Governor Nyesom Wike, chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national campaign council for Edo election, has taken charge in Benin, warning that nobody can rig the forthcoming election.
Wike went ahead to declare that with Edo State sure to return, that the South-South was now completely PDP.
Wike stated this during the flag-off of the PDP campaign for the September 19, 2020 Edo State Governorship Election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State.
He declared: “The people of Edo State must reject god-fatherism because nobody can rig the September 19 governorship election in the state.
“Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole is making a u-turn to lick his vomit by presenting a candidate he earlier rejected and castigated.”
According to him, the people of the region will not allow any other political party to have a foothold in the area any more.
“Today, we are here to tell the people of Edo State that they should not be afraid because nobody can rig the forthcoming election. Today is the end of godfatherism in Edo State. I want to thank Governor Godwin Obaseki for refusing to dance to the tune of godfatherism.
“Four years ago, Oshiomhole said he cannot trust the APC governorship candidate that he was rusticated from school.
“Today, Oshiomhole is coming back to present the same person to Edo people. He thinks Edo people are fools. I challenge Edo people not to vote any person presented to them by Oshiomhole,” he stated.
Wike assured that as the chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for Edo State Governorship Election, he would be in Edo State during the election to ensure that the state is returned to PDP.
He noted the outstanding performance of Gov Godwin Obaseki in the last four years in the development of Edo State.
He urged the people of Edo State to come out enmasse and vote for the PDP candidate during the election.
Also speaking, the Governor of Sokoto State and chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, described Edo State as strategic to the nation and called on Edo people to always remain steadfast and resolute.
Governor Tambuwal who took a swipe at Oshiomhole for condemning godfatherism and turning back to practise it, however, urged Obaseki to hold on to God and the people of Edo State to defeat the enemies of the state as he did in Sokoto State.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Yakubu Mahmoud to build on the legacies of his predecessor who he said ensured that free and fair election was conducted in Edo State which enabled Oshiomhole to govern for eight years.
Tambuwal also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that his anti-corruption crusade also affects the forthcoming Edo State Governorship election in order to ensure peace and stability in the state.
Presenting the PDP flag to the party’s governorship candidate and Governor of Edo State, the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus described him as an accomplished gentleman and performer.
Responding, Obaseki said the mandate given to him marked the transformation of the state and Nigeria. He promised to sustain the tempo of his developmental strides in his second tenure.
The flag off was also attended by the governors of Bayelsa (Douye Diri), Oyo (Seyi Makinde), Bauchi (Bala Mohammed), Delta (Ifeanyi Okowa) as well as the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi.
