Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday alleged that a few individuals, whom he did not name, wanted him to share taxpayers’ money to them. Speaking in Benin during a courtesy visit by members of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) from the 18 local government areas of the state, he said no child would be denied quality education for the greed of some individuals “blackmailing me to share state’s resources.”

The government set up the SBMC across the state to help monitor and ensure success of its basic education reform in the state.

“The major concern of my administration is how to improve education in the state. Education is one of the biggest problems we need to address as a nation. The difference between developing and developed countries is education, knowledge, training and information.”

“People say we have done well by constructing roads, developing the state, but it is the least we have achieved as a government. To build human beings is most critical and enduring. That is what SBMC is helping us to achieve in transforming the education sector,” he said. Obaseki assured of his determination to transform the education sector despite the distractions from a few individuals who he said wanted him to share taxpayers’ money to them. “I keep wondering how some people see the development made in the state as nothing and are only concerned about their selfish interest. I am not ready to drop any child under Edo-BEST to feed the greed of any person. Edo must work and change, as nobody is greater than the people,” he said. (Daily Trust)