BENIN CITY – South-South Coalition of State Chairmen of Registered Political Parties has said Edo State Governor-Elect, Mr Godwin Obaseki is a man the people can trust to protect the legacies and enhance the values that Governor Oshiomhole has put in place.
A statement by the group signed by its Chairman, Efe Tobor called on Edo people to absolutely support his government when he takes the mantle of leadership of the state.
The statement reads in parts,”The governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki is a man they can trust to protect the legacies and enhance the values that Oshiomhole has put in place. We commend the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for presenting himself for the election and performing well in the polls. We urge him to use his wealth of experience to further the cause of Edo State by supporting the governor-elect.
While appraising the September 28 governorship poll, the group said it witnessed a remarkable improvement.
Mr. Efe Tobor in the statement stated thus: “It was a pleasant surprise that an election which was conducted on the 28th of September 2016 had its results announced by INEC by 9.22am the next day, 29th of September, 2016. This was unlike previous governorship elections where results are delayed for as much as three days. It is also noteworthy to remark that throughout the elections, INEC regular as well as its adhoc staff maintained a high degree of integrity by refusing to compromise standards.”
“It is laughable when we hear of stories of inducement of voters by those who fault the conduct of the elections. Inducement is not exclusive to any political party. What we know is that the Edo State electorate exercised their franchise in a peaceful ambience and voted their conscience.
The coalition which said the APC victory in Edo State is a beacon of hope for the South South region commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole for restoring the pride of the South-South region, which for long has been in the news for the wrong reasons.
“As we celebrate the enthronement and sustenance of good governance and the perpetual banishment of mediocrity and god-fatherism in Edo State, we enjoin other states of the South-South geopolitical zone to emulate the standards already set by Edo State. There is no substitute for good governance. The integrity of an election is a reflection of the quality of leadership and the quality of the followership.”
“It is disheartening that some governors in the South South abandoned their own challenges at home and decided to allegedly import the traits of violence in their States to Edo State. It was their meddlesomeness that resulted in the postponement of the elections for more than two weeks. In one of the South South States, the violence that characterized their last governorship elections has refused to abate till today. We commend Edo State voters for not imbibing this culture of violence especially in the conduct of the last governorship election in the state.”
“This remarkable event has shown, in very clear terms that good governance has its rewards. For nearly 8 years since the Comrade Governor mounted the saddle in Edo State it has been one good story of massive transformation of the Edo landscape from the squalor left behind by long years of PDP misrule and squandermania.
“All over Edo State new roads have been constructed and old ones rehabilitated. Public schools have been transformed from their former deplorable conditions and hospitals upgraded. In Edo State, salaries of civil servants are promptly paid while the emoluments of retirees have drawn prompt government attention.”
