Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ward 7 in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, has paid a solidarity visit to the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yekini Idaiye, in Benin City.
Spokesperson of the group, Dr. Babatunde Martins, said the delegation was mandated by the ward to felicitate with the Speaker, noting that if all members were to come, over 40,000 people from Ward 7 would have stormed Benin.
Martins said Idaiye’s emergence as Speaker was a divine arrangement and not a mistake, assuring him that Ward 7 is fully behind him.
“We are going to give you all the support you need to work effectively. The one decision we have taken on your behalf is that we are going to give you a minimum of 80% when it comes to voting. We can assure you that,” he said.
He said the ward is already working across Akoko-Edo to ensure victory for the party, adding that the Speaker would not only deliver Ward 7 but the entire Akoko-Edo.
Martins described the Speaker as a son who has never deviated or failed, but has continued to carry everybody along even when it was not convenient.
He urged the Speaker to maintain synergy with the Government House and the Governor in legislative business, particularly in policy formulation and implementation for the development of the state.
“We know you from day one, that you have been a son that has never deviated. Whatever challenge you are having, don’t forget that you are from a home. Your people are standing firmly behind you,” he added.
Responding, Speaker Yekini Idaiye thanked the delegation for finding time to come to Benin to congratulate him on behalf of over 50,000 electorates in the ward.
“I am highly delighted and happy to have you in my office in Benin this afternoon. I want to thank all of you for finding time despite your busy schedule to come to Benin this afternoon to congratulate one of your own,” Idaiye said.
He attributed his emergence to God, stressing that it is God who gives power to whoever He pleases and no man can fight the will of God.
“I want to appeal to all of you that we should always come together to support one of your own. It is the will of God that I become Speaker today. That is the will of God. And no man can fight the will of God,” he said.
The Speaker called on party members to go back home and work for all candidates of the party from the President to Senator, House of Representatives and House of Assembly, setting a target of 95% votes.
“There is no way we allow the government to have done so much for us. The government has done so much for our family. I want to appeal to all of you that let’s go back home, let’s work. We should not give up,” he said.
Idaiye announced the appointment of Comrade Frank Aweh as Director General of the APC Ward 7 Campaign Council, pledging to give him the needed support to enable him deliver from unit to unit and family to family in Ward 7.
He said as the number three man in the state, he would support the campaign council to deliver all nine communities in the ward for the APC.
