The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state, Mr. Asue Ighodalo has been warned to stop distracting the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo over his decision to challenge the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal at the Appeal Court, as the move was tantamount to anti-Esan progress and development, it was learnt.
Ighodalo who hails from Esanland got chided by his kinsmen for deliberately distracting the governor, advising him to desist forthwith and support his brother, Senator Monday Okpebholo who they said has brought “uncommon respite to Esanland and Edo state”.
The call was made in a statement on Sunday in Benin city, by The Esan Liberation Forum and signed by its National President, Chief Sunday Aghedo, stating that, “this was a unique opportunity for Asue Ighodalo to demonstrate that he was truly an Esan man by supporting the seamless wind of development blowing in Edo state under Senator Okpebholo”.
The group also expressed joy “over the dualization of Ekpoma- Irrua-Uromi-Ubiaja old road and the construction of the road to link Edo central senatorial district with Edo North senatorial district, passing through Uromi.
“In 7 years, former Governor Godwin Obaseki was paying N40 million every month as subvention to Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, and another N50 million to a faceless consultant of the University, but our son, Senator Okpebholo, has raised the University’s subvention to N500 million every month to save the University from collapse.
“Life has bounced back to the university as many jobs have been saved and created while the school could now admit more students since November 2024 when the governor came on board.”
The Esan Liberation Forum also endorsed Governor Okpebholo’s “water project for Esan people and his tackling of the security situation which have restored hope in the land.”
“Asue Ighodalo’s silence throughout the 8 years when former Governor Obaseki neglected Edo central senatorial district, appeared conspiratorial, unpatriotic, and preposterous because that was when Esanland was cut-off from the other senatorial districts with the collapse of roads, which former Governor Obaseki frequently blamed on federal government.
“In less than one year, Governor Okpebholo has restored many of these roads without blaming the federal government as the people can now travel from Benin city to Esanland and Edo north without frustrations.
“Now is the opportunity for Asue Ighodalo to vindicate himself that he is an Esan man. We do not want anybody to distract Governor Okpebholo from his good works with court cases.’
“The three-man panel at the Election Tribunal of last month did not make mistake when they spoke in unison. Edo people have been looking for anyone who will serve them, and they have found one in Governor Okpebholo,” the statement stated.
