I read through a recent paid advertisement authored by a factional chairman of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, entitled ìWorrisome State of Edo State Under Governor Adams Oshiomholeî, being excerpts from a hurried press conference he addressed on Friday June 26. His arguments should have been ignored but for the fact that they obviously rest on ingratitude, fantasy, exuberance and hallucination. It is unimaginable indeed that Orbih, who is a member of a party that presided over the near grounding of the state for 10 years, has suddenly found his voice. Where was he when the PDP made mincemeat of the stateís resources without offering any sop to the people?

To remedy the decades of lack of potable water, particularly in Edo North and Central, after successive administrations had paid only lip service to such a critical need, the Oshiomhole administration took the bold step of acquiring two Dando water drilling rigs that can strike water at a depth of up to 3,000 metres and make it available to the beleaguered citizens of the state. The public had for long depended mainly on rain harvesting and other unwholesome sources of mosquito-larva and guinea worm-infested water. But this move is being given unsavory interpretations by Orbih, just to score cheap political points.

It is sad that despite the swift transformation the state is witnessing through on-going road and other infrastructural projects within the less than two years of the Oshiomhole administration, Orbih and occupants of his sinking ship could not show any modicum of appreciation for this feat. It is a fact acknowledged across the state, even among reasonable PDP members, that Edo citizens are daily thanking God for giving the state an Oshiomhole to govern them as their servant leader.

In one breath, Orbih says Oshiomhole did not disclose the length of the roads awarded to contractors, and yet in another he gives the length of the roads? How then did he come by his figures? This gives him away as a liar, a man who talks shamelessly about the cost of the road projects and juggles figures he has no clear knowledge about. All over the world, good and endurable roads are expensive.

The quality of roads being constructed by the Oshiomhole administration is such that the roads will last for over thirty years before minor repairs are required. Check out the on-going work at Airport Road in Benin City, for instance: can such a road be compared to the hogwash of the PDP government that had held sway in the state for over ten years?

Orbih nailed his own political casket when he forayed into the education sector, where again Adams Oshiomhole has scored high marks despite the wicked setback caused the state by the Chief Tony Anenih-led PDP faction, using the State House of Assembly to sidestep the lofty plan of the Universal Basic Education, enunciated by the governor last year after securing counterpart funding to tap into the federal funds. But despite the frustrations unleashed by undesirable PDP elements, massive construction of modern classrooms blocks, renovation of dilapidated buildings and provision of instructional materials are now going on in many schools across the state. Some of the newly built classroom blocks fitted with state-of-the-art desks were recently unveiled by Oshiomhole at Idia College and Niger College, both in Benin City, to the delight of all.

In my considered view, lecturers of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU) have every right to down tools if they so wish, but the good news is that we have a responsible government that responded swiftly to their requests and did not allow their demands truncate teaching and learning in the university. But it is important to mention that AAU was in a sorry state under the irresponsible PDP government of the past years. We recall that that administration shut down AAU, Ekpoma for one academic year, claiming that the authorities were carrying out studentsí verification. Where was Dan Orbih at that time? Was he not in Edo State? Where was his voice?

It is heartwarming that the present administration in Edo is currently bringing sanity to bear on the educational sector of the state by fighting major vices such as examination malpractices and poor funding, beginning with the basic education level. Parents, teachers and students are daily testifying to the rapid restoration of lost values and glory in our educational system since Oshiomhole assumed duty. He was among the first to implement the new Teachers Salary Structure (TSS), which several PDP-controlled states have, till date, been unable to do.

It is interesting that Orbih mentioned the case of a certain Mrs. Mary Alugbe in Government Hospital, Agenegbode, who he rightly said was full of praises for the hospitalís Chief Medical Director, Dr. Monday Obamwonyi, for successfully operating on her at night with the aid of a torch light. While he tried in vain to make a mountain out a molehill, he cleverly left out the fact that the lethargy of the previous PDP government had caused the hospital to rot. It is now being massively refurbished. At least a sound doctor was available to achieve such a feat. Furthermore, the issue of electricity not being available during the operation is essentially a responsibility of the Federal Government. We are not aware that such function has been devolved to state governments. Even in Aso Rock Villa, power supply does fail. If the PDP-led Federal Government had addressed the problem of electricity in Nigeria over the last 11 years, Dr. Obamwonyi would not have had to use a flashlight to carry out a successful operation.

Regarding his scathing comments on the current realities in the Edo State House of Assembly, Orbih and anyone else who feels Zakawanu Garuba is still a member of the house or its speaker must be living in a foolís paradise. Zakawanu is gone. Not even 10 Anenihs or 20 enhanced Dan Orbihs can reverse this fact.

Unable to face up to the affront from a rival PDP faction, Orbihís reference to the recent touchdown of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at Benin Airport en route Delta State was laced with fantasy. He claimed that the Chief of Staff, Osarodion Ogie, ordered the management of Nigerian Observer, in a memo, to publish an advertisement placed by the PDPís acting chairman in the State, Chief Sunny Uyigue. Uyigue has publicly refuted the false claim by Dan Orbih by releasing an original copy of the receipt for the payment of the full-page advert published on the back page of Weekend Observer of June 19, 2010 by the more recognized PDP leader. The wind has now blown and exposed the fowlís rump.

Some pieces of advice may suffice for this upstart. We are aware Edo PDP now has over four factions. Orbih should take the lead in embarking on genuine reconciliation, as demanded by other factions, so that the party can forge a common front on the political turf and put its house in order. That is when he can learn the ropes from the more mature politicians, instead of continuing to swim in a crocodile-infested river.

Owegie is a chieftain of the Action Congress in Edo State.