Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has taken his re-election campaign a notch higher with a fund raiser held for him at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja to fund his re-election.
Oshiomhole, who vowed to sustain the struggle to keep the forces of darkness and underdevelopment out of the state, said his administration has succeeded because the people now determine what goes on in the state.
“Today, Edo people determine who is a councillor, chairman, members of the House of Assembly, the governor and any of the elective offices. We must sustain the momentum to take Edo State to the next level,” he noted.
He added: “I have nothing to live for but to stand on the side of truth. Nigeria is greater than any of the political parties and for those who believe they are greater than Nigeria, we cannot be afraid of them because we are determined that those who feast on our common wealth must be stopped and we are not relenting to stop them.”
Oshiomhole said while the Action Congress of Nigeria has been going round the various communities telling the people what the government has done in less than three years, while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party is in Abuja perfecting plans to rig the election.
He said: “We have shown what we have done. The flooding problem in Benin is a thing of the past. There are roads with street lights and drainages to open up the various communities. Schools are constructed and water is flowing in parts of Edo State where in the past they said it was impossible. We have shown that with a level of commitment, determination and conviction that if the resources are deployed creatively, life will not be impossible.”
While assuring Nigerians and the people of Edo State of his determination to apply the resources of the state to improve the life of the people, Oshiomhole said when re-elected for a second term together with the people they will take the state to the next level.
He added: “We are asking for second tenure to consolidate on what has been done. Of course, we need resources to sustain our efforts in the course of electioneering, but most importantly beyond money are the people. We appreciate the contributions of those who are contributing to the project in Edo State irrespective of which political party they belong to and it requires a level of courage to openly identify with us in the vision to reinvent and take the state to the next level.”
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Audu Ogbeh, described Oshiomhole as a man who has plans with the courage to follow it up.
Ogbeh lambasted the opposition PDP for refusing to see the hope and good governance now in Edo state.
“I used to be an employee of the PDP for four years and I can say that Edo State has been transformed today by Comrade Oshiomhole who has dealt with the citadel of godfathers in the state,” he said.
The ACN leader, who advised the people of Edo State to lend their support to the re-election of Oshiomhole by ensuring that it is one man one vote, noted that they should not sit away and hope the election will be won.
“Do not presume the election is won until it is won on July 14. The people may want him, but the vote manufacturers will want something else therefore volunteer to be polling agents and monitor the votes at the ward level,” he added.
The Chief Launcher of the fund raising, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman BUA Group, who was represented by Engr. Abiodun T. Abe, disclosed that Edo Cement, Okpilla, one of the subsidiary of the group, is back after so many years of inactivity because of the initiative of Oshiomhole.
Rabiu said: “We have identified Comrade Oshiomhole as a good brand and we are supporting his re-election bid to continue the massive transformation that is going on in all the sectors of the economy of the state. We need politicians who are committed towards the growth of industries, ensure there are infrastructures in the communities, make electricity functional, investing in education which are affordable to the people.”
Among dignitaries who graced the ceremony were Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Akin Odunsi, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Domingo Obende and Senator Ehigie Uzamere.