APC ready for Edo guber polls- Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomole

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is ready for the Sept. 28 gubernatorial elections.

Oshiomhole, who spoke with State House Correspondents, said that the ruling party was also sure of victory having worked for Edo people in the past seven and half years.

“We work for Edo people. There is no ward in the state that you won’t find the government’s standard projects whether it is roads, school, health centre, and water.

“These are things that they have never seen for the 10 years of PDP in the state,’’ he said.

He added that the state had climbed from 30th position to 2nd position in the School Certificate examination showing that the state was no longer regarded as `miracle’ centre for students.

He said that before his administration came into office, public schools were dead and had to be resurrected to save the future of the children and the entire state.

He said that in the past student paid their way to obtain certificates in NECO and WAEC and continued in that mode when they got admitted into tertiary institutions.

The governor said the APC launched the one-man-one-vote campaign in the state, adding that with the power of the permanent voter card (PVC) everyone had the right to make a reasonable choice.

He said that the choice in Edo was whether to bring back the Lucky Igbinedion era, which he described as retrogressive, or to continue with the progressive Oshiomhole era.

“I have no doubt, any day anywhere, Edo man will vote APC,’’ he said.

He also defended and acknowledged the role that former governor Samuel Ogbemudia, an octogenarian, had played in Edo politics.

He described him as a statesman and father of the state, adding that no one could deny him that status giving his own achievements as governor.

He said Ogbemudia formed the Edo Mass Movement in order to look at personalities of candidates rather than party on a non-partisan basis.

Oshiomhole said that the movement had the right after interaction with the candidates to endorse any of them.

The governor appealed to those who planned to foment trouble in the Edo guber polls by importing thugs into the state to desist as such attempt would be resisted by the electorate.

He noted that some states in the South-South region had the history of violence and deaths during elections and such should not be brought into Edo.

He emphasised the need for credible polls in the state where the vote of the people would count.

The governor further denied influencing the postponement of the governorship polls adding that he had no links with INEC or the security agencies.