The governorship candidate of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Edo State, Ms Patience Ndidi, has tasked voters in the election to look beyond sentiments and elect a visionary who would transform the state.
Ndidi, the only female candidate in the race, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, urged the people to look beyond stipends for vote buying, gender and party affiliations, if Edo must be transformed to work for all.
Stressing that “visionary leadership goes beyond gender,” she said Edo needs visionary leaders to address the challenges of unemployment, poverty, hunger, deplorable critical infrastructure such as roads, schools and health facilities.
Ndidi, describing herself as the only David in the race, said the electorates cannot afford to make a wrong choice because the September 21 election is critical for the state’s future.
She added that she is in the race to win, and transform the state through human capital development.
“That is where the place of visionary comes in. A visionary leader sees from wherever he or she is from or is residing.
“A visionary leader feels the pulses of the people. A visionary leader understands the pain points of the people.
“That is where I myself, Patience Ofure Ndidi, come in, because I see vision. I know commitment. I understand compassion.
“I believe in God and great people of Edo State not to make the mistake of following the same people that have taken us backward.
“Leadership is meant for visionaries. Leadership is meant for those who understand commitment and compassion. Leadership is given to people who can be transparent, who can stand accountable, and be trustworthy,’’ she said.
Ndidi described women as leaders with managerial skills and multi-task ability and called on women and men to support her vision.
“They say women don’t encourage women. Women don’t vote for women. But I tell them that’s not true. Women understand women. Women vote for women.
“Women with their managerial skills, with the ability to multitask, we do great things.
“When women stand, we don’t just represent women, we represent the nation. We represent our men, we represent our boys, and we represent our girls,’’ she said.
She urged people of the state not to see the election as competition, but time to come together to make Edo great.
Ndidi said it was time to explore the talents and abundant resources of the state to develop the manufacturing industries, create wealth, and generate revenue.
She said that she would tackle insecurity unemployment and hunger by empowering the people, saying “when we create jobs and environment for investment insecurity will disappeared.’’
Commending the security agencies for their efforts so far towards peaceful election in the state, Ndidi urged them to be professional and neutral on the day of election.