By El-ameen Ibrahim
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, aka AI, has rolled out his strategic vision to move the state forward in sustainable development and progress.
Speaking on the theme: Pathway to Prosperity for All, Ighodalo shared his thoughts about what Nigeria needs to focus on.
The governorship candidate stated this during a fundraising dinner in Lagos organized by Corporate Nigeria for AI made up of investment bankers, financiers, legal practitioners as well as private sector leaders within and outside Edo.
The event was an opportunity for Ighodalo to showcase what his vision for the state would be.
A leading legal luminary and one of the best corporate Nigeria offers, Ighodalo stated that his foray into politics is borne out by the need to translate his radical thinking into impacting positively on the lives of the Edo people.
With his international networks and years of experience, he is going to reveal the state’s uniqueness and use it properly to change raw talents into worthwhile material.
He acknowledged that Edo has always been a reference point in Nigeria for its rich heritage but Aluyi, the home of Ighodalo’s father’s lineage, stood as an argument against some arguments. He stated that he would inherit and build on the legacy of Governor Godwin Obaseki in good education, healthcare, agriculture other key sectors of the economy.
He praised Obaseki’s Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation programme (EdoBEST), which revitalized primary and secondary education, consistently placing Edo among the top-ranking states in Nigeria for basic education.
Additionally, Obaseki’s efforts in the health sector, including upgraded primary healthcare centers, the reconstruction of the Edo School of Nursing, and the launch of the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme, were highlighted.
Ighodalo also recognized the Obaseki administration’s accomplishments in agriculture, the economy, civil service reforms, and the Edo Master Plan.
The creation of the Alagodaro Summit, which facilitated stakeholder dialogue on the state’s challenges and promoted economic prosperity, was another key achievement.
Despite these successes, Ighodalo believes Edo’s full potential remains untapped.
He pledged to build on Obaseki’s initiatives and propel the state toward unprecedented prosperity.
“Given the enormous social and macro-economic challenges we face in Nigeria today, we cannot afford to gamble with our collective future and the destiny of our children by electing leadership that is incapable of addressing key developmental challenges with competence and vision,” he said.
Ighodalo outlined a comprehensive action plan aimed at creating a prosperous future that honors Edo State’s rich heritage and unlocks its full potential.
His prosperity agenda centers on key areas, starting with security, law, and order as the foundation for growth. He plans to enhance police support, employ technology, and restore core values to maintain peace and stability. Ighodalo also emphasized the importance of job creation, the provision of essential social amenities, and economic growth through industrialization and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Additionally, he promised to prioritize good governance by ensuring transparency and accountability in public finances, while also focusing on environmental protection.
Key aspects of Ighodalo’s vision include achieving state and local government policing, establishing food banks, promoting locally-made Edo products, increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
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His agenda also aims to support the elderly, advocate for women’s rights, empower youth and students, and uplift various stakeholders including traditional rulers, civil servants, farmers, and teachers.
Ighodalo’s commitment to Edo communities is not new. He has previously contributed to the provision of social amenities such as electricity and road construction, scholarships for students, support for widows, medical outreaches, and assistance for the less privileged in the state.
His vision is to build a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Edo, where every citizen has the opportunity to contribute to the common good.
In his opening remarks, Eric Idiahi, Group Chief Executive Officer of EverCorp Industries, described Corporate Nigeria for AI as a group of forward-thinking leaders committed to addressing national challenges. He emphasized that the future of Edo and Nigeria relies on leadership that not only recognizes but actively engages with the private sector as a vital partner in progress.
“Our businesses are more than just economic engines. They are essential to solving the complex problems we face from fostering sustainable development, creating jobs, and driving innovation,” Idiahi said. “What unites the members of the group is the belief in Ighodalo’s leadership and understanding that good governance in any part of Nigeria has a ripple effect on the entire nation. Ighodalo is not just another candidate, but a leader who embodies integrity, humility, and a deep commitment to public service.
“With decades of experience in law, finance, boardroom, and public service, Ighodalo has demonstrated a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of Edo. But more than his impressive resume, his passion for people is evident in every aspect of his life and work. He will continue from where Obaseki stopped, and take it further.”
Others praised his fearlessness, dedication to long-term friendship, hard effort, generosity, and devotion to quality and result-driven potential.
Ighodalo’s wife, Ifeyinwa, described his significant other as, “The most amazing heart I have ever met. He has overwhelming passion and love for people. He doesn’t have to know you. He doesn’t see class. Everybody is the same to him. He will do for the lowest as he would do for the highest. He gives and he keeps giving.”
The guber candidate, she added, applies his heart in whatever he does and has a great commitment to supporting women and the youth.
“He wants the best for everyone. I am not allowed to say this, because I am his wife. But I agree that my people of Edo will be blessed to have Ighodalo at the helm of affairs. I should stop here, but I am going to add, to continue the very good work Obaseki and his wife have been doing in Edo. The transformation has been amazing,” she said.
On his part, Governor Obaseki thanked Corporate Nigeria for AI for coming out to support the campaign.
He said, “This is to thank you very much for coming out tonight to support your own. Ighodalo will be a good governor. You know, he will perform as a governor, because he not only has the experience in terms of governance and building businesses. He has been part of the Edo project from the beginning, since 2006. So, he understands where we have been and how we got to where we are today.”
The governor urged everyone present to contribute to the fund-raising efforts needed to assist the Ighodalo campaign. According to him, money would be needed to pay for election-related expenses and make sure that party agents were organized to carry out their duties on election day.
At the gathering, some ardent supporters of Ighodalo taunted PDP fifth columnists and politicians to jeopardize setting fire to some PDP states so that Edo would attempt to meet its burden.
“We dare PDP ‘unfaithful’ and saboteurs, who play chess with the party, to try Edo and see what fire does with the ear of a stubborn rat. Edo is not like any other South-South state that can be used to trade political favors. They are doing it in Rivers and they have planted their relations to superintend over the Edo election, but we are here for them,” one of the participants said.
Another participant noted that Edo people “cannot trust” the party that wanted to take the state by crook after Obaseki’s first term, by trying to pull the rug off his feet, with the welfare of the Heartbeat of the Nation.
Ighodalo expressed his gratitude to the group for their support and kind gesture, urging them to further support his campaign financially.
He noted that while he has made significant contributions to the growth of the private sector, winning the Edo gubernatorial election would provide him with a greater opportunity to positively impact over 5.2 million lives.
Ighodalo also encouraged private sector leaders to either run for office themselves or support capable candidates to help guide governance at all levels toward success.
“Governor Obaseki has laid a good foundation in Edo, attracting $5.2bn to the state. It will be sad to allow someone that will take the state 50 years back to succeed him. I need your financial support to stop that from happening and to sustain the great works done by the present administration in Edo.”
