By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, leaders and members of the Edo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, kicked-off the party’s campaign for local council elections in the State in Edo North Senatorial District, reassuring that his administration will not leave any stone unturned in delivering the dividends of democracy to the Edo people.
The campaign team which was received by an unprecedented jubilant crowd at the various locations visited stopped at the Secretariat of Owan West Local Governments Area for an interactive session with leaders in the LGA.
The campaign train also stopped at Owan East LGA where the governor urged the people to come out en masse on September 2, 2023, to ensure the party’s victory in the local council polls.
Addressing the leaders in Owan West, Obaseki reassured of his government’s commitment to improving the livelihood of the people and ensuring economic prosperity for the State, pledging to ensure the completion of all ongoing projects across various locations in the State.
He said, “We are kicking off our local government campaign from Owan West. We in the PDP will not say what we can’t do.
“It’s a long process to get here and the future is very bright as it’s only PDP that can rescue Nigeria. Look at what we are doing in Edo State. We have so many projects ongoing and in the next one year, we will do our best and ensure these projects are completed, including the one at Owan West here.”
Addressing the stakeholders, the Edo PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi said, “Owan West is a model in terms of how you organise yourselves as a party. Owan West is the first local government area to handle all its issues and is now prepared for the election. We thank all the party leaders and chairman of the LGA.”
On his part, LGA party Chairman, David Okoh Aigbodion, while commending the governor’s developmental strides and for supporting a son of Owan to become the Edo House of Assembly Speaker, said: “We are all united as we have resolved all our issues before this time and are very ready and prepared for the election on September 2, 2023.”
The governor also received over 4, 000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who decamped to join the PDP.
Receiving the decampees, the governor said all the party candidates in the forthcoming local council election are credible and qualified men and women, who will bring development to various areas across the State, in line with his government’s vision to make Edo great again.
“We are presenting local government chairmen that stay with the people to develop the council areas. PDP is the party in the State; the party that will develop the State and make life better for the people. Dickson Ahonsi is a man that will bring development and progress to the people of the area. Vote for PDP, vote for development and progress.”
On his part, the Chairmanship candidate of the party, Dickson Ahonsi pledged his unalloyed commitment to the development of the area, commending the people for their support.
While the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, thanked the people for their massive turnout to receive the governor and his team, appealing to them to come out en masse on September 2, to ensure PDP wins the election.
Leader of the decampees, Joseph Agbabaku, said, “With the developmental stride of the governor in the State and local government area, we were encouraged to join the party and contribute our quotas to ensure the party keeps winning in the council area.”
Obaseki, while speaking in Owan East, said, “I am here to present a dependable and qualified candidate to you. A candidate you can trust; a man who can work to transform the council area.
“If you have a good chairman, such a person will represent you well and inform me of any challenges and problems you’re facing and such will be addressed because I can’t see what is happening here. It’s good to elect a chairman with the fear of God and love of the people, who is ready to work for the people.”
Also, a leader in the local government, Barrister Jimoh Ijegbai said, “The governor has tarred not more than five roads in Afuze and we are sure of the victory of the party in the forthcoming local government election on September 2, 2023.”
