… to deploy technology in fight against criminals
In response to the growing cost of food items caused by inadequate supply nationwide including Edo State, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the September 21st election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has said that his government will deploy technology to ensure the safety of the state and farmlands as insecurity is one of the major causes of food supply inadequacy in the country.
Dr Ighodalo stated this at a Town Hall Meeting during the official presentation of his manifesto, “The Pathway to Prosperity for All” to the Edo people at the Urhokpota Hall Benin City.
He said that his government would deploy technology to effectively police the state to guarantee the safety and security of the citizens including the farmers to boost food production in the state.
He promised to strengthen the Security Trust Fund in the state and make it work better to take care of security matters, just as he emphasised the strategic position security Issues occupy in the life of a state stressing that without it every other thing may not work well.
“We will get it right to protect the people in the area of work, farm, trade and travelling. We will also make use of the latest technology and equipment to prevent invaders into the state”
The governorship hopeful who spoke on a wide range of issues in conjunction with his running mate Osarodion Ogie Esq assured Edo people of his commitment to develop the state and make it the envy of its counterparts in the country.
Dr Ighodalo who declared the manifesto as his contract with Edo people, vowed to follow it religiously when elected to govern the state as contained there-in considering his love and commitment to develop the state in all its ramifications.
He vowed to use the instrumentality of government to provide happiness for the people just as he promised never to disappoint or fail them as their governor.
Ighodalo acknowledged the present suffering in the country caused by high inflation with the resultant high cost of living that has almost spiralled out of control, promising to promote programmes that would cushion it effects on Edo people in view of the fact that governance is about making the people live a better and happier through effective deployment of scarce state’s resources.
He, however, challenged the people to ensure they interrogate every candidate’s antecedents to know whether they have the capacities to deliver for them judging by their past performance in their previous positions of responsibilities.
He stated that Governor Godwin Obaseki has laid down a good foundation which he promised to build upon and take the state to the next level.
On education, he said the government will encourage every child to go to school and those doing well will be supported with bursary awards.
“We will train our people in various skills so that when the government establishes industries, we will have suitable people to fill all the positions available”.
Continuing, Ighodalo promised to make health care affordable to all the people through the Edo Health Insurance scheme to cater for the aged, mid age people and children.
On the economic front , the governorship hopeful promised to engender an economic system that would promote productivity and create enough jobs to lift the people out of poverty into prosperity.
He recognized the strategic importance of developing of the state’s road infrastructure promising to construct not less than 2,000 kilometers of roads across the three Senatorial districts of the state in his first tenure in office
The manifesto touched on his plans to grow the state’s agro industrial sector, environmental sanitation, good governance and the ways to reduce cost of governance as a way to save more money for development.
