Foremost governorship aspirant in the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election, Engr. Gideon Ikhine, has said that he has the expertise, experience and the will to develop the state for the good of the citizens. Engr. Ikhine who is running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, disclosed this during his visit to Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area, and Iguobazuwa, Ovia South West, to acquaint members of the party in the localities of his intention to run for the governorship position in Edo State.
He described himself as the best candidate for the job having carefully studied and appraised the challenges facing the state and had devised workable strategies including the right capacity, capability, trust and credibility to solve them.
According to Engr Ikhine, these are the right ingredients craved by the electorate to support the party’s candidate to win election that will return the party to the Government House just as he promised to form a government that will unite the people of Edo State and bring the needed progress for the benefit of Edo citizens.
Any responsible government he said must make its citizens prosper through its programmes and policies, adding that he, when elected governor, will empower the people through the execution of people oriented projects. He decried the attitude of past elected governors in relegating the party to which platform they rode on to power, insisting that that tendency causes them to forget to render their stewardship to the people nor recognise the supremacy of the party.
He added that his government will ensure the restoration of party supremacy to the polity that would engender a reporting system that will make him report directly to the state working committee as governor.
On security, he promised to give back power to the traditional rulers and empower them in order to be able to take care of their respective domains.
“I came to beg you to send me and guide me to represent you as governor of Edo State. I promised to give to you all that you deserve as leaders and members. My government will not engage in activities that will encourage capital flight from the state. We will give opportunities to qualified Edo people to work for their state”.
Ikhine promised to develop and build the city centers which will also serve as industrial areas and also collaborate with the Federal Government in a robust fashion to build the state.
Ikhine emphasised the need for Edo people to first of all identify who they are, adding that we all are from the great Benin Kingdom. He said if this is realized the problems in the state will reduce because everyone will join hands to develop it.
In their responses, the people described Engr. Gideon Ikhine is a known person in Edo State whom they believe has the capability to solve Edo’s problems if elected, looking at his background from the private sector.
They assured him of their support during the primary election to enable him secure the party’s ticket, and subsequently win the election.
