The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday made a carnival of the flag off of its gubernatorial campaign at the Ubiaja Township Stadium, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, with Governor Godwin Obaseki leading other party’s stalwarts to sell the candidacy of Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie to the people.
Governor Obaseki, whose appearance at the festival-like rally laid to rest the claims in some quarters that the government had deliberately distanced himself from the campaign, liked Ighodalo to a good sprinter who could successfully anchor a relay race, and urged the people to vote for the PDP candidate for the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.
The fully packed township stadium, venue of the campaign, took the form of a carnival as party chieftains and supporter exhibited an uncommon enthusiasm and confidence about the coming election.
Governor Obaseki made it clear that his choice for the post of governor of Edo State after him had the capacity to “anchor the relay race successfully to victory.”
Obaseki who said that he had known Ighodalo for 40 years from university days, insisted that Ighodalo joined the race because of his love and compassion for the people of the state and not that he was looking for money or fame or name. “He has all of those,” he stated.
Obaseki further vouched for the PDP flag bearer, saying, “he won’t disappoint you. Same with Osarodion Ogie. When I came into government, our first budget was less than N100 billion. But we moved it to N450 billion. Ighodalo and Osarodion will move it to N1 trillion to have enough money to do projects.”
He then encouraged all the attendees to go back and canvass support for Ighodalo and also come out on election day and vote for the PDP.
In his own speech earlier, Ighodalo thanked the people for the love they had shown him, and promised to ensure the security and safety of lives and property in the state.
Hea also spoke on other things he had outlined in “The Pathway to Prosperity for All”, his manifesto.
Speaking at the rally, the former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, stated that everyone who had worked assiduously for the Esan Agenda must be very happy that the flag off happened in Esan land.
He appealed to all the royal fathers in the state to support Ighodalo as “he is the Esan consensus candidate for the governorship election.”
On her part, the First Lady, Betsy Obaseki, declared that the time in Edo State is “Esan O’clock.”
This was just as she berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) for fielding a candidate that she described as “an insult to Edo people. That shows that they hate Edo people. How can APC bring a clown to come and be our governor? We will not take it,” she stated.
She then highlighted the fact that PDP had respect for women and so appointed or elected them into very good positions.
“We have a deputy speaker, we have local government chairmen, we have deputy local government chairmen. We have commissioners and all. PDP respects women.” Mrs. Obaseki submitted.
Then she introduced the wife of the party’s candidate, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, to a rapturous applause.
The speaker of the State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, Sergius Ogun, Chief Mike Oghiadhome, Senator Odion Ugbesia, and the State Chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the DG, PDP Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Senator Clifford Ordia, Joe Edionwele, Marcus Onobun, Joe Okojie and Alhaji Musa Isiwele were among the party chieftains that graced the occasion.