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The All Progressives Congress transition committee in Edo State and the state government, on Sunday, traded words over the recent recruitment of 4,000 teachers by the outgoing administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
A member of the APC transition committee Kassim Afegbua, described the recruitment as an attempt to overload the system.
However, the state government, through the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said Afegbua’s remarks were not only vacuous but also highlighted a lack of understanding of the current political landscape.
The Obaseki administration will hand over to the governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, on November 12.
The two transition committees were at odds over documents, with the APC committee accusing the government committee of employing delay tactics.
Afegbua, a former commissioner in the state, said the move by Obaseki to recruit 4,000 teachers was meant to lay booby traps for the incoming administration of Okpebholo.
In a statement, he said, “The recruitment of 4,000 teachers by the outgoing government of Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo state is an attempt to overload the system and lay booby traps for the in-coming administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“This has further confirmed our position that the EdoBest project was a hoax and not for the good of the Edo people nor its educational system. Governor Obaseki used the project for his self-interest; playing with the future of our children.
“The purported recruitment of 4,000 teachers by the outgoing governor is in bad faith. All through his active years as Chief Executive of Edo State, Governor Obaseki could not recruit any teacher to reinvigorate the educational interest of the state.
“We are, however, saddened by the sudden realisation in the twilight of his administration that the educational sector now needs teachers.
“It is pertinent to alert the public and particularly those allegedly recruited as teachers to disregard the exercise and see it as another political ploy by Obaseki, known for using EdoBest to allegedly deceive the citizens, the World Bank and other donor agencies.”
He added, “He only used the project for personal self-aggrandisement and that of his cronies.
If he meant well for the state, he ought to have done this recruitment long before now that his game was up.
“Recall how his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, had recruited 2,500 teachers at the twilight of his administration, which he flagrantly discontinued on assumption of office in 2016 out of hatred for those who helped him to power.
“The incoming administration of Senator Okpebholo will follow due process in the recruitment of teachers which he consistently promised throughout his campaign period.
“Senator Okpebholo will not recruit teachers with a partisan mind but with a determination to make Edo State better for our children.
“Playing politics with the recruitment of teachers will be the biggest disservice any governor will leave behind as a legacy.
But the government kicked back, saying that both Afegbua and the transition committee lacked understanding of the current political landscape in the state.
In a statement on Sunday, the commissioner said, “It is both laughable and concerning to witness the recent comments made by Kassim Afegbua, which seek to undermine the recruitment of dedicated teachers for Edo children.
“These educators are essential for advancing the transformative Edobest programme, which has made significant strides in improving educational standards in our state.
“Afegbua’s remarks are not only vacuous but also highlight a lack of understanding of the current political landscape. His statement is amusing on several fronts…
“It is important to remind Afegbua and his cohorts that, according to the Nigerian constitution, only one governor holds authority at any given time.
“Until November 12, they lack the power to influence policy decisions. Hence, their attempts to dictate educational policy are not only premature but also legally unfounded.”
He said the qualified teachers who had recently been engaged were not appointed on a whim, adding that they began the application process months ago, long before the recent elections.
“This demonstrates the commitment of the current administration to ensure that our educational system is staffed with competent professionals who are prepared to serve our children.
“The repeated vituperations from the APC suggest a deeper issue— they appear unprepared for the challenges ahead and are resorting to excuses to mask their potential failures.
“This pattern of behaviour is not conducive to fostering a constructive dialogue about education in Edo State.
“We urge the people of Edo, particularly teachers, parents, and students, to dismiss these unfortunate comments. It is crucial to recognize that our government is committed to upholding the constitution and prioritizing the welfare of our children over the whims of individuals,” Nehikhare said.
The development came as Obaseki, on Sunday, said with the support of teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector, the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation programme, and other reforms that had transformed the state’s education system would be sustained.
Obaseki gave the assurance at the Education Ecosystem Interdenominational thanksgiving service held at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, the state capital.
Noting that teachers in the state were the pillars on which his government’s reforms rested, Obaseki said with the gains recorded in the last eight years, the state would never go back to the era of educational system decay.
He said, “It’s almost impossible to kill a good idea. It will be difficult to kill EdoBEST as what you have started will be sustained. We started it with you and you own it. Never again will Edo go back to the era of 2016 where we started from.
“The idea of EdoBEST and the educational reform was not our doing but spiritually-driven. It’s your doing. The idea of our education will not die. I thank you teachers for all your efforts as you are the pillars on which our reforms are resting.
“It was clear from the beginning that if teachers are not trained, the children will not learn. We thank you because you didn’t reject our reforms and our training for you made our reforms possible.
“EdoBEST would not have been successful without the parents, teachers and communities, as they have contributed to the sustenance of the reforms. Our teachers are amazing as they have taken a personal interest in the lives of the children.”
Obaseki stated that “through the ecosystem,” his administration was able to “connect 15,000 teachers, 500,000 pupils in our schools and other tertiary institutions of learning. It connects with over one million citizens in the state. It shows how important this sector is to us, which was why we made it our priority,” among others.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Oviawe, thanked the governor, the teachers and other stakeholders in the state’s education sector.
