Traders at Uwelu Auto parts market and the Igbinaduwa community yesterday, gave a rousing reception to Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 10 gubernatorial election in Edo State as he joined Governor Adams Oshiomhole on inspection of some projects in the state capital.
The traders who chanted the APC gubernatorial candidate’s name during the inspection asked him not to let the Governor and people of the state down but should build on the legacies of the Oshiomhole administration, promising that he has their full support.
Speaking on behalf of the teeming crowd, a resident of Igbinaduwa community, Mr. Isaac Ibalogban said, “we are all behind you. Mr. Obaseki, please, don’t disappoint our Governor. We want you to follow his footsteps because he has been doing well for us.
“Right from the time I have been in this town, this is the first time I am seeing this State developing like other States. We have always appreciated him for whatever he is doing. I want you to follow his footsteps so that Edo State can continue to change more what it is.”
Responding, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Godwin Obaseki said, “I want to assure you, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done part one. I will continue with part two”, while Governor Oshiomhole said “I want to assure you the reason we are all united behind Obaseki is that from the beginning, he’s been in the kitchen. So, he knows the A to Z of this project. But you know there are silent workers behind the scene. So, now the masquerade has to come out and take over from me. You know governance is like a relay, it is not a hundred metre dash. It’s a relay; when you get to the next point, you pass the baton and then fall back.”
At Uwelu, while addressing the traders during the inspection of the asphalting of the Uwelu road, Governor Oshiomhole said, we have come for project inspection. You know the last time I was here, this place was very bad, and we told you we were going to put asphalt, and after asphalt, we will put drainage. You have seen that they have started working on the asphalt now. By the time we are done, all the flooding issues would have been addressed. And coincidentally, a man who with your support, and by the special grace of God will be the next governor, I have taken him around, he has been part of it, he is the brain box in the office while I am the one on the road.
“Now, I have brought him to the road so that he can see what we have been doing. So, he has come to see this project and it will continue till November, and when I finish, I will hand over to him and he will continue from there. Now he has to come from the office and come to the road and continue from where we stop. I know that all the support you have been giving me, you will transfer that support to him. All the loyalty you have been giving me, transfer that loyalty to him so that every project we have started, he will make sure he completes them, and what we have on ground, he will make sure he completes them.
Oshiomhole continued, “Within the next few weeks, we are going to start erecting the street lights. We will put the street light because we know many of you are traders. And when there is street light, you don’t have to close at 6.00 pm, so that you will have light all day round.”
In his remarks, Mr. Obaseki said, “I want to assure all of you that what you are seeing now is a plan that was started eight years ago. This is only part one. By the grace of God, when Comrade finishes in November, we will start part two. After building this road, what we are going to bring are industries. We will make sure we have electricity here. We are building a power plant the will bring electricity. After bringing electricity, we will bring industries so that every one of you can get work. So, believe me; trust me. I will work for you.”
Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Edo APC gubernatorial candidate (2nd left) and Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) during the inspection of the ongoing asphalting of the Uwelu road, Benin City.
