.Vows every vote must count in Sept 21 guber poll
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate in Edo, Asue Ighodalo on Sunday vowed to transform the state’s social and economic development indices with the view to making it a model in good governance and democratic dividends amongst the 36 states as well as giving immediate priority attention to poverty eradication, security, agriculture and marine economy.
Ighodalo at a session with editors in Lagos also promised that the PDP would not leave anything to chance in ensuring that every vote cast in the September 21 gubernatorial poll in the state count even as he demanded a level playing ground for all candidates, from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the security agencies saddled with responsibility to maintain peace before, during and after the exercise.
Elaborating on his manifesto titled “The Pathway to Prosperity for All”, the lawyer said one of the major immediate priorities of government if elected into office, would be to directly empower farmers through massive financial assistance directly to them in order to boost production of local crops like rice and maize for local consumption, supply to industries and other states, stressing that the N1billion spent monthly in providing palliatives to the people before now don’t benefit Edo farmers.
He also listed cashew nuts and palm oil production as well as rubber plantation as other agricultural produce that would receive government attention in the medium and long run.
Describing poverty among the people as appalling, he said electioneering campaign to the 18 local government areas of the state has revealed an intolerable level of suffering following the high cost of food items and goods promising to tackle the hardship immediately he was sworn into office. “We can’t continue with the current level of poverty in our state and the country like this, one day our resilience will crumble and I am afraid, it may take longer but can’t rule it out”, he added pledging to change the socio-economic development narrative from the grassroots level in order to boost citizens’ wellbeing and security.
On security, Ighodalo said, his administration would devise a constructive way to tackle insecurity across the state decisively, by equipping existing federal security agencies like the Nigeria Police Force, with the state of the art equipment, operational vehicles and motivation for officers and men to enhance their operational efficiency and rid the Heartbeat of the nation of criminal elements.
With security of lives and property firmly in place and kidnapping totally eradicated, he said that will change the current perception by Edo indigenes in the diaspora that the state is unsafe for visitation and investment, disclosing that his recent interaction with them abroad showed that they don’t feel secured coming home while those who visit stop at Lagos and Abuja thereby boosting the economies of their hosts to the detriment of the state.
According to him, adequate security of lives and property is critical to the social and economic development of the state, adding that it would go a long way to encourage those abroad not only to invest in the state but build residential houses and visit regularly as well as promote tourism and the cultural heritage for which Edo is renowned.
Promising to establish a N100billion economy monthly, he said three economic zones would be carved out in the state to actualize the effort, with government encouraging prospective investors and creating an enabling environment for private sector participation.
He said respect for the private sector operators, adequate security, skilled manpower, transparency in governance and consistent government policies were essential for the state to enjoy huge flow of private investment and economic boom, noting that there is a whopping $50billion idle funds globally that nations and states can tap from.
Ighodalo said like what obtained during the first republic when Western and Eastern Regions blazed the trail in economic development, he hoped to transform Edo with into a first world state for its peers to emulate.
Answering a question, Ighodalo said the media holds a sacred responsibility to correctly inform and educate the people on all issues of public concern and to ensure that all candidates are given fair and accurate reportage ahead the forthcoming governorship election. He said the PDP would take all legitimate means to protect its votes in the poll..
