Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday called on the people of Edo State to vote for the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, in next Saturday’s governorship election in the state in order to birth a state that is functional.
According to him, Edo State, at the moment, needs a strategic thinker, a builder, and a man of the people who can rally the people of the state.
Shettima spoke in Benin City, the Edo State capital, at the grand finale of the gubernatorial campaign of the All APC held at the Sports Complex of the University of Benin.
“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,” the Vice President told the mammoth crowd at the campaign ground.
Shettima, 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.
Shettima noted that the candidate of the APC in the September 21 Edo governorship polls, Senator Okpebholo, is most qualified to assume the leadership of the state.
According to him: “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.
“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”.
The Vice President further assured that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is working hard to bring more relief to victims of flood disasters across the country.
Shettima 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, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, corroborated 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.
Also speaking, National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, 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 defectors 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.
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.”
For his part, the APC governorship candidate, Senator Okpebholo 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.
Deji Elumoye
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