If really Edo people closely follow the story of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles in Edo State like me, they will realise one thing. It is that these vehicles may never arrive in the state before Obaseki leaves office on November 11, 2024.

Reason? The governor has not been serious with the CNG Project.

He merely dreams about it in rapid eye movements wishing that it comes into magical reality.

Yes, he only embarks on a trip of phantasmagoria with the idea of the CNG vehicles. No diligent soft and hard work and no intense meditation or contemplation to bring the laudable CNG vehicle idea into fruition.

The evidence. Recall, i wrote on how Obaseki is wasting our funds globe trotting begging foreign direct investors to come to industrialise Edo State without much success.

Yet some of such investors are at our backyard with low hanging industrial fruits pleading to be recognised and plucked!!

Behold, one of these investors is multibillionaire boss of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma. He left his comfort zone in the South- East of Nigeria in March 2021 for Edo State with his message of industrialization for Obaseki.

Chief Innocent Chukwuma came with a feasibility study on establishing a CNG vehicle assembly plant in Edo State.

Part of the report says that the clean energy automobile project will generate 1,500 visible, direct and indirect jobs – not the invisible; virtual, phantom and digital employment EDO JOBS is always glibly talking about.

Furthermore, the CNG Project will train Edo youths, not only on how to manufacture CNG, vehicle, but the scientific art of panel beating, auto mechanic, painting and electricals among others.

What a great industrial venture!! Well, has Obaseki delivered it? No.

Chief Innocent Chukwuma backed out of the CNG vehicle deal because he didn't get a fair bargain.

Simply, this is how Edo State lost a good opportunity of becoming an assembly 'hub' of CNG vehicles in 2021.

Had the project been allowed to birth in the state by Obaseki, the federal government would have placed request for the palliative CNG buses from the plant in Edo.

The government would have ordered the Edo plant to supply the 11,000 CNG buses it proposed on October 29, 2023 to make available for cheaper transportation in negotiations with the NLC and TUC as a palliative to the oil subsidy removal in May 29, 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.

Of course, the CNG Plant will be sustainable because Edo State is sitting on huge gas reserves. It has the largest onshore gas reserves in Nigeria as well as some gas resources off shore.

A case of a 'Prophet Inñocent' Chùkwuma not being accepted in his own country.

Obaseki tours the world announcing that Edo State is Africa's destination for investment. But he is unable to attract a CNG vehicle plant to the state from his backyard across the Niger where Chief Innocent Chukwuma resides.

In 2023, the federal government stated that it is planning to set up 7 CNG Conversion Centres in Nigeria. Methinks that had Obaseki been visionary, as he claims to be, and ensured that Innoson's CNG vehicle plant was set up; Edo State would have carved a niche for itself as a pioneer among all the 36 states in the automobile conversion world of entrepreneurship.

If you think Obaseki only set Edo State backwards by his lack of commitment to the CNG vehicle deal of Chièf Innocent Chukwuma, then wait for this shocking revelation.

There was s a plan bý Automotive Association of Nigeria to also bring auto industrialization to Edo State. A certificate of occupancy was allocated to the body to start business. However, later, the certificate was dramatically revoked in Nigerian Observer publication of May 19, 2021. The certificate was then given to a Lebanese restaurant entrepreneur.

How you are. Obaseki further moved in reverse gear from industrialization to retail commercialization.

On October 1, 2023 during his independence day speech the state governor disclosed that Edo State Government has placed orders for new CNG buses. He spoke in his usual official cryptic language without telling Edo people the cost, how many buses were ordered, from Innoson Motors or abroad, when they would arrive and when the bidding for the vehicles took place. Yet, the government claims that it is running an open; transparent and democratically inclusive administration.

Have the vehicles arrived No. After 9 months we are still waiting for the vehicles as if we ordered an aeroplane. Terrible!!

While the CNG buses are been impatiently awaited, Obaseki left Edo people in the dark about what is going on.. No explanation from him.

Journalists kept mute vigil on the issue forgetting the media rule book of following up and investigating such a human interest story instead of always only waiting for handout, photocopy 'Government said Reports'.

Well, BENDEL Mirror online newspaper didn't tarry like the others.. It followed the CNG buses' story.

As the paper did, it found out that Obaseki is no longer much interested in the buses and the role they will play in reducing the painful costs òf transportation in Edo State. His sights now are only on Edo Free Bus Ride Scheme now serviced with no additional buses but a depleting fleet of old, rickety buses for few commuters.

Much nore, it was discovered that the Obaseki administration has only futuristic plan for CNG buses.

This is because on October 17, 2023 Obaseki sent Mr kelvin Uwaibi – the managing director of Edo State Investment Promotion Office to reveal the state government's MOU with Foton Motor Group to set up a vehicle assembling and manufacturing plant in Edo State.

He boasted that Obaseki will bring into the state top brand vehicle manufacturers from China that will produce micro; light and heavy-duty CNG vehicles.

Obaseki directed Kelvin Uwaibi to make the disclosure without also informing him to give an update on the CNG vehicles that the administration placed orders for since October 1, 2023. Where are they?

Also, if Obaseki is authoritatively sincere with the deal, why did he send a junior aide to announce the MOU deal with Foton Motor Group? Aren't major policy decision assignments to lower official to announce with cinematographic funfair? Why all these CNG vehicle deceits end?

Yes, when will Obaseki end his merry- go- round trip to phantasmagoria on the CNG vehicles issue?