The gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Engr. Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen, has pledged to tackle rural-urban migration if elected as governor.
He argued that the exodus from rural areas to cities is a major issue that needs to be tackled to ensure balanced development across the state.
Izedonmwen’s strategy includes boosting agricultural commercialization and export-led industrialization, which he believes will create jobs and opportunities in rural areas, reducing the need for residents to move to urban centers.
“We need to take development to the rural area. We need to do balance of development. Development is too concentrated in the urban area. I spoke about the Dutch disease where we found oil; upon the discovery of oil a lot of rurals have migrated to the city and in the city they found white collar jobs in which they were mostly service to buyers,” he said.
The ADC candidate also pledged to support farmers and entrepreneurs by establishing policy banks that will provide long-term, affordable loans to advance agriculture and related industries. This approach is part of his broader agenda to transform Edo State’s economy and improve infrastructure across both urban and rural areas.
Izedonmwen said he will boost Edo State IGR from the N17bn today to over N900bn in eight years if given the opportunity to sit at the helm of affairs of the state at Osadebey Avenue.
