Tag: Okpebholo

The governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Prince Tom Iseghohi-Okojie, has dropped his political aspiration to support the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo.

Iseghohi-Okojie made the disclosure yesterday in Benin when he formally defected to the APC, along with his teeming supporters. They were received by the APC chairman, Jarret Tenebe.

He said whether the AA joined the APC or not, the latter would still win Saturday’s governorship election. He added, however, that he and his supporters wanted the APC to secure a landslide victory.

Read Also: ‘Lies will not prevent Okpebholo from succeeding Obaseki’

Iseghohi-Okojie pointed out that collapsing his party’s structure into that of the APC was a tough decision for the growth and progress of Edo State. 

He expressed the belief that the APC, through Okpebholo, would be able to ensure good governance from November 12 this year, when Governor Godwin Obaseki’s tenure would expire.

The former AA governorship candidate said: “I address you today (on September 15) with a deep sense of responsibility, hope, and determination for our beloved Edo State.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has made a strong case for Senator Monday Okpebholo to lead Edo State, citing his strategic thinking, compassion and ability to connect with the people.

Shettima, while campaigning on Saturday in Benin for Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next Saturday’s election, emphasised that Edo needs a leader who can rally its citizens, listen to their concerns, and lead with humility.

He described Okpebholo as a man of the people, who feels the pulse of Edo’s citizens, understands their needs, and has a story to tell. 

In a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Information, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima also highlighted Okpebholo’s ability to bring about radical change and influence. 

Shettima expressed confidence that Okpebholo and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, will complement each other and bring a positive transformation to Edo State’s governance. 

He praised their humility and grassroots politicking, assuring that they will redefine and reshape the state’s governance for the better.

VP Shettima noted that the candidate of the APC in the September 21 Edo governorship polls is most qualified to assume the leadership of the state.

He continued: “What Edo State needs is a strategic thinker, a builder, a man of the people, a man who can rally the great people of Edo State. Edo State needs a man who will open his doors to the people, hear their cries and lead with the fear of God. 

“Edo does not need a man who knows it all. Edo needs a man who feels the pulse of his people, knows where it hurts, and has a story to tell in terms of where he is coming from.

Read Also: ‘Lies will not prevent Okpebholo from succeeding Obaseki’

“Edo needs a compassionate leader, one who is in tune with the yearnings and aspirations of Edo people. Edo needs a leader with the tenacity and knack for radical change and influence. 

“Let me sum it up by quoting Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, who said ‘The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.

‘’Therefore, in Senator Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, we have two gentlemen who will walk the talk. They will complement each other. The humility that has brought them thus far will also manifest in their governing of Edo State. With these two grassroots politicians and distinguished public servants, Edo will witness a positive redefining and reshaping of governance”, he said. 

He reminded the people of the state that despite diversities in backgrounds their expectations are the same. 

“Whether you are a civil servant or a trader, whether you are Esan or Afemai, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, whether you are young or old, male or female, our expectations are the same.

“We all seek the same thing – a functional Edo State, a state that can provide opportunities for all of you to thrive. What unites us most is not our differences, but our collective desire for a nation that works, a state that meets our needs,” Senator Shettima told the mammoth crowd at the campaign ground.

The Vice President, who highlighted the recent improvement in revenue allocation to all tiers of government, called on the people of Edo to vote massively for the APC in order to benefit from the wind of positive change.

“I assure you that this is the best time to be a Governor in Nigeria. The economic reforms of the past year, though tough, have laid the groundwork for better opportunities ahead.

“With increased allocations to the states, your incoming government has more resources to bankroll programmes and projects that benefit you,” the Vice President assured Edo people.

VP Shettima further assured that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working hard to bring more relief to victims of flood disasters across the country.

The Vice President noted with confidence that with unity of purpose, Nigeria can overcome its present challenges, lamenting the recent devastating floods in Borno, Niger and other states of the federation.

“Let me assure you that our government is working around the clock to bring relief to the affected communities. We are mobilising resources, coordinating relief efforts and putting in place measures to mitigate the impact of future floods.

“This is not the time for politics but a time for unity and compassion. As we rebuild, we do so with the strength of our shared humanity and the firm belief that together, we can overcome any adversity,” he said.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, corroborated VP Shettima’s position, just as he urged the people of Edo to vote for the party at the helm of affairs at the center, the APC, in the forthcoming election, in order to reap more dividends of democracy.

He disclosed that already, N212 billion has already been appropriated for the reconstruction of the Auchi-Benin road, which he said when completed, will boost economic activities in Edo State.

“The presence of many Governors and other dignitaries here shows our unity of purpose towards helping Edo State to take a new direction. We have Governors from the North, East, South and West here present. Joining the party in the center will be good for the development of Edo State. I have confidence in the candidate and his running mate. They are a young team that will help secure the future of Edo State,” he said.

National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,  on his part, said the people of Edo State have suffered in the last eight years and they need to be liberated.

He declared that Monday Okpebholo is the right person to lead the State to the promised land.

Ganduje said, “In the last eight years, Edo State has suffered and the state is now downgraded in terms of infrastructure, security, and general development. Benin should have the outlook of a modern city but today, it is looking for a person who will uplift the state. Monday is the person to do so.”

The APC National Chairman later received decampees from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including a former Senator, the governorship candidate of Action Alliance for Edo State and the Organizing Secretary of the Labour Party in the state.

The Chairman of APC National Campaign Council for Edo 2024, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, told the people of Edo State that it was time to change direction and build on the legacies of former Governor Oshiomhole so as to improve the lives of the people of the state.  

On his part, Former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, praised the humility, loyalty and sense of judgment of Vice President Shettima.

Oshiomhole decried the poor performance of the outgoing Governor of Edo State, saying the state had not witnessed development in the last eight years.  

He stated: “Governance is about development; our roads and other infrastructure are dilapidated. Education has suffered a lot. Because the state does not have a State Universal Basic Education Board yet, the Governor has been benefiting from the Universal Basic Education Commission’s funds.

“Our future has been compromised by Obaseki. People of my age and the younger ones have not forgotten what is called “plan well”, a savings scheme championed by the Asue, which defrauded the people.”

The APC governorship candidate appealed for support to change the tide in Edo State.

“We will give loans to our farmers through cooperatives; we will also give soft loans to market women. We will employ over 5,000 teachers within my first 100 days in office. We will build health centers across the 192 wards in Edo and we will declare a state of emergency on education,” he promised.

The Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Prince Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie declared in Benin City yesterday that lies would not prevent the governorship candidate of the main opposition APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, from succeeding Governor Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on November 12 this year.

Uwadiae-Igbinigie said everybody knew that Obaseki was telling lies, when he claimed that he fell out with his former benefactor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, over the state burial that he gave the late chieftain of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, which he alleged the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC (Oshiomhole) was not happy about, which, according to him, made them fall out.

Edo governor, of the PDP, on September 6 this year, while speaking at PDP’s campaign rally at Opujie Primary School, Uromi, in Esan Northeast Local Government Area of Edo, where Anenih hailed from, claimed that Oshiomhole, a former Edo governor, who later became the National Chairman of APC, was displeased that he gave Anenih state burial.

The APC Publicity Secretary said: “This is election season, and everybody is saying things to curry favour with themselves. Oshiomhole, with his generous disposition, could not have told Obaseki not to give state burial to our political colossus like Chief Anthony Anenih of blessed memory.

Read Also: Senator Barau to Nigerians: support Tinubu to succeed

“It is important to situate this issue in proper perspective. We have been in Edo State since the sage (Anenih) died. Obaseki has been saying a lot of things about Oshiomhole, even at the height of their quarrel, why must he wait until he was on a campaign tour at Uromi, before starting his puerile statement? We know for a fact that Uromi people will not take Obaseki seriously.

“Apart from the capital-intensive development projects that Comrade Oshiomhole and Chief Anenih embarked upon in Uromi, let Obaseki mention one project he did in Uromi and the whole of Esan North Local Government in almost eight years, apart from his stooge, the council chairman, whose hoodlums are terrorising political opponents. Uromi people will shame Obaseki and his godson (Ighodalo) with their votes.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to complete the projects initiated by a former Edo governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, if he is elected governor.

Okpebholo, the representative of Edo Central, gave the assurance at the weekend during a rally in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

He said: “When elected, I will complete the projects, including roads in this local government, which Senator Oshiomhole could not complete, before leaving office.”

Edo APC’s standard bearer also pointed out that the projects were abandoned by the Godwin Obaseki’s government, not minding the fact that Oshiomhole, vigorously campaigned for him in 2016.

The APC’s standard bearer, a grassroot politician, also promised to employ teachers, to address the dearth of manpower in the state’s educational sector.

Read Also: Okpebholo will bring development to Edo, says APC chieftain

He promised to employ qualified medical personnel in Edo hospitals.

While addressing the people of Igbanke East and West, the APC candidate assured that his administration would provide a 24-hour power supply to residents, empower farmers with soft loans, and provide an enabling environment for them to carry out agricultural activities in the state.

Okpebholo said: “My administration will prioritise farmers’ and citizens’ security, by leveraging modern-day technology to tackle insecurity in the state.”

Oshiomhole, said the blood of Igbanke flows in his veins, and recalled that during his period as governor, he worked diligently with sons and daughters of the community.

He called on the residents of Igbanke to come out en masse on September 21 to vote APC, so as to end the “regime” of persons without sympathy for the people.

Former Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, said that the development projects in Igbanke and its environs were those executed when he was deputy to Oshiomhole, between 2008 and 2016.

The Director-General of APC’s campaign council, Senator Mathew Urhoghide, in his remarks, pleaded with residents to massively vote for APC to ensure good governance, and move the state forward.

Urhoghide said: “We believe in Senator Okpebholo as a good candidate who will listen to the yearnings and aspirations of Edo residents. If you look around, you see who is who in Orhionmwon politics with APC.

“PDP’s leaders will come to you to deceive you, but reject them, because they have never done anything for Igbanke people.”

At Evbuekhae, the hometown of Edo current Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, in Orhionmwon LGA of Edo, APC’s governorship candidate also promised that his government would empower farmers with soft loans, address the lack of teachers in the community’s school, and provide power for the residents.

The South-south Zonal Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Blessing Agbomhere, has said the party’s candidate; Monday Okpebholo was the best person to bring development to the state.

Agbomhere insisted that Okpebholo was a silent achiever who had made vast contributions to the world of business and entrepreneurship, in the process creating wealth among Nigerians and building organisations that have made a huge economic impact in the lives of the people of Edo state in particular.

In a statement to celebrate Sen Okpebholo on his 54th birthday, Agbomhere said the APC candidate was a focused gentleman who was committed to transforming the fortunes of Edo state when elected into office.

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He said Senator Okpebholo was a quintessential public administrator who was different from the regular Nigerian politician who makes promises more than they can deliver. He described it as nonsense, insinuating that the APC candidate was avoiding the media, insisting that Okpebholo was not known to be the overtly boisterous type.

While congratulating Okpebholo on the major milestone of his 54th birthday, Agbomhere wished him more glorious years ahead and urged the people of Edo state not to miss the opportunity of electing into office a man of integrity, a candidate who would not take their wellbeing for granted.