Ahead of the September 10 Edo State governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, on Saturday, in Benin, kicked off its campaign with the party’s candidate, Godwin Obaseki, promising to create 200,000 jobs in four years if elected governor.
The kick-off, which was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, was attended by leaders of the APC, including the national chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, and the APC governors of Kano, Plateau, Imo, Bauchi and Kaduna states.
Other attendants at the ceremony were the deputy national chairman, South, of the APC, Segun Oni; the national organising secretary of the APC, Senator Osita Izunaso; Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige; former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and deputy governors of Niger, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Borno, Kwara, Kogi and Oyo states, who represented their bosses.
In his remarks, Obaseki, who spoke after receiving the APC’s flag from Oyegun, promised to develop a model that would reposition agriculture in Edo State from subsistent farming to commercial farming, adding that many in the state would generate wealth by keying into a value chain development of oil palm, cassava, cocoa, rubber, fruits and vegetables.
He also promised development in other sectors that would ensure the wellbeing of the citizens of the state.
Chief Oyegun, in his speech, said Obaseki would continue the developmental strides that had been started by Oshiomhole, adding that Edo was not one of the states in the country that were broke and unable to pay salaries.
Some members of the PDP, led by a former PDP chairman in Oredo Local Government Area, Chief Samson Esemuede, announced their defection to the APC at the event.
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