The agrarian communities of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State were thrown into a festive mood as Governor Godwin Obaseki led other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts to campaign for the candidate of the party for the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state, Asue Ighodalo, and his deputy, Osarodion Ogie.
Governor Obaseki and his large entourage were received by an enthusiastic mammoth crowd at the Igarra Open Field in the oldest local government area in Nigeria.
The governor, who commended the people for always supporting the PDP, noted that Akoko-Edo had suffered marginalisation for too long, hence he took it upon himself to change that order and narrative.
He said in his determination to ensure equity and fairness and ensure that Akoko-Edo got what it deserved, he gave Akoko-Edo juicy positions, and laid the foundation of a polytechnic in the area because the people in the locality remained one of the brightest people in the state.
The governor said that it was not surprising therefore that Akoko-Edo kept producing people with high intellectual capacity.
Nothing that government is a continuous process, Obaseki said that it became imperative to ensure that capable hands, people with the capacity, competence and those with empathy, were saddled with the task of leading the people.
That notion, he intoned, was why he brought Ighodalo and Ogie to further the development in Edo State.
Obaseki stated that Akoko-Edo was blessed with mineral resources and the government had made all plans to secure license for mining, and Asue Ighodalo would bring investors to Akoko-Edo.
In his welcome speech, the deputy governor, Godwins Omobayo, thanked the governor for giving Akoko-Edo notable positions, saying he was the only governor that had done that for the people of Akoko-Edo.
He also commended the governor for bringing a polytechnic to Akoko-Edo and other appointments.
He debunked the news that a group in Akoko Edo had endorsed the APC candidate.
Omobayo stressed that that was not the voice of the people of Akoko-Edo but a group made up of hungry individuals, who wanted money.
He said Obaseki and PDP had done well for the people of Akoko-Edo and the only thing the people Akoko-Edo could do “is to use their votes to say thank you.”
The deputy governor charged the people to come out enmasse and vote for the umbrella on September 21 and never be afraid or be intimidated.
The Local Government Council Chairman, Tajudeen Alade Suleiman, in his speech praised Governor Obaseki for all he had done for Akoko-Edo and also poured encomiums on the PDP candidate, Ighodalo.
A chieftain of the PDP in Akoko-Edo, Tunde Akogun, said he retired from politics but came back because of the good works of Obaseki and for remembering the people of Akoko-Edo and the quality of the PDP candidate in the governorship race.
He stated that the APC candidate is a man that is just being spoon fed by Adams Oshiomhole and other leaders, adding tha “Oshiomole is a baby nurse to Okpebholo”, and that the PDP governorship candidate had never been like that.
Akogun assured the PDP candidate that Akoko-Edo was locked down for him.
Addressing the crowd, Ighodalo began by thanking them for the huge turnout to receive them, noting that Akoko-Edo is the oldest local government in the state .
He promised to revamp tourism, agriculture in cashew production and others.
Ighodalo was particular about the mineral resources in the area, saying that he would ensure the local government become prosperous and the destination for wealth by reason of the mineral deposits in the area.
He charged the people not to follow darkness but to vote for PDP which he said is the light.
This was just as he also assured them that their votes would count and their wouldn’t be any problems on election day as President Bola Tinubu had assured a free fair and credible election in Edo State.
Other chieftains of the party present included the state chairman of the PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, the Deputy Director, Asue Ogie Campaign Council, Rev Olu Martins and many others.
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