Peace keeping: Oshiomhole lauds role of royal fathers

OKPEKPE - Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has lauded the contributions of traditional rulers to the peace and stability of the state, pledging his continued commitment to working with them in the interest of the people. Comrade Oshiomhole stated this at the weekend at the 10th installation anniversary of His Royal Highness, Peter Abalume Osigbemeh, the Onwueweko of Okpekpe Kingdom in Etsako East Local Government Area. According to him, ‘’let me assure your royal highnesses here present that we remain committed to working with traditional rulers and consulting them and carrying along. As we have seen in the first three years, when you listen to elders and you work with elders you will be better off. My relationship with the traditional institutions has translated to benefits for the good of the people.” The governor explained that his desire to construct the Okpekpe road was borne out of the need to give the people a sense of belonging. ‘’I appreciate communities and villages which are located in terrains such as yours and who have give up. I believe that the purpose of governance is make things happen”, adding that no human being created by God is condemned to positions in which progress is impossible. “If Nigerians are still wallowing in pain, poverty and hopelessness, it is because of crisis of governance and the failure of political leadership over the years” he noted. “As I drove through this terrain and I saw the road, I felt good that we been able to show that if you can think through it, you can achieve it and this is the evidence.” Governor Oshiomhole however, gave the credit of his achievements to the Oba of Benin, saying, “your royal highness, the person you should appreciate for this road is His Royal Majesty the Oba of Benin and the good people of Benin Kingdom, because the votes that brought me to office was the result of the massive support I enjoyed from Benin people and his Royal Majesty. If you look at the number of votes, the story is clear. Even with their rigging machine, they could not defeat us in Oredo, Ikpoba Okha and Egor all in the heart of Benin City and it is their support that has made me to deliver.” Earlier, the Clan Head of Okpekpe, HRH. Peter Osigbemeh said one of the major achievements of his reign was the attainment of peace in the community. “I want to use this opportunity to thank the governor for the construction of our road and I urge all my subjects at home and in Diaspora to mobilize and come July 14th 2012 to vote en-masse for the comrade governor. This is the only way we can thank him”, he said.