Obaseki’s victory will strengthen South-South collaboration, says Udom

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom has described the victory of Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded Edo State Governorship election as a harbinger to the unity of the entire South-south region.

He said that victory will make room for greater collaboration and the rapid development of the region.

Udom who spoke during his interaction with reporters at the Victor Attah International Airport, on his return from official engagement outside the state congratulated, Governor Godwin Obaseki on his reelection as the Governor of Edo State maintaining that it was important to give glory to God Almighty for the outcome of the election.

The Governor who emphasised that Only God can claim supremacy over the affairs of men particularly expressed appreciation to the people of Edo State for their resilience in defending their mandate and lauded the country’s election umpire; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for ensuring transparency and fairness in the exercise.

“Let no man claim to be God. The day you claim to be God over another man that’s when God will tell you he is supreme.

“I want to use this opportunity to congratulate my brother, Governor Obaseki. What he did is what it takes to be a man. If you’re a man and you don’t face challenges, you’re not yet there.

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“I also want to thank the Edo people, they stood for what is right, they stood for quality, they stood for capacity and delivery. The little pains they went through was a price for those three things that have paid off,” he said.

Governor Emmanuel also noted that the outcome of the Edo state governorship election has brought the six South-south states under PDP and described the election as a positive development that will not only strengthen the bond of unity in the zone but allow for seamless collaborations through the existing regional commission for the development of the region.

“This is the overall victory for PDP and the South-South. Let’s fly the same colour in the South-South so that when we are talking we talk in spirit and sense of brotherhood.

“It will help the region, it will help our collaboration, it will also help our “BRACED Commission” comprising Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States so that we can actually move forward”, he remarked.

The South-South region was seen as the stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until the All Progressives Congress (APC) got a foothold in Edo State with the election of former governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2007.