Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday appealed to the citizens and residents of the state to support his administration as it works towards improving on achievements recorded during his first term.

Obaseki made the appeal after the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Esther Edigin, administered the oath of office to him and the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The governor and his deputy were sworn in to begin their second four-year term in office. The low-keyed ceremony was performed in strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocol.

Obaseki said, “What we need is what I call a unity template, with which to overcome our challenges.

“The unity template has the ability to help us respond to the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, to deal with our challenges of insecurity and underdevelopment and to put us on a path to Making Edo Great Again.

“We will also rapidly develop our critical security, energy, housing, education, digital and road infrastructure, which provides a framework to drive inclusive growth, as well as build the economy and drive industrialisation, trade and investment to solidify our state’s status as the choice investment destination in the country.

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“We will preserve the environment and public utilities, to make our state more functional and adapt to the challenges of climate change and rural-urban migration. Our major drive will be the clean and green Edo initiative and sustaining our campaign to plant trees and restore the forest.” Dignitaries who attended the event, included governors, clerics, friends and well-wishers  of the governor.

Meanwhile, tragedy was averted at the event when the Aide-de Camp to governor Obaseki collapsed on the podium while the governor was presenting his address.

The ADC, a Superintendent of Police, slumped but was saved from falling to the ground by two operatives of the Department of State Services, who guided him into a waiting ambulance for medical attention. He was reported to be in stable condition.