By George Etakibuebu
In continuation of his engagement with Edo Diaspora Community in Europe ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Dr Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged the Edo community in London to partner with him, assuring that he would make them proud. He declared that the team of Osarodion Ogie and himself, irrespective of what anyone says, is the best and an unbeatable team going into the election.
Speaking to a fully packed hall of about 400 people on Thursday night in London, Ighodalo doubled down on his vision and determination to make Edo State a first world sub-national in the country if voted into power. Ighodalo insisted that regardless of constitutional limitations, Edo State can break free and be a leading reference point for both the national and other sub-nationals.
He assured that with the solid foundation already laid by previous administrations, he would build on it to leverage the “The Pathway to Prosperity for All” manifesto to achieve his vision for the state and her people.
As in previous engagements in Reggio Emila, Italy and Manchester, England, Ighodalo dwelt on his manifesto with emphasis on five key points. He listed the key areas to include security, which he described as key because, according to him, in the absence of security nothing else will work. “If we don’t get security right, we will struggle to get anything else right in Edo State.”
He also listed the Wellbeing of the people as another important pillar. He listed the Economy, emphasizing the need to focus on agriculture, creative industry, mineral resources and tourism. He stated that his administration will create zonal economic development agencies to harness the comparative economic advantage of each zone. He mentioned the place of energy, particularly electricity, among others.
“I invite you guys to partner with us. What we promise is that we will make you proud. We will be accountable, we will be accessible, and we will govern with honesty, integrity and the fear of God.
“The Israelis abroad developed Israel. The Chinese abroad developed China, the Vietnamese abroad developed Vietnam. You guys, the Edo State Diaspora, owe it a duty to develop Edo State.
“So, thank you guys, I see this phase as our first phase of our next phase. Edo State must bring back what Almighty God has given us. We have so much at our disposal. By the grace of the Almighty God, Osarodion and myself, working with our team and all of you guys in this hall, we will make Edo State a first world state. We don’t have a choice. We don’t,” he declared to a rapturous applause from the capacity filled hall.
With that declaration, the meeting moved into the question and answer stage. Ighodalo invited the running mate, Osarodion Ogie, who is the current Secretary to the State Government (SSG), and two commissioners who were said to have been given the nod by Governor Godwin Obaseki to provide correct perspectives on anything that has to do with government performance. They are the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Ehikoya Idehenre and the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Isoken Omo, who had earlier led the gathering i singing the Edo State Anthem. All the questions asked were properly answered and satisfactorily too, eliciting intermittent applause from the attendees.
Also in the entourage of Ighodalo are his wife, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, the Director -General of the state Peoples Democratic Party PDP Campaign Council, Mr Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, and others.
