Shettima to Edo on Governorship candidate

Vice President Kashim Shettima has made a strong case for Senator Monday Okpebholo to lead Edo State, citing his strategic thinking, compassion and ability to connect with the people.

Shettima, while campaigning on Saturday in Benin for Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next Saturday’s election, emphasised that Edo needs a leader who can rally its citizens, listen to their concerns, and lead with humility.

He described Okpebholo as a man of the people, who feels the pulse of Edo’s citizens, understands their needs, and has a story to tell.

In a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Information, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima also highlighted Okpebholo’s ability to bring about radical change and influence.

Shettima expressed confidence that Okpebholo and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, will complement each other and bring a positive transformation to Edo State’s governance.

He praised their humility and grassroots politicking, assuring that they will redefine and reshape the state’s governance for the better.

VP Shettima noted that the candidate of the APC in the September 21 Edo governorship polls is most qualified to assume the leadership of the state.

He continued: “What Edo State needs is a strategic thinker, a builder, a man of the people, a man who can rally the great people of Edo State. Edo State needs a man who will open his doors to the people, hear their cries and lead with the fear of God.

“Edo does not need a man who knows it all. Edo needs a man who feels the pulse of his people, knows where it hurts, and has a story to tell in terms of where he is coming from.

“Edo needs a compassionate leader, one who is in tune with the yearnings and aspirations of Edo people. Edo needs a leader with the tenacity and knack for radical change and influence.

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“Let me sum it up by quoting Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, who said ‘The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.

‘’Therefore, in Senator Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, we have two gentlemen who will walk the talk. They will complement each other. The humility that has brought them thus far will also manifest in their governing of Edo State. With these two grassroots politicians and distinguished public servants, Edo will witness a positive redefining and reshaping of governance”, he said.

He reminded the people of the state that despite diversities in backgrounds their expectations are the same.

“Whether you are a civil servant or a trader, whether you are Esan or Afemai, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, whether you are young or old, male or female, our expectations are the same.

“We all seek the same thing – a functional Edo State, a state that can provide opportunities for all of you to thrive. What unites us most is not our differences, but our collective desire for a nation that works, a state that meets our needs,” Senator Shettima told the mammoth crowd at the campaign ground.

The Vice President, who highlighted the recent improvement in revenue allocation to all tiers of government, called on the people of Edo to vote massively for the APC in order to benefit from the wind of positive change.

“I assure you that this is the best time to be a Governor in Nigeria. The economic reforms of the past year, though tough, have laid the groundwork for better opportunities ahead.

“With increased allocations to the states, your incoming government has more resources to bankroll programmes and projects that benefit you,” the Vice President assured Edo people.

VP Shettima further assured that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working hard to bring more relief to victims of flood disasters across the country.

The Vice President noted with confidence that with unity of purpose, Nigeria can overcome its present challenges, lamenting the recent devastating floods in Borno, Niger and other states of the federation.

“Let me assure you that our government is working around the clock to bring relief to the affected communities. We are mobilising resources, coordinating relief efforts and putting in place measures to mitigate the impact of future floods.

“This is not the time for politics but a time for unity and compassion. As we rebuild, we do so with the strength of our shared humanity and the firm belief that together, we can overcome any adversity,” he said.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, corroborated VP Shettima’s position, just as he urged the people of Edo to vote for the party at the helm of affairs at the center, the APC, in the forthcoming election, in order to reap more dividends of democracy.

He disclosed that already, N212 billion has already been appropriated for the reconstruction of the Auchi-Benin road, which he said when completed, will boost economic activities in Edo State.

“The presence of many Governors and other dignitaries here shows our unity of purpose towards helping Edo State to take a new direction. We have Governors from the North, East, South and West here present. Joining the party in the center will be good for the development of Edo State. I have confidence in the candidate and his running mate. They are a young team that will help secure the future of Edo State,” he said.

National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on his part, said the people of Edo State have suffered in the last eight years and they need to be liberated.

He declared that Monday Okpebholo is the right person to lead the State to the promised land.

Ganduje said, “In the last eight years, Edo State has suffered and the state is now downgraded in terms of infrastructure, security, and general development. Benin should have the outlook of a modern city but today, it is looking for a person who will uplift the state. Monday is the person to do so.”

The APC National Chairman later received decampees from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including a former Senator, the governorship candidate of Action Alliance for Edo State and the Organizing Secretary of the Labour Party in the state.

The Chairman of APC National Campaign Council for Edo 2024, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, told the people of Edo State that it was time to change direction and build on the legacies of former Governor Oshiomhole so as to improve the lives of the people of the state.

On his part, Former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, praised the humility, loyalty and sense of judgment of Vice President Shettima.

Oshiomhole decried the poor performance of the outgoing Governor of Edo State, saying the state had not witnessed development in the last eight years.

He stated: “Governance is about development; our roads and other infrastructure are dilapidated. Education has suffered a lot. Because the state does not have a State Universal Basic Education Board yet, the Governor has been benefiting from the Universal Basic Education Commission’s funds.

“Our future has been compromised by Obaseki. People of my age and the younger ones have not forgotten what is called “plan well”, a savings scheme championed by the Asue, which defrauded the people.”

The APC governorship candidate appealed for support to change the tide in Edo State.

“We will give loans to our farmers through cooperatives; we will also give soft loans to market women. We will employ over 5,000 teachers within my first 100 days in office. We will build health centers across the 192 wards in Edo and we will declare a state of emergency on education,” he promised.