Avoid Obaseki conflict after swearing-in, Ganduje tells Edo gov-elect

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday, urged the Edo State Governor-Elect, Monday Okpebholo, to focus on governance and quit picking a quarrel with the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Ganduje appealed when he received a delegation of the Edo APC led by Okpebholo, who came to the party secretariat in Abuja on a ‘thank you’ visit.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared the APC candidate as the winner of the keenly contested September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who secured 247,274 votes, with Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata trailing with a scanty 22,763 votes.

In the past months after the election, Okpebholo has been at loggerheads with the outgoing administration, whose officials he had repeatedly accused of embarking on a looting spree.

Ganduje, however, warned that a progressive government should not waste time engaging in unnecessary fights with its predecessor.

The APC national chairman encouraged the incoming governor to instead focus on delivering the promises he made to the people in the manifesto he painstakingly campaigned with.

He said, “You should not focus on the previous administration. Look forward, don’t look back and waste your time fighting the person you took over from. There is no need. A progressive government does not have time for that.

“Focus on the manifesto you painstakingly produced. Follow it to the letter with the socio-economic development of the people, build bridges, and establish good relationships with the stakeholders.

“Think forward and be an action governor. During the campaign, you were an action candidate, and now you must be an action governor.

“We believe you will succeed and make the people of our winning state proud. The party is ready to assist you in any way. But you must ensure that from the ward to the local government and state levels, all party offices are functional and physically habitable.”

Responding, Okpebholo lauded Ganduje and the governors elected on the platform of the APC for the roles they played in his victory.

He also praised President Bola Tinubu for securing the state and ensuring nobody was killed during the governorship election.

“It (victory) wasn’t an easy one. I know how many times the chairman called me. He came for the election and his impact was great.

“I also want to use this opportunity to thank Mr President who secured Edo for us. There was absolute peace in Edo State.

“Before now, there was this kind of boast that people would die. But on election day, nobody died. For me, the victory is something we in Edo State rejoice about, because a new dawn has come to the Edo people. A new dawn has risen.

 “I want to thank the National Working Committee once more for the job well done, and I pray that God gives all of you a long life and gives us prosperity.”