The Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje along with other party chieftain on Saturday made a case for Senator Monday Okpebholo, the party’s governorship candidate in Edo State.
Addressing party supporters at the APC mega rally held at the Sports Complex of the University of Benin main campus, President Shettima said Okpebholo was endowed with strategic thinking, compassion, and ability to connect with the people.
Edo State, according to him, needs a leader who can rally its citizens, listen to their concerns and lead with humility.
He described Okpebholo as a man of the people who feels the pulse of Edo’s citizens, understands their needs, and has a story to tell.
Shettima expressed confidence that Okpebholo and his running mate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa would complement each other and bring a positive transformation to governance in Edo State.
He praised their humility and grassroots politicking, assuring that they will redefine and reshape the state’s governance for the better.
VP Shettima noted that the APC candidate was most qualified to assume the leadership of the state.
“What Edo State needs is a strategic thinker, a builder, a man of the people, a man who can rally the great people of Edo State.
“Edo State needs a man who will open his doors to the people, hear their cries and lead with the fear of God.
“Edo does not need a man who knows it all. Edo needs a man who feels the pulse of his people, knows where it hurts and has a story to tell in terms of where he is coming from.
“Edo needs a compassionate leader, one who is in tune with the yearnings and aspirations of Edo people. Edo needs a leader with the tenacity and knack for radical change and influence.
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“Let me sum it up by quoting Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, who said ‘The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things; he is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.
”Therefore, in Senator Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, we have two gentlemen who will walk the talk. They will complement each other. The humility that has brought them thus far will also manifest in their governing of Edo State.
“With these two grassroots politicians and distinguished public servants, Edo will witness a positive redefining and reshaping of governance,” he said.
He reminded the people of the state that despite diversities in backgrounds, their expectations are the same.
“Whether you are a civil servant or a trader, whether you are Esan or Afemai, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, whether you are young or old, male or female, our expectations are the same.
“We all seek the same thing – a functional Edo State, a state that can provide opportunities for all of you to thrive.
“What unites us the most is not our differences but our collective desire for a nation that works, a state that meets our needs,” Senator Shettima said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged the people of Edo to vote for the party in order to reap more dividends of democracy.
He said N212 billion has already been appropriated for the reconstruction of the Auchi-Benin Road, which he said when completed, will boost economic activities in Edo State.
The National Chairman of the APC, Ganduje noted that the people of Edo State have suffered in the last eight years and they need to be liberated.
He declared that Monday Okpebholo is the right person to lead the state to the promise land.
“In the last eight years, Edo State has suffered and the state is now downgraded in terms of infrastructure, security and general development,” Ganduje said.
The APC governorship candidate, Senator Okpebholo appealed for support to change the tide in Edo State.
“We will give loans to our farmers through cooperatives; we will also give soft loans to market women. We will employ over 5,000 teachers within my first 100 days in office.
“We will build health centers across the 192 wards in Edo and we will declare a state of emergency on education,” he promised.
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