Vice President Kashim Shettima, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is the right man to take Edo State to the next level.
According to report Vice President Shettima made the remarks in Benin City at the grand finale campaign rally in support of the party’s candidate ahead of next Saturday’s governorship election.
He assured the people of the state of the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the incoming government’s efforts to develop the state.
The vice president, who described the APC candidate as a seasoned leader with a proven track record of excellence, assured that the Federal Government would work tirelessly to ensure that Edo State receives the support it deserves.
While stressing the importance of unity and peace in achieving progress, he noted that the signing of the peace accord by the party without hesitation shows its dedication to putting the interests of Edo above all else.
He noted that with the increase in allocation to states, the incoming government would have the resources to bankroll developmental projects in the state.
According to him, “I am a man who feels it all and has a story to tell. I understand the struggles of Edo State, and I am committed to being part of the solution.”
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, urged the electorate to vote en masse for the APC candidate on Sept 21.
“The clouds of intimidation have lifted, and the ground is fertile for our party’s vision to flourish. Edo has become a symbol of literary and economic resurgence,” he stated.
He also praised the state’s party leadership, adding that their commitment to the party is unwavering, and acknowledged their tireless efforts.
In his address, shortly after receiving the party’s flag, Okpebholo promised to revive the economy of the state, describing the eight years of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s government as a failure.
Okpebholo said Edo people had suffered for long and voting out the PDP remained the only way to stop it.
“Our mumu don do, and by voting for the APC, we are voting for education, security, social infrastructure, good healthcare services, and agriculture.”
“Under agriculture, we are going to provide loans for our farmers and soft loans for our market women,” he added.
He promised to employ 10,000 teachers, half of whom, he said, would be employed within the first 100 days in office.
The APC candidate described the state of basic education in the state as dire, saying there were no teachers in basic schools.
He also promised to declare a state of emergency on infrastructure, decrying the deplorable state of roads in the state.
Other APC stalwarts who canvassed votes for the party’s candidate at the rally included the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River, who is the chairman of the national governorship campaign council for the state election.
The rally was attended by a massive crowd of APC supporters, state governors from across the six geopolitical zones of the country, among others.
