Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has boasted that he
would be governor again for another four years.
The Governor made the boast Friday morning, while making his
acceptance remarks, after being declared winner of the People’s Democratic
Party’s primary election held at the mainbowl of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in
Benin.
The election which commenced at about 4 pm Thursday, was
concluded at about 1 am Friday.
He described his emergence as the party’s standard-bearer in
the September 19 governorship election in the state as triumph over
retrogressive forces that have determined to hijack the state for their own
selfish endeavour.
“Today, history is being made in Nigeria, because the
victory we are celebrating today has been a long and strenuous walk, strenuous
walk to political freedom which has culminated in my election as a flag-bearer
of our great party. By the grace of God, I will be governor again for another
four years.
“I wholeheartedly accept this responsibility, which has been
entrusted on me by the representatives of our great party, and this
responsibility will enable me to consolidate on our achievements till date, it
will help me to deepen good governance in Edo State and it will help us to
restore the pride of Edo people, and make the state one of the best state to
live and do business in Nigeria.
“Today marks a defining moment in the political history of
our State and indeed our country. Our story is one of courage in the face of
protracted crisis and ultimately, a triumph over retrogressive forces that have
determined to hijack our state for their own selfish endeavour.
“With today’s election, we have demonstrated again that no
mountain is too high to stop the aspirations of our people that have put their
faith in God, and in one accord, to make life better for the greatest numbers
of our people,” he said.
The Governor, who disclosed that there were moments during
the struggle when he was tempted to quit, thanked the leadership of the PDP for
providing him shelter under the umbrella when he was swept into the rain by the
APC.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank the chairman of the
PDP Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwwal, Governor of Sokoto state, and our
other colleagues, particularly Governor Nysom Wike of Rivers State, Governor
Umahi of Ebonyi state, my brother, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, and
all the Excellencies and many more who are not here.
“We are eternally grateful to PDP governors, leaders of our
great party particularly the national chairman, Uche Secondus, and all other
members of the National Working Committee who have provided us that shelter under
that large umbrella in a storm when we were pushed out.
“With your continue support, we will make Edo greater than
we met it. As children of God, we will be magnanimous in victory but we will
not forget that when the rains were beating us PDP provided us with the
umbrella,” he said.
The PDP governorship candidate also thanked the election
committee and the third of his co-aspirants who stepped down for him, noting
that his emergence would not have been possible without their magnanimity.
He said: “I salute all Edo people at home and abroad, as
well as our friends from other states, for standing by the believe that a
better Edo state is possible, if we allow the people and not over-bearing
godfathers to lead.
“I want to commend my co-aspirants. But for their
sacrifices, this victory won’t have been possible. If Ken Imasuagbon have not
decided to uphold the greater good, to uphold the greater ideas for greater Edo
state, I will not be here sounding the way I am.”
“My brother, Engineer Gideon Ikhine, I thank you, and my
younger brother Hon.Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, your decision to step down for me,
I don’t really know how to appreciate it but I don’t know how to say it yet.”
“I was called and humbled by this call to action, and
challenged to confront any man-made barrier that will stand in our way to
progress in Edo State.”
Earlier, the primary election committee chairman and
Governor of Bauchi State, Engr. Bala Mohammed, announced that out of the 2,234
delegates of the party, 2,202 were accredited for the election, but 2,024
voted.
Of these figures, Obaseki scored a total of 1,952 votes,
representing 96.4 of total votes cast, while 72 votes were voided.
Mohammed further explained that since the other aspirants
stepped down for Obaseki, any votes cast for them is deemed voided.
“Following the transparent and credible manner in which this
primary election has been conducted and as a Chief Returning Officer, I hereby
declared Governor Godwin Obaseki the winner of the primary,” he declared.
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