FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has appealed to the people of Evbareke and Uwelu Spare Parts market in Egor Local Government Area to vote the APC in the September 21 governorship election.
Okpebholo stated this at Evbareke and Uwelu Spare Parts market during the party’s ward to ward campaign in Egor Local Government Area.
The governorship candidate said he will ensure that the road leading to the market is tarred to make it accessible.
According to him, “I will make sure I tar this road immediately I assume office as the governor of Edo State. I know fully well that the spare parts market contributes to the economy of the state greatly”.
He promised to provide the dividends of democracy to Edo State if given the mandate.
Also in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Okpebholo promised to revive Bendel Brewery and ensure that youths are fully employed.
“We will employ 500 teachers within 100 days in office, as well as provide pipe borne water. There will be mechanised farming, as women will be given soft loans and 35 percent quota will be allocated to them in my cabinet.”
On his part, Director-General of the APC Campaign, Matthew Urhokhide appealed to the people to vote APC on election day.
Urhokhide said both Edo North and Central have agreed with the Esan agenda, hence their choice of Senator Okpebholo as their party’s candidate. He said he believes that Okpebholo, as a good candidate, will listen to the yearnings of the people.
Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole called on members of the APC and its supporters to be vigilant and brace up for emerging threats against the peaceful and credible conduct of the gubernatorial election billed for September 21.
Oshiomhole, who alleged that there are attempts by a certain woman caught with packs of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in Ovia Federal Constituency and voters suppression linked to the ongoing PVC collection in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
The former governor, who raised the alarm at the APC governorship rally, asked Governor Godwin Obaseki and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Asue Ighodalo to bury the act, stating that thought of rigging cannot happen.
He said, “Don’t dance too much and allow them to compromise the electoral process by stealing PVCs and deny you the opportunity to vote. We will defend those rights. We will do so peacefully in a civilised manner.
“Now, what is at stake in this election is much more than you can easily understand”, Senator Oshiomhole stated.
He also disclosed that an APC-led government will make Edo Specialist Hospital accessible to all residents, if Senator Okpebholo wins the governorship poll.
The multi-billion naira 120-bed capacity which was built during his second tenure and inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari, was privatised by the Obaseki-led government, which also demolished Central Hospital Complex beside the health facility and allocated the land for the proposed Museum for West Africa Arts, MOWAA, project.
Oshiomhole stated that the next government will carry out a comprehensive audit on the privatisation of the the hospital, as well as ensure that those behind the alleged fraudulent deal that made healthcare accessible only to the rich are prosecuted.
He accused Governor Obaseki of deploying consultants without knowledge of hospital management to operate the specialist hospital solely for purpose of revenue generation.
A chieftain of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who led members of the party and supporters in a brief moment of worship, lamented the failed promises of PDP and assured that Senator Okpebholo will deliver on his promises.
