The race for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State assumed a new dimension yesterday as the leadership and candidates of five political parties adopted the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the election, Sen Monday Okpebholo and called on their supporters to vote for the APC on the election day.
The political parties include the National Rescue Movement (NRM), the Alliance Peoples Movement (APM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
They were received at the state secretariat of the APC by Okpebholo, his running mate, Hon Dennis Idahosa; the acting state chairman of the party, Emperor Jarret Tenebe; the secretary of the party, Lawrence Okah; the director general of the Edo APC Governorship Campaign Council, Sen Matthew Uroghide and others.
Speaking on behalf of the other candidates who took turns to endorse the speech, Hon Sam Arase of the NRM said, “Today is another beautiful day as Edo State marks 33 years of our existence. We have decided that as we approach September 21, the date slated for our gubernatorial election, we the assemblies of registered political parties in Edo State, haven carefully watched the campaign activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC), listened to their manifesto and carefully watched what the candidate has in stock for the people of Edo State, we specially took one thing into cognizance and that is when he talked about how he will take care of the bastardised educational system in the state.
“Education is very paramount in whatever one does. Today, we are talking because we are educated; we can read and write because we are educated. He told the people of the state that all the schools that are underdeveloped will be developed if, by the grace of God, he becomes the governor of the state.
“We came back home and decided to come here today as members of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), including our candidate, Dr Dennis Osahon; the Alliance Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate and the Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate to work together with the APC.
All our candidates, having discussed with them and the leadership of our parties, have decided to vote enmasse for the APC.
“What we want is the growth and development of this state. We want Edo to come back to its feet again. We want Edo people to know that they will elect a man who means well for them because of his antecedents which we are happy about.
“If you go to where he comes from, he has successfully developed that area, which is what we want. A man of his calibre, if he is given the opportunity to govern this state, we are going to witness massive development. He is a man that has respect for tradition and he respects both the old and the young,
“We are calling on all our supporters across the 19 local government areas to come out on September 21 to cast their votes for Sen Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Hon Dennis Idahosa.”
In his reponse, Sen Okpebholo commended them for the gesture, stressing that he would run an all-inclusive government and ensure that he implements every item in his manifesto. He promised to turn the state into a huge construction site.
He said, “I am not the only candidate that is contesting right now. There is something special about me that they have seen; they have seen the capacity in me; they have seen me as somebody who can actually move Edo State forward.
“For me, I have all that it takes because when you look at my manifesto that I will develop education, provide good healthcare for our people, turn Edo State into a construction site, I mean every word because this current state government has actually failed Edo people.
“There is nothing you can say about Edo State today that is working; no industry. The ones that were working before are all gone. So, I feel pain in my heart that there is nothing in Edo State and the level of impunity and disrespect for our leaders especially the traditional institution is alarming and it bothers me. I am happy that you have come to support me in this because it is a big task and without being told, I believe that this state needs a unity government because we must all work together to make Edo State strong and viable.”
On his part, Tenebe said the party would not take the generous support of the parties for granted noting that it is an indication that they share in the vision of the APC that the state needs to move forward while Uroghide said their generous support for the party would be rewarded.