Former foreign affairs minister and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Tom Ikimi, on Friday declared that Asue Ighodalo, the party’s candidate for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State was the consensus candidate of the people of Esanland, adding that the people only supported Senator Monday, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to go to the senate, “and that is where he belongs”......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Ikimi, the Oduma of Igueben, who said the foundation for Esan governorship agenda was laid in 2020, castigated immediate past governor of the state and leader of the All-Progressives Congress, (APC) in Edo, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, for backing Senator Okpebholo, popularly known as Akpakomiza, stating that supporting him “means failure”.
The former national chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, who spoke at the PDP campaign rally held at Eguare Primary School field, Igueben, described Oshiomhole as “not a good man”, recalling how he “relegated” an Esan Onojie, but Obaseki came and gave him “the dignity”.
He said Governor Godwin Obaseki chose a very credible and competent candidate in the person of Asue Ighodalo, with an experienced running mate.
According to Ikimi, “In 2020, I told you people that we are laying the foundation of the Esan agenda and today, we have actualised it. In Igueben Local Government, when we move, move together. I want to thank the people of Esan North-East, Esan South-East for giving us the opportunity to pick a consensus candidate.
“Asue Ighodalo is the Esan consensus candidate. We only supported the APC candidate to go to the Senate and that’s where he belongs. He should perform first as a senate member before coming to be Governor.
“Oshiomhole is not a good man and should be disregarded. And supporting Akpakomiza means failure. Oshiomhole was the one who relegated Esan Onojie but Obaseki came and gave Esan Onojie the dignity.
“We have left the era of thieves, thuggery and crooks in governance, and we are now in the digital era. Obaseki is the first to digitalize governance. Obaseki chose a very credible and competent candidate for Esan and an experienced running mate. Asue Ighodalo is Esan consensus candidate”.
Governor Obaseki, who used the occasion of the electioneering in the local government to commission the Union Bank Road constructed by his administration, however, craved the indulgence of the elder statesman to do the commissioning, an honour he gladly accepted.
The governor thanked Chief Ikimi and his Selection Committee for choosing a competent, credible and convincing candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
He described Esan elders as wise and intelligent, saying “I have a very high regard for Esan elders because they are very intelligent and wise. Asue Ighodalo, the man you chose, is a well-respected personality in Nigeria, and not a push over at all. He has handled multi-national companies successfully. And I am very sure when Asue Ighodalo comes on board, he will continue with the Edo Master Plan and create more good projects,” he assured the people.
Addressing the rally, Ighodalo urged the people of Igueben to continue to canvass and support the good message and product of the PDP.
He said: “The election is about light and darkness, progress or retrogression, intelligence and competence, or dullness and incompetence. The choice is ours. But I plead with you to vote for light, vote PDP.
“We will follow the master plan of creating wealth and prosperity to make Igueben great, and all ongoing projects will be completed, and more will come. We will not disappoint the trust you have on us. We won’t allow lions and tigers in our markets and streets again to beat our mothers and collect their money.” He then urged the people to come out and vote for the umbrella, the symbol of the PDP.
Earlier in his welcome address, the local government chairman, Asuelimenh Clement, thanked the governor for coming and assured him of their votes because the governor, according to him, had done well in keeping with his promise of giving the ticket to a competent Esan son, unlike the APC.
Other speakers asserted that they cannot leave a good product for a bad one, and that Igueben had resolved to vote Ighodalo.