2024: I’ll end insecurity induced by foreign invaders in Edo — PDP guber aspirant

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in the 2024 Edo State election, John Yakubu, has vowed to end insecurity induced by those he called foreign invaders who drive away local farmers from their lands.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday night, the former chairman of Esan North East Local Government said it was unacceptable that foreign terrorists would be allowed to invade the state to deprive citizens of their means of livelihood.

Yakubu, who was the running mate to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as PDP governorship candidate in the 2016 election in Edo State, said if given the chance, he would ensure that farmers are able to till their farms and fulfill the agricultural potentials of the state.

While noting that Edo can be prosperous, he said the state has enough pawpaw fruits to satisfy the nation’s needs while it should as well be able to supply the raw materials needed for the newly rejuvenated Ewu Feeds and Flour Mills.

Yakubu said this cannot be achieved unless there is security, and the government must step in to provide the enabling environment.

He assured that as governor, his administration would tap the abundant natural gas reserves in the state to provide a 24-hour electricity supply, taking advantage of the recent liberalization of the sector.

“We have been given the opportunity now by the federal government signing the law empowering individuals and organizations to go into power generation and distribution. I tell you, we will, Edo State will take that advantage and make sure it is done to the benefit of our people,” he said.

The gubernatorial aspirant promised to set up museums to host artifacts that will attract tourists from all over the world to the state to enable it to make more revenues.

He said: “I visited a museum in the United Kingdom. The things with which they make money there are some of our properties, things from India, things from Egypt, and things from other countries they colonized. Not one produced by the British people

“After this administration, given the opportunity to take the leadership of that state, these are things we will put in place so that people from other parts of the world can come to Edo to see them so that we can make money from them.”

Speaking about his achievements as a local government boss between 2007 and 2010, which he said are still drawing accolades, he affirmed that his driving force is the welfare of the people.

Yakubu spoke of how he resisted the deduction of 10 percent from money due to councils by the then-state administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, demonstrating his independence and steadfastness as a politician.

The aspirant noted the amount of corruption in the civil service, vowing he would not tolerate the menace if he becomes governor.

Yakubu maintained: “If we must have a state, Edo, an enduring government and governance that will benefit the people of the state, selflessness must be introduced. We must come clean. It has to start from somewhere.

“Somebody must start this process of cleaning up what we have been going through for the last 63 years. For God’s sake, how do you steal everything that belongs to the people and expect them to live on like that?”

On the internal crisis dogging the PDP in the state, he affirmed that the party would be forced to unite or it would have itself to blame in the coming election.

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