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We start with a question lobbed at @GovernorObaseki about jobs.
Obaseki responds sensibly by talking about the role of Govt as a business enabler. Talks about increasing flights into Benin from 1 airline to 8.
Doesn’t talk about the modular refinery or Ossiomo power plant.
Obaseki responds sensibly by talking about the role of Govt as a business enabler. Talks about increasing flights into Benin from 1 airline to 8.
Doesn’t talk about the modular refinery or Ossiomo power plant.
Asked the same question, @PastorIzeIyamu launches into a scathing attack on national TV on the falsification of job numbers that indicts Obaseki & @nigerianstat.
He claims the ‘jobs’ were just training positions; that there are no teachers in schools or doctors in hospitals
He claims the ‘jobs’ were just training positions; that there are no teachers in schools or doctors in hospitals
“Out of 10 graduates, 8 are unemployed! To continue to pretend and give fake stataistics does not help matters” - POI states with authority, giving no source to his own job numbers.
Will he be called out on this? This debate will be spicy!!!
Will he be called out on this? This debate will be spicy!!!
@seunokin asks POI “how will YOU create jobs?”
Brandishing his manifesto, POI continues where he left off in the BBC Debate. His big plan is to create 10,000 vigilante jobs to ‘secure the State’ & invest ‘massively’ in infrastructure projects that will be executed by Edo people.
Brandishing his manifesto, POI continues where he left off in the BBC Debate. His big plan is to create 10,000 vigilante jobs to ‘secure the State’ & invest ‘massively’ in infrastructure projects that will be executed by Edo people.
GGO counterpunches beautifully when Seun gives him a minute for his rebuttal.
“ @BusinessDayNg conducted an independent survey and the NBS shows that unemployment dropped from 25% to 19%. These are not my numbers; and they are verifiable.”
“ @BusinessDayNg conducted an independent survey and the NBS shows that unemployment dropped from 25% to 19%. These are not my numbers; and they are verifiable.”
“We have created jobs, but it is the private sector that must take the lead. Govt’s role is to leverage, to attract more resources. We can never have the resources we need to do all we need to do, so our role is to attract these scarce resources to the state.” - Obaseki
Conversation moves to COVID-19 economies and taxation. POI is asked how he will handle taxation.
“We need to abolish multiple taxation at FG, State & LG levels; we also need to streamline tax collection. They claim to have abolished agbero a but I can name many in Govt’s employ”
“We need to abolish multiple taxation at FG, State & LG levels; we also need to streamline tax collection. They claim to have abolished agbero a but I can name many in Govt’s employ”
“We also need to widen the tax net. When people see what we are using their taxes for, more people will be encouraged to pay taxes. We will also invest in agriculture, diversify the economy & when we do that govt revenues will rise naturally.
Taxes will however not be punitive”
Taxes will however not be punitive”
Great delivery from POI on this answer. Sounds and looks the part.
The spotlight turns to GGO, who’s reveals that the bulk of Edo’s tax receipts are PAYE, and he is working to get more corporates into the tax net.
He also talks about automating street level tax collection...
The spotlight turns to GGO, who’s reveals that the bulk of Edo’s tax receipts are PAYE, and he is working to get more corporates into the tax net.
He also talks about automating street level tax collection...
...so thugs are bypassed & revenue flows directly into govt coffers. “Unlike the last admin, we have said NO to non-state actors collecting tax on behalf of Govt.
I will not allow lions and tigers to collect taxes in Edo State.”
This line gets some applause from the audience.
I will not allow lions and tigers to collect taxes in Edo State.”
This line gets some applause from the audience.
Ah! Seun just asked a question POI’s people have been asking in Whatsapp groups: “how much exactly did Edo state invest in the modular refinery?” 
Surprisingly GGO stutters through this one. Basically Edo State has invested about N700m in a N3.5bn refinery to help create jobs
Surprisingly GGO stutters through this one. Basically Edo State has invested about N700m in a N3.5bn refinery to help create jobs
His argument for the investment is that he wants to take advantage of the FG’s states policy of allowing indigenous communities generate wealth from minerals extracted from their communities. There will be 2 phases & the 1st phase is at 90% completion.
POI is itching to talk
POI is itching to talk
Seun asks POI what his thoughts are about the refinery.
POI states that his SIMPLE agenda in 2016 mentioned building a refinery. He then smugly expresses his happiness that GGO admitted that it was an APC initiative to set up refineries & not his idea. The audience laughs
POI states that his SIMPLE agenda in 2016 mentioned building a refinery. He then smugly expresses his happiness that GGO admitted that it was an APC initiative to set up refineries & not his idea. The audience laughs
Sadly POI then goes off on another of his fantasy claims:
The Project is $10m. Edo invested $1.5m.
That’s 15% of the project cost.
POI claims (with authority) that Govt’s share in the project is 1%
The Project is $10m. Edo invested $1.5m.
That’s 15% of the project cost.
POI claims (with authority) that Govt’s share in the project is 1%
POI’s delivery is again done with a confidence & authority that masks the vacuity of his message. If debates are performative, POI is bedazzling the audience.
He continues making a convincing argument that with the impending deregulation of the oil sector, he would’ve done more.
He continues making a convincing argument that with the impending deregulation of the oil sector, he would’ve done more.
The topic switches to debt. Edo’s foreign debt has shrunk much faster than domestic debt. Seun unsurprisingly asks GGO about domestic debt.
Obaseki immediately throws Oshiomole under the bus. He claims the former Gov borrowed “recklessly” and that the debt Seun referred to was..
Obaseki immediately throws Oshiomole under the bus. He claims the former Gov borrowed “recklessly” and that the debt Seun referred to was..
...not new debt, but just debt restructured by the FG to the tune of N30bn in addition to unpaid contractor debts of about N70bn
*Crowd shouts on cue*
“Coming from finance, I know it’s not the quantum of debt; it’s what you use the debt to procure”
*Crowd bursts into applause*
*Crowd shouts on cue*
“Coming from finance, I know it’s not the quantum of debt; it’s what you use the debt to procure”
*Crowd bursts into applause*
POI no wan hear that talk.“Where you not the Economic Adviser in the previous admin? Sometimes you seem to forget the role you played.”
He does have a point, but when asked this same question about the failure of an admin he served in he said the buck stopped with the Gov.
Oh my Gawd! See attack. POI accuses GGO of having taken and wasted over N75bn in agriculture loans; and other numerous donor agency funds.
Where are the projects? What did you use our money for? POI yells.
It’s a vicious attack. The camera pans to a smiling Obaseki.
Where are the projects? What did you use our money for? POI yells.
It’s a vicious attack. The camera pans to a smiling Obaseki.
*ad break*
Back in an hour folks. Daddy duty calls.
Back in an hour folks. Daddy duty calls.
Annnnnd we’re back!
Seun: Mr. Gov, is the Edo State Civil Service overbloated, especially as Govts the world over are cutting expenditure because of COVID? Are you going to cut the work force?
Days to an election you’re asking if a governor will sack people? Dumb question.
Seun: Mr. Gov, is the Edo State Civil Service overbloated, especially as Govts the world over are cutting expenditure because of COVID? Are you going to cut the work force?
Days to an election you’re asking if a governor will sack people? Dumb question.
GGO’s response highlights what I mean by POI’s style vs GGO’s substance.
Obaseki knows this thing; he answers the question with a depth of detail you would expect from a technocrat. But he does so in a way that doesn’t inspire confidence.
Watch.
Obaseki knows this thing; he answers the question with a depth of detail you would expect from a technocrat. But he does so in a way that doesn’t inspire confidence.
Watch.
Asked the same question, POI responds with bombast and bluster. His claims are false: Edo’s security vote has not increased by 100%; the state has teachers, doctors and nurses.
He also seems to have discovered a strategy: when in doubt, confidently attack your opponent.
He also seems to have discovered a strategy: when in doubt, confidently attack your opponent.
Fed up with the unending stream of propaganda, GGO offers a word of advice to POI.
He says Edo generates about N100bn a year, so POI’s plans are unrealistic; which is why Govt must become an enabler of business.
He also asks POI to calm down with the fake news.
He says Edo generates about N100bn a year, so POI’s plans are unrealistic; which is why Govt must become an enabler of business.
He also asks POI to calm down with the fake news.
On to the next topic: Security.
We’re in the second half of the debate and POI’s energy level seems to be dropping, perhaps to match his understanding of security architecture and crime-fighting.
He really loves the idea of his own vigilante army sha.
We’re in the second half of the debate and POI’s energy level seems to be dropping, perhaps to match his understanding of security architecture and crime-fighting.
He really loves the idea of his own vigilante army sha.
Expectedly Obaseki answers with a little more nuance, and directly bats away the pesky claim that he increased his security vote.
Also slips in the promise that under his watch lions and tigers will have no place in Edo state.
A smart man, but not a natural orator.
Also slips in the promise that under his watch lions and tigers will have no place in Edo state.
A smart man, but not a natural orator.
On kidnapping, POI says he will invest in a tracker, so when kidnappers call for their ransom you can locate them.
Obaseki reluctantly says the state has a tracker but that there are some security issues you do not discuss in a nationally televised debate.
Obaseki reluctantly says the state has a tracker but that there are some security issues you do not discuss in a nationally televised debate.
On State police, POI thinks a state-paid vigilante will do for now; Obaseki is firmer in his belief that state police will improve security in the state, across the states, although he recognizes that issues and concerns around abuse must be addressed.
Seun jumps to Education, and we can a rare, begrudging admission from POI that Obaseki has done some work in the education sector.
But bad belle no wan let the man be great; he had to find a way to (falsely) criticize the EDOBEST education Programme.
But bad belle no wan let the man be great; he had to find a way to (falsely) criticize the EDOBEST education Programme.
Obaseki bores us with another technically sound answer about his brilliant EDOBEST educational programme that has equipped teachers and students with the digital tools they need to teach and learn at the highest levels.
I will not bore you with a video.
I will not bore you with a video.
On Healthcare. Can I confess something? This is fast becoming a low-quality debate.
POI is asked about what he would do about brain drain in the healthcare sector. This was his response.
POI is asked about what he would do about brain drain in the healthcare sector. This was his response.
Obaseki comes in with a confident response to the healthcare question
First he explains his understanding of Govt’s role, then he unveils his game-changing health insurance scheme.
The bit about telemedicine sounds a bit fancy sha; maybe he needs to sign an MOU with @DRO_Health
First he explains his understanding of Govt’s role, then he unveils his game-changing health insurance scheme.
The bit about telemedicine sounds a bit fancy sha; maybe he needs to sign an MOU with @DRO_Health
Asked about why he moved to the PDP, Obaseki gives a surprisingly candid answer.
He continues to strike me as an competent technocrat and accidental politician; and I feel that’s not a bad thing at all.
I like this man.
He continues to strike me as an competent technocrat and accidental politician; and I feel that’s not a bad thing at all.
I like this man.
Conversely, POI’s answer left a bad taste in my mouth.
“I am very thankful to God that I have a better platform...”
Better, how?
There also issues around his proud claim that his 2016 manifesto is unchanged...4 years later...in the middle of a pandemic...
“I am very thankful to God that I have a better platform...”
Better, how?
There also issues around his proud claim that his 2016 manifesto is unchanged...4 years later...in the middle of a pandemic...
And so we get to the end of this dreary debate.
The candidates now get to ask each other questions. @PastorIzeIyamu goes first, and asks about Sobe Farms. He falsely claims that Gov. Obaseki spent N2bn, then asks GGO to respond ‘factually’.
The candidates now get to ask each other questions. @PastorIzeIyamu goes first, and asks about Sobe Farms. He falsely claims that Gov. Obaseki spent N2bn, then asks GGO to respond ‘factually’.
Obaseki gets his turn & asks how POI hopes to raise the funds for the N500bn that will be required in the first year to finance the projects in his manifesto.
I say without bias, that Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s response here at the end of this debate highlights his unfitness for office.
I say without bias, that Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s response here at the end of this debate highlights his unfitness for office.
So that’s all folks. As a measure of fitness for office/capacity to govern, Obaseki towers head & shoulders about POI.
As a debater, POI is the more gifted speaker, but he was let down by his lack of ideas.
My winner? @GovernorObaseki
#BetterWithPDP
#EdoGovernorshipDebate
As a debater, POI is the more gifted speaker, but he was let down by his lack of ideas.
My winner? @GovernorObaseki
#BetterWithPDP
#EdoGovernorshipDebate
