BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Three days before the Edo 2024 governorship election, the atmosphere is increasingly tense, amid high expectations, anxieties and uncertainties of the electorates.
Following months of campaign by the various candidates, the moment of truth is at hand.
With current Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term coming to an end on November 12, 2024, a new governor is set to emerge from Saturday September 21st gubernatorial election.
Out of 18 governorship candidates, it is interesting that two out of the three major contenders for the election are from Edo Central Senatorial District and Esan ethnic group, while one is from the Southern part of the state and of Benin extraction.
Amid accusations and counteraccusations by the opposing parties, they have been busy holding political rallies across the 18 local governments and 192 wards in the State giving the electorates reasons to elect their flagbearer.
Regrettably, political party activities, ahead of the election have never been so characterized by unprintable utterances and counter inciteful statements, unexpected of political leaders in the 21st century politics – behaviors that are unequivocally capable of undermining the peace and integrity of the electoral process.
However, with the current situation in the country and Edo residents’ desire to elect a governor with tangible solutions to the myriads of issues confronting them, it is important for the polls to be peaceful.
Security agencies, including the Police and paramilitary agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service and Federal Road Safety Corps deploying personnel for the election, are expected to carry out their election duties in line with INEC’s directives, and respect the rights of electorates who will come out to perform their civic duties. Edo people expect that security agencies, who are involved in providing security in the elections will do their duties professionally.
Because of the crucial nature of the election whose outcome, good or bad will impact the lives of millions of Edo people for a long time, Alltimepost.com decided to feel the pulse of the people across the three senatorial districts vis-a-viz their desires and expectations of who will serve them for the next four years.
It was also to ascertain their knowledge of the three most visible and serious candidates and educate them in balanced and objective reporting, as they make their decisions on who to vote for.
Our Regional Correspondent, Mike Osarogiagbon was entrusted with this very important journalistic assignment and he very well delivered on the Special Report.
The three major gubernatorial contenders are Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the State’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party at the national level, and Barrister Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Dr. Asuelime Ighodalo was born on July 19, 1959. He hails from Okaigben, Ewohimi, Esan South East LGA, Edo State, Nigeria. He is a product of King’s College, Lagos. Asue Ighodalo obtained B.Sc degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1981, an LL.B from the London School of Economics and Political Science (1984) and a B.L from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
After graduation from Nigerian Law School, Lagos, Ighodalo worked as an Associate in the law firm of Chris Ogunbanjo & Co between 1985 and 1991, and in 1991 he set up Banwo & Ighodalo, in partnership with Femi Olubanwo.
The firm is consistently ranked as a leading Nigerian law firm in the areas of Capital Markets, Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions. Ighodalo’s core areas of practice include Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, Energy; Natural Resources, Mergers; Acquisitions, Banking, Securitization and Project Finance.
Ighodalo was the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Sterling Bank Plc, Dangote Flour Mills Plc and The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). He also sat on the boards of other public and private companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and a statutory body including Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the FATE Foundation (an NGO committed to the development of entrepreneurs in Nigeria).
Dr. Asue Ighodalo became the Chairman of Sterling Bank in August 2014. He is a member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and is a past chairman of The NBA – Section on Business Law (NBA SBL).
He is also a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), USA, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, International Bar Association (IBA), Nigerian Maritime Law Association, Commercial Law & Taxation Committee of the Lagos Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, London School of Economics Lawyers’ Group and Associate Member Chartered Institute of Taxation.
Ighodalo has presented several papers on capital markets issues both within and outside Nigeria, and also authored many articles in leading law publications. He sometimes lectures on corporate governance, directors’ duties and responsibilities, and entrepreneurship at the Institute of Directors, Lagos Business School and FATE Foundation entrepreneurial training sessions, respectively.
He resigned from all corporate positions he held to aspire to become the governor of Edo State.
Ighodalo is married to Ifeyinwa, and they have two daughters, Omoehi and Ayomide.
In pursuit of his gubernatorial ambition, Dr. Asue Ighodalo has promised a pathway to security, women and youth development, education, agriculture and food security, rural and community development and other strategies to uplift the standard of living in Edo State.
He also pledged to provide care for the elderly, respect for the traditional and religious institutions; industrialization, care for the children and vulnerable in the society and harnessing the importance of the diaspora for better working relationship that would foster development in all parts of the state.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Senator Monday Okpebholo, affectionately known as ‘Akpakomiza’, was born on August 29, 1970 in Udomi-Uwessan community of Irrua. Okpebholo attended Udomi Community Primary School and Ujabhole Community Secondary School, both in Uwesan Irrua, Esan Central LGA.
He completed his secondary education and obtained his senior school certificate in Jos, Plateau State. Afterwards, he obtained a degree in Business Administration from the University of Abuja.
Okpebholo contested for the Senate Seat in Edo Central Senatorial District, under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was elected on February 25, 2023. On June 13, 2023, he was inaugurated into the 10th National Assembly of Nigeria, as the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Edo Central Senatorial District.
Okpebhole, who in February 2024, won the Edo State APC gubernatorial primary election is credited with being a grassroots politician who has done a lot for his senatorial district.
Okpebholo is married to Blessing Okpapi, with two children.
In selling himself and his manifesto to the Edo Electorate, Okpebholo promised to prioritize the welfare and wellbeing of Edo people by improving healthcare, electricity supply, water, education and job creation in the state.
His summarized his agenda: Health, security, education, road construction, and agriculture.
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP)
Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata (born October 7, 1972, is from Edo South Senatorial District of Edo State.
He started his educational journey at Nana Primary School in Warri, then moved on to Federal Government College, Warri and later King’s College in Lagos.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Benin, Edo state in 1992 and was called to the bar in 1993. Olumide made history when he became the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 28 years to be elected president of the Nigerian Bar Association in July 2020.
Barr. Olumide Akpata is a Nigerian legal practitioner-turned politician. He was a senior partner and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars Law Firm in Nigeria until his resignation on August 31, 2023 to pursue partisan politics. On Friday, February 23, 2024, he became the Labour Party candidate for Edo 2024 election.
Among his electoral campaign promises, Akpata has pledged to address the protracted issue of flooding and environmental degradation in Edo, as well as partner with Edos in diaspora for the good of the state and people.
Feeling the pulse
Given past campaign grand promises by politicians that did not translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives, the electorates in Edo are brimming with a mixture of apprehension and optimism.
The current economic hardship is a significant concern, casting a dark shadow over the campaign trails and shaping voters’ perspectives in Saturday’s Edo governorship poll decision making.
The residents are worried that despite hopeful rhetoric, the next governor might not offer the relief they desperately need. The economic challenges are palpable, from rising insecurity, unemployment, hunger, inadequate infrastructure, lack of quality healthcare and education, the electorates are demanding visible solutions to their problems.
Mr. Uyi Adams, commercial bus driver said “fuel is now N1,200 per litre. My daily take home pay used to be between N9,000 and N12,000 after paying the bus owner, buying tickets and settling ‘Agberos’ (touts).
Now, almost everything goes for petrol and maintenance. My four children went to spend the long holiday with my parents since last month; school is about to resume, my children want to return home, I don’t have money to send to them or buy petrol in the bus to bring them.
“Yesterday, my wife wanted to sell the only standing fan in my living room to enable my children to return, but an interested neighbor promised to pay by first week of October when he expects to receive his salary.
“I don’t know whether my wife has been able to get someone else to pay cash. I don’t want to bother about their school fees for now because it is not safe to imagine crossing a bridge when you have not encountered one.
H would not hide his discontent and cynicism against the government.
“Oga! Government na government, whether State, federal or local, I don’t care. Make government fix the economy, first, they should bring back petrol subsidies, repair our roads, control erosion so that flood nor go dey drive us from roads and some our houses.
A woman who sells roasted plantains (Bole) along Airport Road by Adeyan street junction while expressing anguish at the current economic hardship people are facing and her distrust for INEC, noted: I am a mother of five, I have two young graduates, it is the business I used to support my husband to train our children. It has never been this tough. I can’t explain what I am currently passing through in this ‘Bole’ business because you will not understand. She did not want her name in print.
“I don’t know those contesting, but I see campaign trains of different political parties when they are passing here, their posters everywhere. I don’t listen to them because they only make promises of solving our collective problems to secure our votes, thereafter, face their families and godfathers.
“I have PVC, but I don’t vote. My expectation is that once the election is over and a winner declared, the losing side should accept defeat so that everyone can go about looking for daily bread. This is where I look for my own food.”
A pineapple farmer in Iguelaiho Community, Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, Eguavoen Uyiosa lamented the almost inaccessible state of the road to his village despite huge farm produce being cultivated by the inhabitants.
“My village Iguelaiho community is less than three kilometers from Okomu palm oil farm junction. Do you know that at least four trucks load of different farm produce leave the community daily. The road remains a deplorable earth road after several assurances from government to tarred it from Okomu oil palm farm junction.
“I want electricity supply to my community to be improved upon and the school buildings renovated”.
A Cocoa Merchants Mr. Osaze Akhanolu from Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, while speaking on his expectation from the next governor, advised that the next administration should endeavor to improve the standard of education in the state with improved funding.
He particularly called on the next governor to fund the state university, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), saying the university had suffered from underfunding causing many students to transfer to other universities.
In the area of security, Mr. Osaze Akhanolu implored whoever becomes the next governor to work assiduously to improve on security in the state to address the menace of kidnapping and other security problems, just as he suggested that the next governor should fund other paramilitary outfits to guarantee security of lives and property.
He wants the next governor to improve road infrastructure, with emphasis on erosion control to solve the problem of flooding in Edo Central and the state in general, lamenting that flood recently killed a woman around Momoh Street in Ekpoma.
He lamented also that when it rains in Ekpoma, everybody panics, as many houses have been submerged and property destroyed.
He similarly stressed the need for the next governor to tackle unemployment to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the state, noting that there were too many unemployed youths roaming the streets. He also challenged the next administration to invest in mechanized Agriculture to achieve food security and address the problem of hunger in the land and generate employment. The next administration, he advised should encourage the youths to go into farming by training them in modern methods of farming.
He enjoined whoever succeeds governor Obaseki to be a leader that would see the entire state as his constituency, who will not victimize any part of the state for political reasons, but bring about even and accelerated development in the state.
“I expect the next governor to improve on the standard of education, especially AAU, because AAU is relevant to the economy of Ekpoma and its environs. Security of lives and property should be improved. Road infrastructure, with emphasis on erosion control. For instance, a woman, a mother of children was killed by flood in Ekpoma.
“The next governor should do everything within his ability to reduce the rate of employment. I also expect the governor to work on mechanized farming to boost food security and also generate employment. I want a governor that will bring about even and accelerated development and see the entire state as his constituency, a pan Edo Governor that will not victimize any part or tribe in the state”.
Assessing the present administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Cocoa Merchant described him as a governor who has the ordinary people at heart. According to him, one thing he never did was to marginalize any part of the state.
He said for instance, the administration before him never tarred a single road in Ekpoma, but Obaseki, despite not winning Esan West Local Government Area tarred roads in Ekpoma and other parts of Esan West.
On assessment of the candidates of the three major political parties based on their contribution to the development of their respective communities, Mr. Akhanolu said he was not abreast with what each had done for his community but believe the PDP candidate was his preferred candidate for the election, due to his manifesto and records in the private sector.
Another respondent, Barr. Cynthia Esekhaigbe, who hails from Ohordua in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, said she expects the incoming governor to tackle the problem of insecurity in the state head-on, as kidnapping, robbery, banditry have been on the rise in recent times; creating uncertainty and sorrow in the state. She also expects the next governor to invest in the health system, road infrastructure to aid movement of goods to where they are needed, and also address the problems bedeviling the state owned-Ambrose Alli University (AAU), to improve the quality of graduates produced by the institution.
“I expect the next governor to take the issue of security of lives and property very seriously, because as it is today acts of kidnapping, robbery, banditry and others have really been on the rise, hence it should be tackled.
“Poor road infrastructure should be improved upon to aid better business transaction and enable people move their goods to where they would be sold. The general hospitals still lack a lot in terms of infrastructure and amenities”, she advised.
On her assessment of the present administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, she opined that the government had brought innovation to some sectors, including education, civil service reforms, payment of salaries and pension.
Barr. Cynthia Esekhaigbe said he has no knowledge of the candidates of the political parties or their contribution to the development of their community. She said she had no preferred candidate yet.
Etinosa Godspower, a university graduate currently on his NYSC said he expects the next governor to equip schools in the state to enhance teaching and learning; tackle insecurity and unemployment, provide good road infrastructure, and improve health care system.
“To tackle unemployment, the next governor should invest in industrialization. When there are industries, unemployment will be reduced”.
He scored the present administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki low, saying he had failed to perform to expectation, especially in road infrastructure.
He submitted that he has no good knowledge of the candidates of the various political parties but expects who ever emerge winner to work assiduously to take the state to the sought after Eldorado.
In Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Gabriel Okoro, an auto parts dealer said governor Obaseki has tried in the area of especially regular payment of workers salary as most other states are owing salaries and construction of some roads.
He said most of the time administration was used for court cases. He accused the governor of being tightfisted as many of his followers are complaining.
He further stated that the present situation in the country leaves much to be desired as he expects the incoming governor to provide more security for the citizens and construct more roads across the state.
He also advised the next governor to provide quality education, good roads, healthcare services.
Also, Abudu Gimba, an iron bender commended the outgoing governor for the welfare of workers and pensioners in the state. He said the governor tried to reduce insecurity in the state.
“The governor no try for roads construction in this our area at all the way he com dey fight other PDP members no good, big people for PDP don comot finish as e come remove his Deputy Philip shaibu for office no good,” He said.
Gimba advised whoever wins the election to also ensure he provides security and basic social amenities such as education, good healthcare system and infrastructures to the people, build good roads network to connect communities like what Oshiomhole did during his tenure as governor.
On his part, Amos Akhigbe, a commercial bike rider lauded the efforts of the outgoing governor Godwin Obaseki for total renovation of the Secretariat building in Benin City, but chided the governor for demolishing the Central Hospital in Benin.
According to Gimba, “Me I don’t like as he demolished the hospital and the quarrel between him and the Oba of Benin.
“The next governor should make sure he serve the people, listen to them and know what they want and see how he can reduce the hardship even though a governor has no power over fuel but can make other things cheap in the state, try and solve the problem of unemployment in the state and provide transportation system to cushion the effects of fuel hike in the country, give soft loans to farmers and small-scale enterprises.
“The governor should see how he can widen warrake and Igarra roads, build modern markets in some communities and eradicate double taxation.”
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