In a momentous ceremony held at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki administered the oath of office to 9 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries.
He urged them to carry out their duties responsibly and emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration between the citizens and the government to achieve the vision of the administration’s “Making Edo Great Again” (MEGA) Agenda, aimed at fostering a progressive and prosperous state.
The newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries are Iryn Omorogiuwa, Efosa Aisien, Nyamali Erumuse, Igbinomwanhia Abieyuwa, Imoihosen Oziegbe, Peter Osagie, Sabina Chikere, Osawemwenze Kayode-Iyasere, and Bernard Aigbe.
Governor Obaseki stated, “I urge all of you to be dedicated in the discharge of your duties. I want you to work together as a team. We will not accept you engaging in politics. You are not the political heads of these departments and ministries; leave politics for politicians and do your jobs as professionals.”
He further emphasized, “A lot of work has been done. We expect you to align with our MEGA Agenda and improve whatever we have achieved if you think it’s not sufficient. You are not coming to reinvent the wheel and start from scratch; no, you are not. There is a MEGA Agenda, and we all need to align with that agenda so that we can reach our destination much faster than planned.”
The governor clarified that these appointments were based on merit and track records rather than political affiliation. He issued a stern warning to detractors, urging them to refrain from spreading disunity and disharmony among the people. The governor’s administration will not tolerate the antics of political detractors who thrive on creating controversies and divisions where none exist.
“We will not allow ourselves to be divided again. Edo is one; whether you are from Edo South, Edo Central, or Edo North, Edo is one. So, when people attempt to create divisions where they don’t exist, we must ignore them,” Governor Obaseki asserted.
He continued, “They spread lies; they fabricate data and figures where none exist simply because they want to keep dividing and manipulating us. But now they have encountered a government that refuses to be divided.”
Governor Obaseki called on those benefitting from the divisions to find another business as his administration is committed to maintaining unity. He emphasized the need for the people of Edo to organize themselves effectively and rely on their internal resources.
Mr. Bernard Aigbe, speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries, expressed gratitude to the governor for their appointments and pledged not to disappoint in their duties. Aigbe also commended the governor for providing 24-hour electricity to all government offices through the Ossiomo Power initiative, stating that their appointment was a call to further contribute to the state’s development.
