For immediate Press Release
The CONCERNED EDOS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA met this day to review and express our concerns regarding the matter on hand; namely: that His Excellency Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomohole, governor of Edo State, Nigeria, intends to sell “Edo House” property situated at 1225 Ahmadu Bello Way, and 1225 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
We are informed that other groups of Edo indigenes and well meaning individuals at home and abroad have expressed their candid opinions, objecting to the move of the governor to dispose of the said property.
Our group, the CONCERNED EDOS IN USA views this matter as a serious one and wishes to join other Edos all over the world in expressing our objection to the intent of the governor to sell the said property.
We the people of Edo State are in chagrin while seeing and experiencing the political leaders of our state dispose of government properties, one administration after another. This trend has become a pattern, and should be stopped forthwith! The state ought to be establishing more of such “Edo Houses” in other strategic places in Nigeria, not only for administrative facilitation, but also as a means of revenue, and a necessary mark of our presence in those places.
The Edo House in question is a historical landmark. It is one among many other State Houses which were built in the same terrace by former state governments when Nigeria had only twelve states. It will be a serious historical breach to sell such a “landmark” for reasons that deny our identity-significance and heritage, at the terrace where we have dwelt with other states, since decades!
Edo people need to see the economic justification in the move of the governor. That is, the financial records of the management of the said property for the last five years should be made public. This will enable all well-meaning people to review, evaluate, and make their judgments on this issue. At the onset of the discussions on the governor’s intent to sell this house, a prominent lawyer in Lagos, posted that he has been a tenant in that building and has paid his rentals down the years. This testimony certainly negates the notion that the property in question is not revenue-viable. This is the more reason that the financial records should be made public.
When the financial records become public information, and it is obvious that the property has been mismanaged and running at a loss, our group would recommend that the State lease it out to capable licensed estate brokers, who will manage it to our advantage.
While the governor is commended for advertising the sale of the house in public, it is absurd that the chief executive would justify his intention by referring to past administrations selling government properties without formal advertisements. Edo people cannot accept the wrong deeds of past leaders as the standard of expectations of their present leaders. The governor ought to disclose those instances of government property sales, who sold them, how they were sold, and what they were sold for! This information will give our people a better understanding about the issues surrounding government property sales.
From ancestry, Edos have emphasized “prosperity” in their chain of prayers, including:
Emwin nu mwen u ghaa mwen ba; igho nu mwen u ghaa mwen ba; emon nu mwen u ghaa mwen ba; owa nu mwen u ghaa mwen ba; U ghi de ghe iyeke; U ghi ru ghe okhie; Isee, Isee, Isee.
Interpreted in short, this chain of prayers wishes the individual to be blessed more in wealth by the increase in more money, children and houses; never to regress, never to dwindle! This is a prayer for all times! It is a prayer urging the governor NOT to sell Edo House. Edo people don’t want to, and don’t need to lose, anymore. Edo House should not be sold!
Signed
Oboma Asemota , MD
Kienuwa Obaseki, PhD
Godwin Ighile
Emmanuel Obanor, MD
Rev. Stephen Aghahowa, PhD
Issued by
Coordination Center
Concerned Edos in the U.S.A
3053 Turnberry Lane
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: 734-973-6844, 773-587-9339, Fax: 734-973-6844
