From Tony Osauzo, Benin From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Prince Bassey Edet Out (Cross River), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), yesterday, rapped up campaign for the Edo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa.
Addressing the party faithful at the University of Benin Indoors Sports Complex, Ugbowo Campus, Vice President Shettima, said that Edo needs a strategic thinker, builder and a man with a compassionate heart that can lead his people aright.
He said that intelligence is not determined by the size of the head, but by one’s ability to solve problems that affect the people.
Shettima added that he has absolute confidence in Senator Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
He urged the people of the state to come out in their large numbers to vote for the candidates of the APC on September 21.
Speaking also, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio said that he believes in the capacity of Okpebholo and his running mate, Idahosa to deliver on their electoral mandate.
He said that he doesn’t need somebody who can speak “grammar” but one who can perform.
Akpabio said that Okpebholo as a senator has been living up to his billings in the Senate, stressing that there is no doubt about his ability to deliver the dividends of democracy at all.
On his part, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, lampooned Governor Godwin Obaseki, saying that he has been insensitive to the plights of the people of the state, noting that there is nothing to write home about his eight years in office as governor.
He pointed out the markets that were burnt during his tenure none was rebuilt, rather the hospital and the state library have been converted into museum and a shopping mall.
On his part, the National Chairman of APC, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, said that the state has been mismanaged for the past eight years as it was marred with insecurity, unemployment and that it is time for them to take it back by voting the APC.
He said with the likes of Senator Okpebholo and his running mate, Idahosa, who are lawmakers, the state is in safe hands.
In his speech, the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Okpebholo, said he would employ 5,000 teachers within his 100 days in office as governor of the state.
He assured the market women of soft loans to boost their businesses just as he promised to build primary healthcare in the 192 wards in the state.
Earlier Ganduje received former Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Senator Francis Alimikhena and the former member representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama who decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC.
Also yesterday, the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, declared that the Edo September 21 governorship election will be a test for the country’s democracy, urging Nigerians to focus their eyes on the state.
Addressing a mega rally of the party at Garrick Memorial Secondary school in Benin City, attended by the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar and several PDP governors, Damagum said: “You have to kill or arrest all of us if you have to take this state.
“You may have gang, but we have God. To INEC, we don’t want that midnight result announcement. It is not a threat, but we will defend our votes with our blood”, promising that PDP would continue to give Edo good governance.
He later presented what he called “the flag of victory” to the governorship candidate of the party, Dr Asue Ighodalo.
Speaking, Governor Obaseki described the governorship election as “existential threat,” adding “this election is a do-or-die. If they do, we will die”.
On his part, the party’s Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphous Wabara, urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, not to announce results of the election until he is sure.
He urged the INEC boss to correct the wrongs of the 2023 general elections and go on a peaceful retirement.
Also speaking, former Vice President Atiku urged the Edo people to vote for the PDP, “defend and protect their votes”, saying that “PDP is winning next week”.
