Five days to Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, the the state’s Non-Indigenous Forum in Ovia North East and South West Local Government Areas has thrown its weight behind the candidate of of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
At two separate Town Hall Meetings held in Okada and Iguobazuwa on Monday, the forum, made up of various ethnic groups, including Hausa/Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, Urhobo and other groups from neighbouring Kogi State, warmly received Ighodalo, his wife and other members of his team. They subsequently pledged their support to him with a promise to vote massively for the PDP on Saturday.
At the Okada meeting, Hon. Okhomina Efosa relayed the message of The Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, to the people. According to him, the Esama charged the people to vote for the PDP because “he doesn’t know any other party other than the PDP”.
Efosa also relayed the message of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion to the people to go out on Saturday and vote massively for the PDP candidate.
Ighodalo thanked the people for the support they had shown him so far and also for their large turnout. He declared that Saturday’s election would be a time to choose between good and bad, light and darkness, moving forward or going backwards. He highlighted the social economic crisis that had befallen the country as a result of the poor managerial acumen of the party in power at the centre, the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
Ighodalo said: “On Saturday, we are going to make a very important decision in the life of Edo State. We will be deciding between moving forward or backwards, progress or retrogression or backward. We will be deciding between light and darkness and between good and evil.
“In choosing your leader, you must ask for the track records of the individuals. Give your vote to the person who can lead you well. I assure you good governance. Osarodion Ogie (his running mate), and myself will work tirelessly for you. We will be accessible and will not disappoint you”.
He said that Governor Godwin Obaseki had done well and his administration are going to build on it, and thanked various ethnic groups that came out to receive them, praying that God would bless them.
Ighodalo also charged the people to come out en-masse, saying “the opposition party don’t have anything to offer but to rig election and that is why we must stand our ground to defend our votes”.
He thanked the Igbinedion senior and prayed to God to give him good health
The candidate’s wife, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo charged the women on the need to come out on Saturday and vote. She also urged them to defend their votes.
A former chairman of Ovia North East Local Government Area, Lucy Omagbon thanked the PDP governorship candidate, his wife and other team members for coming, and prayed that God would grant them journey mercies back home.
The team was welcomed to Iguobazuwa, the administrative headquarters of Ovia South West Local Government Area, venue of the meeting by Hon. Harrison Omagbon.
The Baale of Ogunwale community, Chief Aderemi Ogunwale, who spoke on behalf of the Yoruba community/farmers, thanked the PDP governorship candidate for finding time to see them. He said they would not trade good product for bad one that is not marketable.
He assured Ighodalo of their votes and assured that they would defend their votes. He also enumerated Ighodalo’s qualities, ranging from his time as board chairman of various multinational companies to being chairman of Alaghodaro Summit.
Ogunwale said that Ighodalo is the best for the state and urged the people to vote and defend their votes. He also urged them not to be afraid or be intimidated by federal might as they are protected.
Ighodalo commended the people for their support and promised good governance, women development and empowerment, agricultural development, accessibility to funds for small-medium-scale-enterprises. Ighodalo asserted that for Edo to move forward, the people must vote in their best to avoid retrogression.
Some of the leader at the event included Senator Ehigie Uzamere, who represented Edo Central senatorial district between 2007 and 2015; PDP Vice Chairman for Ovia South West Local Government Area, Hon. Harrison Omagbon; the state Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Hon. Ethan Uzamere; former Ovia South West Local Council Chairman, Hon. Destiny Enabulele; and Presiding Pastor of Trinity Church, Ituah Ighodalo.
