Oshiomhole Employs Edo Widow, Gives Her N2m

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday continued on the path of penitence when he offered employment to the widow, Mrs Joy Ifije, whom he upbraided last week, after her goods were seized by men of the state’s War Against Indiscipline (WAI), for obstructing the free flow of traffic in the state capital.

The governor who announced the job offer to the woman, in addition to a N2 million grant for her to get a shop and start off her business, said during a breakfast meeting with her at the Government House that her job would be to join the state’s WAI brigade in the campaign against street trading and to keep the state clean.

With the latest gesture by the governor, she has inadvertently been transformed from a common law breaker to a prized millionaire and has landed a job she never applied for.

The governor who repeated his apology to the widow said: “When you put your things (wares) on the road, a vehicle can run into you and they have killed some people like that and that was why I said if you are a widow do you want more people to be widowed? But when I said go and die, that one was said in a fit of anger. And I am really sorry,” he said.

He informed the woman that he would want her to join the WAI Brigade, adding, “We would employ you and pay you salary. You would help us to campaign to other women not to trade on roadsides.
“We should not use poverty as a yardstick. We would also talk to taxi and bus drivers not to block roads when carrying passengers.

“You will assist me to talk to women and traders not to litter the roads and sidewalks so that people walking and driving can have free roads. If they want to park, they can park properly so as not to disturb others.”

Oshiomhole pointed out that the state government was trying to change Benin City for the better, stating, “As you can see, Benin is becoming a modern city. So you should join us now and every month, begin to get a salary, so that you can look after your children.

“For your child who is preparing to enter into the university, my daughters and myself have agreed to support him. If he does well as we pray he does, he would assist the family. Maybe this is the way God wants it.

“That is why I asked them to look for you so that I can personally offer my apology, but also to support you, so that by God helping you, you can overcome the pain of widowhood.

“As a single mother, I want to see how I can help you to train your children and God can use any of them to become a leader of our country. Please resist the temptation to do anything that would break the law. The law is the law; it is no respecter of persons. If government does not enforce the law there would be confusion.”

The governor, who personally gave the woman a cash gift of N2 million, said: “In addition to working with the War Against Indiscipline, I am also giving you the sum of N2 million so that you can hire a shop, trade inside the shop and not roadside and I pray that God will bless your decision on how you utilise the money.

“This money is not for you to share or distribute but to help you as a working capital.”
Responding, Mrs. Ifijeh thanked the governor for the gesture and promised that she would be part of the fight to keep the city clean.

She apologised to the governor for blocking the road with her goods, saying she recognised that what she did was wrong, but observed that she did not know that the governor was on inspection that day.

According to her, she had been a victim of theft by a truck pusher who went away with her goods, a week before her encounter with the governor.

It was for this reason, she explained, she was on the road with her goods, as she no longer trusted truck pushers not to do away with her goods.

The harsh and uncouth comment by the governor to the widow has been a topical issue in the social media. It was also used as political capital by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which criticised Oshiomhole for his comment and went ahead to give her the sum of N250,000.

If i shld say GO AND DIE, plz dnt expect any 2million naira 4rm me.