THE determination of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to finish strong was recently acknowledged by a federal government agency with an award of ‘Digital Governor of the Year’ in the field of public automation and e-governance.
Consequently, a prominent Edo PDP leader, Hon. Henry Duke Tenebe has congratulated the governor on this well-deserved honour, emphasizing that Gov Obaseki’s style of governance is particularly unique and people-oriented.
In his congratulatory message, Hon. Tenebe highlighted Governor Obaseki’s bold efforts in reforming the state civil service and other sectors of the Edo economy, despite facing opposition from certain political and business elites.
He stressed that these reforms have yielded positive results and are manifestly evident in the ease of doing business, land registration, procurement of land certificates, and civil service efficiency.
Hon. Tenebe further noted that Edo State ranks highly on the ease of doing business list due to Governor Obaseki’s efforts to change the state’s narrative, especially by embracing digital technology in government operations.
He added that the award serves as a testimony to the governor’s commitment to leave behind a better Edo State as well as his desire to finish strong.
Hon. Tenebe also referenced the outcome of the recent Edo governorship election, asserting that the outgoing governor was betrayed by an array of political figures who brutally interfered with the electoral process and fraudulently subverted the will of the Edo people.
He, however, reiterated the outgoing governor’s determination to ensure a worthy successor and emphasized that the “stolen mandate” will be reclaimed and restored to its rightful owner in due time.
It is important to note that the people of Edo State have embraced the idea of e-governance at the insistence of the outgoing governor as well as the widespread use of modern techniques and technology in governance.
Gov Obaseki was chosen for an award by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) due to his commitment to transparency, broad reforms across various sectors, and the use of digital technology in government operations.
The BPSR, which was established by the federal government under the Presidency, aims to bring about accelerated reforms in the country’s public service.
The BPSR expressed great satisfaction with the significant impact of the governor’s reforms, noting that the state has transitioned from an outdated and manual system to a digital and technology-driven one.
Edo State is one of the first in the country to adopt a digital approach to land administration.
