BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has described the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC), its governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his running-mate, Hon. Philip Shaibu in the September 28, 2016 governorship election in Edo State as victory for the people of Edo State, victory for Nigeria and victory for all those who subscribe to the doctrine of one-man, one-vote and for all who will forever determine who governs them.
Speaking with newsmen shortly in Benin City after the announcement of the result of the governorship election in Edo State on Thursday in which Mr. Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress was declared winner and return elected, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said, “The season of election rigging where one or two godfathers fix result is over and we were committed to dismantling the rigging machine of all those who have lived and sustained it in this state.” The Governor said, “I think today’s announcement has completed my own chapter in this struggle. First, we had a re-run referendum in 2012. With all the godfathers on one side and the new forces of change on the other side, and I won in all the eighteen local government areas. This time, having buried the godfathers as we do in this part of the country, it is customary that we have another round of celebrations. So, yesterday’s event is the equivalence of the final celebration of the death of political godfathers who have held our people hostage since 1999.”
According to him, “And our people have spoken loud and clear that they believe in democracy; they don’t just want to be beneficiaries of democracy. They just want to be drivers of the process. And that they have demonstrated by the way they conducted themselves yesterday. And for me, it is very outstanding and remarkable that, tense as the election was with all the predictions, my own party the All Progressives Congress, out of eighteen local governments, we won in fifteen local governments decisively. But even more significant is the fact that those who were loudest making noise and who sponsored journalists have celebrated, the people’s voice has revealed where they stand in relation to the Edo people. For example, Chief Tom Ikimi, I am proud to say that we have humbled him even in a local government that he claimed he created as if he is the maker of Igueben people. And Chief Raymond Dokpesi, I am happy to say we defeated him in his polling unit; we defeated him in his ward and we defeated him in his local government. That for me, reassures that even the power of electronics and ownership of a private electronic media, and a reckless deployment of that machinery is not enough to distort the will and the determination of the Edo people to vote for a candidate of their choice.”
He continued, “And in Okada, the political family that has boasted that they will continue to govern this state and even compel the state to adopt them as the Queen of England whose birthday must be celebrated, that in Okada, that my party, the All Progressives Congress was the preferred party over and above the godfather as evidenced by the fact that my party defeated that family in Okada. And I think that for me, there is something also unique in the way in which things have turned out that in Esan land, the senatorial zone of the PDP godfather that he has ruled over the years, that with all the planning they did, we won two out of the five local governments. And even in the local government of the godfather, we gave him a fight that he just managed to narrowly escape. So, for me, it is victory for the people of Edo State; it is victory for Nigeria and it is victory for all those who subscribe to the doctrine of one-man, one-vote, that Edo people have owned up that they and they shall forever determine who governs them. And no one person can now impose any one on the people of our state.”
Governor Oshiomhole said, “For me, this is the only state where election has been held in recent time that not one person lost his life. To God be the glory. We have come out without one soul being lost, without anybody being hospitalized. We give thanks to God almighty. God took charge and the weapons fashioned by enemies did not prosper. So, today, we are not mourning dead bodies; there is nobody in the mortuary and there is nobody hospitalized.”
“Edo people, in spite of the current challenges, have reposed confidence in him. He now has the huge obligation of servicing this trust the people of Edo State have invested in him to manage the resources of this state so creatively that Godwin Obaseki will use his office to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of people in the shortest possible time in fulfillment of all the promises that we made to the people of Edo State,” he said.
On magnanimity in victory, the Governor said, “But I also want to congratulate Mr. Ize-Iyamu for the courage in standing up to contest this election. I think it takes a lot of courage to do what he did. And I appreciate all the other candidates who contested, but like I have always said, if ten angels are on parade seeking for one mandate, only one angel will win. On this occasion, there were several candidates on parade; God, using Edo people, has chosen Godwin. I hope Godwin will have the humility in victory to appreciate those who contested with him. As the out-going governor, I thank them for participating without which there will be no democracy if you don’t have more than one candidate. I thank them for their participation; we must now join hands together for the development of Edo State. I am humbled; I am grateful and I give all the glory to God our creator.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor-elect, Hon. Philip Shaibu said, “I first of all want to thank God and also thank the people of Edo State because what they have just done is to continue to enshrine democracy in Nigeria because democracy is all about the people, developing the state. The infrastructural development we have in Edo today is what they have voted for to ensure continuity. For me and my governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, we have no any other duty to do as governor and deputy governor than to continue on the continuity of infrastructure that they have voted for. So, I am happy because they have voted for consolidation; they have voted for progress and they have voted for democracy to continue to be enshrined. So, I thank God.”
On the allegation made against him by the returning officer in Etsako West Local Government Area, he said, “The collation officer made some allegation and I’m shocked because a Professor should not make such unguided utterances. What he said never happened. I never mobilised anybody with him either with gun or anything either secretly or publicly. We had an issue over result that they mis-calculated and it was done in the open and he suggested that the result be suspended till we get to Benin and we all came to Benin as a collation officer and a candidate and no altercation. So I’m shocked that he made such an unguided utterances. But the good news is that those utterances he has made, he made them. People were there when the issues took place. The SSS, the Police, the EOs and everybody was there. So, nonetheless, I ‘m not a gun-runner. I’m not a violent person. What he has said is completely unfortunate. But one thing is I put him in the hands of God.”
In his remarks, the former Deputy of Edo State and a Chieftain of APC in the state, Chief Lucky Imasuen,”This is God’s victory. It shows that when government performs the people will usually reward them with victory.The Edo State APC has performed and Obaseki is a great man to replace Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and the people of Edo State have spoken in appreciation of the good job Oshiomhole has done. Thank you. It is an example to other government in Nigeria that when government, under difficult circumstance, performed the people usually reward them with electoral victory. Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has performed in terms of infrastructural development, in terms of public good even the blind man will see, can tell you that the man has performed.”
Thereafter, the Governor and his wife Iara, joined by APC leaders, members, and a mammoth crow of Edo people comprising men, women, youths and even children embarked on a carnival-like road walk through major streets in Benin City singing and dancing to celebrate the victory of APC and it governorship ticket at the polls.
