidate protested.
On the governor’s return, he listed how the government prioritised primary healthcare in the state to ensure healthcare services are easily accessed by those in rural areas, noting that the strategy would ensure that the state meets the basic health need of the citizens