BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Martins Azekhumen Okoukoni has pledged to change the present narrative of Edo State with institutional reforms if elected governor of the state come 2024.
He expressed confidence that with the ideology of the LP and his own progressive personality, the needed apparatus to checkmate corrupt system would be seamlessly institutionalised in Edo State.
Mr. Martins stated this shortly after he unveiled his ambition at the Labour Party State Secretariat in Benin City on Tuesday.
“I am here at the Labour Party State Secretariat to let my able State Chairman aware that I want to run for the 2024 gubernatorial election. I want to be the next governor of the state.
“I have been in the system for a long time. Before now I was in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I have gone to study in abroad, upon my return I realized that the system run here is not enough to carry humans along compare to the other side of the world.
“So why I am running is to have institutional reforms that can take care of the people because what we have now is not enough”, Mr. Martins said.
The guber hopeful who hails from Uromi town in Esan North East local government area of Edo State also stated that he pitched tent with LP because of its fast spreading popularity and ideology which he believes can make a huge difference in the lives of the people.
“INEC and EDSIEC are the same people, they’re human beings, the first thing we will do is to change the mindset of the people. Everybody needs to understand that this country belongs to us and that it is our responsibility to change this country and make things work.
“If you do not put a system in place that will checkmate INEC, it will remain the same forever. When I become the governor of the state I am going to put a system in place that can checkmate individuals, no matter the status”, the LP guber aspirant maintained.
Earlier, the Labour Party Chairman in Edo State Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, flanked by other chieftains of the party welcomed Mr. Martins Azekhumen to the Secretariat.
“As one of those who have indicated interest to run for the gubernatorial election in Edo State, it is my pleasure to welcome you to my office”, the Chairman stated.
Captions:
Mr. Martins Azekhumen Okoukoni addressing journalists after unveiling his Guber ambition at LP Edo State Secretariat in Benin City, September 5, 2023.
2. The State Chairman of LP, left with Mr. Martins Azekhumen in Benin City.
3. The guber hopeful, Mr. Martins Azekhumen with other LP chieftains in Benin City.
