Dr Asue Ighodalo, a governorship aspirant in the September 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be coasting home to victory even before the election is held on account of the widespread support his aspiration is garnering across the length and breadth of the state
On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, Benin City, the Edo State capital went agog when the indigenes of the state trooped out en mass to welcome the campaign team of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship aspirant, Dr Asue Ighodalo. Dr Ighodalo is aspiring to rule the state after the current governor, Godwin Obaseki has completed his tenure. Governorship election in Edo State is coming in September 2024.
There was heavy gridlock along Airport Road and adjourning streets in Benin City on that day when Ighodalo officially declared his interest in contesting for the governorship of Edo State under the PDP. Ighodalo said that he desires to take Edo State to a height of making it the greatest state in Nigeria.
His declaration to contest the Edo State governorship this year was made at the Airport Road state secretariat of the PDP, and it attracted leaders of the party from the three senatorial districts. These dignitaries include former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi who presented Ighodalo as the consensus aspirant from Edo Central Senatorial District.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony were the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, his immediate predecessor and now a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Marcus Onobun, Former Speakers, Friday Itula and David Iyoha, Hon John Yakubu, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Charity Aiguobarueghian, Prince Joe Okojie, former deputy governor, Mike Ogiadomhe, Hon Jonson Abolagba, Henry Tenebe, among several others.
Speaking at the event, Ighodalo said, “My mission will be to create an Edo where quality education is accessible to all, where hard work is rewarded and where our talented youth can turn their dreams and aspirations into reality. I believe in the promise of an Edo where every person, regardless of their start in life, can write their own story of success -if we take the right steps, together.
“No part of Edo will be left behind. From the high plains of Kukuruku to the lush vegetation of Ilushi; from the rich, red sands of Sakponba, to Esanlands’ incredible biodiversity, we have all that is needed to make our state a mesmerizing destination for progress and wealth. Across each administrative zone, in Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South, we will create practical and focused economic development teams that will harness each area’s unique potential to create wealth for all our people.”
He said as governor, he would be the Chief Welfare Officer of the state and “Of course, no part of Edo can truly develop without the necessary infrastructure to facilitate growth. We will make it our urgent and pressing priority to build and maintain high-quality roads across Edo state, and take advantage of our unique location to connect our people to even greater opportunities that will flow from the passage of travellers transiting through our state. Beyond roads, we will build rail networks across the senatorial zones that will allow us to move not just our people and tourists but also agricultural produce, economic goods and finished products across, and beyond the state. We will continue and conclude ongoing plans to develop the Benin Port infrastructure that will raise real inclusive growth in the state substantially and qualitatively.”
Ikimi said Ighodalo emerged as the consensus aspirant from Edo Central after a painstaking meeting and consultations with leaders from the area.
The high point of the declaration was the official declaration of support for Ighodalo by all the aspirants who stepped down for Ighodalo.
The governorship aspiration of Dr. Ighodalo in Edo State received a boost as a co-aspirant, John Yakubu, a two-time Esan North East Local Government Area Chairman stepped down for him.
Yakubu disclosed his action to journalists recently at Igueben, the administrative headquarters of Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State. He spoke after a closed-door meeting with the Edo Central PDP Special Committee headed by the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ikimi.
Yakubu said he opted to step down in the interest of the party as well as the positive activities displayed by Ighodalo.
According to him, “After due consultation across our top party leadership spectrum, members of my Campaign Organisation and my teeming supporters, across the three Senatorial Districts and beyond, I have decided that for the overall interest of our party and the yearning of Edo people to continue to have the PDP at Osadebe Avenue, to lay down my gubernatorial aspiration.
“Going by the wise direction paved and shown by our party Senatorial leadership so far, the body language of members of our party and the positive activities displayed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo himself, it has become very clear that he, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, stands in good position to bring about this much needed development to us as a party and in the state.
“On this ground, I stand solidly behind Dr. Asue Ighodalo, not only as our gubernatorial candidate but in all of the activities that will ensure his victory and our victory at the polls come September, 2024”.
Four other aspirants, including a former speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and member of House of Representatives, Hon. Friday Itula, Senator Clifford Odia in the 9th Senate, House of Representatives member, Marcus Onobun and Kenneth Awolimen have already stepped down for Ighodalo.
