…says he’ll use his experience, capacity to drive growth, devpt
Frontline governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has said he is the most competent, credible and qualified contender poised to lead Edo State and place the state on the path of accelerated development and growth.
Ighodalo said this when he visited PDP leaders of Edo South Senatorial District to inform them of his intention to run for the governorship election in the state come 2024.
Noting that poor leadership is the bane of Nigeria’s development, Ighodalo said the money realised from sale of crude oil alone over the last 60 years is enough to turn Nigeria into a first world country if it had leaders who loved the country.
He said, “In the last 60 years, the amount of remuneration Nigeria earned from crude oil alone is enough to turn Nigeria to a first world country if we have leaders that love Nigeria,” Ighodalo said.
“I offer myself to serve the state as I know what I want for Edo people. I love my people and am concerned about their welfare.
“If we know the leakages in the Nigerian economy, most of us will be angry and fight to correct it because it’s painful,” he said.
On plans to leverage the state’s comparative advantage to drive development, Ighodalo noted, “Edo State has the highest Diaspora remittances in Nigeria. We would encourage our people abroad to invest in Diaspora bonds in certain infrastructural areas and earn returns safely and some of the soft infrastructural problems facing us will disappear.”
Decrying the leakages in the Nigerian economy, which he described as terrible, he said, “We have leakages that leave the Nigerian economy and flow to other economies to develop them. A chunk of our money is used to develop Dubai, Switzerland, among others, and yet we are suffering as a people.
“We need to have leadership that the people trust to correct the narrative and set the nation on the path of growth and development.”
He emphasised Edo’s comparative advantage in agriculture, noting that the state is blessed with good soil and can grow any crop and the citizens should not go to bed hungry.
“Agriculture remains a viable platform to reposition the state. I offer myself to serve Edo people and urge the people to give me a chance,” Ighodalo said.
“I resigned as chairman of eight boards to serve Edo people with genuineness of mind and service with the purpose to transform Edo State and make life better for citizens.
“The state is blessed with human resources, capacity and capabilities that will help Edo State to grow strong. If Edo State starts growing at 10 or 11 per cent, we can pull other states in Nigeria to grow at a rate faster than we are growing today.
“I am strong on integrity and I am lucky and blessed because I have placed value on integrity. I am concerned about the values in our system and if we all are still strong in values to bring up children with great values, Nigeria will have been a changed country.
“Parents should pay attention to values and our problems as a nation will diminish. I have offered myself to the state to bring all my experience and capacity to develop the state,” he said.
Ighodalo said as governor of Edo State, he would ensure the children of Edo State are taught strong values.
On his part, a PDP leader in Edo Central Senatorial District, Akhire Ogbesia, said, described Ighodalo as “a credible, competent and reliable aspirant and a man that has the capacity to develop and take Edo State to the next level”.
“He has the international connection to woo foreign investors to contribute to the development of the state,” Ogbesia said.
PDP Chairman, Edo South Senatorial District, Nosakhare Ogieva Okunbor, thanked Ighodalo for coming to introduce himself to leaders in the Senatorial District, assuring him of their support.
Other guests at the occasion include the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Monday Osaigbovo; Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare; PDP leaders from the seven local government areas in Edo South Senatorial District, members of the Edo State House of Assembly, among others.
