…says nationwide protest unnecessary
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 21 election in Edo state, Monday Okpebholo, stated that he avoids speaking carelessly to prevent lying to the electorate, saying he prefers to communicate with Edo residents through his manifesto.
Okpebholo, who represents the Edo Central Senatorial District, also criticised the proposed ten-day nationwide protest starting on August 1 as unnecessary.
He asserted that President Bola Tinubu has been promoting good governance, addressing the concerns of Nigerians both at home and abroad, and advancing the country within just over a year in office.
Okpebholo urged all stakeholders to support the president rather than distract him with protests.
He urged Nigerians, especially the youth, not to allow themselves to be manipulated by those who oppose democracy, warning against the destruction of national assets, development projects, and property belonging to individuals, organizations, and the government.
Read Also: Legal limits of protest
He noted that such actions could result in greater harm than the October 2020 #EndSARS protests, which led to the deaths of many innocent people and the destruction of valuable property across Nigeria.
The APC governorship candidate in Edo reaffirmed that while Nigerians have the right to protest, he cautioned certain unnamed disgruntled politicians, particularly from opposition parties, who are uncomfortable with the progress made by President Tinubu’s administration, to stop inciting unrest and sponsoring poorly timed protests.
Okpebholo made these remarks on the morning of Tuesday, July 30, during an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel at the new state secretariat of the APC on Ikpokpan Road, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin, the Edo state capital.
He was accompanied by Prince Kassim Afegbua, a former Commissioner for Information in Edo and a governorship aspirant on the APC platform in early 2024; Prince Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, the state’s Publicity Secretary and a lawyer; and many other party leaders.
Popularly known as Akpakomiza, Okpebholo, speaking in flawless English, refuted claims that he could not articulate himself in correct English.
He promised that if elected, he would tackle insecurity, initiate development projects, provide quality education, and hold regular town hall meetings in Edo.
He said: “I will respect the traditional institution in Edo State, and continue to hold in high esteem, the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, who is currently being treated with disdain by some persons in Edo State.
“I have the capacity and experience to govern Edo State, from November 12, 2024, by God’s grace and the massive support of Edo electorate. I will not disappoint Edo residents, but perform excellently, in order to put my detractors to shame. I am embarking on many infrastructural projects in Edo Central Senatorial District, and empowering numerous Edo residents. I will do more, when not if, elected governor of Edo State.
“There is nothing to write home about the almost eight years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki. Edo State government has failed Edo people. The anointed son of Obaseki, Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the crisis-ridden PDP in Edo State, cannot do better than Obaseki, his business associate, as Ighodalo has been the administration’s chief economic adviser in almost eight years, without any legacy development project on the ground.
“Obaseki places emphasis on numerous Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and propaganda, without being able to justify the huge allocations and increasing Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), while I am coming as a servant, to introduce practical governance, focus on infrastructural projects and empowerment of Edo residents in the 18 local government areas, when, not if elected. Edo residents will see real developments in all sectors.”
The standard bearer of APC in Edo also declared that he could not be intimidated in the governorship race, while giving an assurance that Obaseki would vote for him, as he knew how to manage people and resources, while he wanted the lost glory of Edo state to be restored, and that experience mattered in politics and governance.
He noted that some people thought he did not know what he was doing, but assured that upon winning the September 21 this year’s election, he would definitely ensure good governance, while pointing out that Obaseki and his drowning allies were criticising him out of frustration and afraid of his popularity, in view of his style of “less talk, more actions.”
Okpebholo stated that most local and foreign investors would not come to Edo state, because of insecurity, with many qualified youths currently jobless, while disclosing that he tackled insecurity, kidnapping and banditry out of government, while as Edo governor, he would not allow insecurity, as he would be firm and decisive.