My successor’ll not come from Igbinedion’s family — Oshiomhole

Ahead of the Edo State governorship election, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has reiterated that his successor will not emerge from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party or the political family of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

Governor Oshiomhole disclosed this while addressing journalists in Benin, the state capital, on Tuesday.

Oshiomhole, who criticised Igbinedion for claiming that the PDP would win the poll by a wide margin, said that he was aware that the former governor and other leaders of the opposition had been “in pains” since he (Oshiomhole) became governor in 2008.

He also said that his administration had defeated politicians who had claimed to be godfathers.

The governor said, “I want to make it clear to Lucky that the next governor can never be from the Igbinedion family. The next governor will be a people’s governor and that person, by the special grace of God, is Godwin Obaseki.

“I am aware that they are in pains since I became governor; I had to retrieve all they held hostage and gave (them) back to the people.

“Our people will never go back to the dark days and my fight against godfathers has been successful and that is why, today, any Edo man or woman can become a governor without going to any godfather. They (godfathers) are crying and I am happy. They will continue to cry.

Oshiomhole also urged Igbinedion not to bother about the outcome of the September 28 election, adding that both the PDP and its candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, would not win.

“So, let me tell Lucky, my good friend, to forget about the result of the election because his PDP and Ize-Iyamu will not win. He should ask himself what his PDP has done in Edo to deserve victory.

“So, they should stop their bad dream of victory. Edo people have rejected the godfathers and they will not return.”

The former governor could not be immediately reached for comments.

But Igbinedion had, in a text message sent to our correspondent on Sunday, said that his family did not claim ownership of the state but was interested in its development.

He added, “The house of Igbinedion has never laid claim to the ownership of Edo State. But we have an interest in the development of the state — both the private and public sectors.

“Let Edo decide under whose administration they have enjoyed more prosperity and not vile, rude propaganda.”

I’ll produce 100 millionaires in four years – Obaseki

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said he will produce 100 millionaires in the state in four years, if elected as governor.

Obaseki, who spoke on Monday during an interactive session with a group, Grassroots Youth Initiative, in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, explained that with the presence of natural resources, the residents had no reason to be poor.

He said, “God has blessed us in Edo. No state is like Edo. We do not have any reason to be poor; the only reason why we are poor is because of bad leadership. With good leadership, the sky is our limit.

“So, the first thing I am going to emphasise in employment is to register the unemployed because we have employed a lot of people in the last eight years.”

He disclosed that the state government would encourage the unemployed youth in agriculture through the inauguration of an agricultural scheme known as the anchor programme.

“We are inaugurating our programme on agriculture called the anchor programme. Edo has been selected for oil palm, rubber, cassava, maize, livestock, poultry and fishery. Government is going to support all you want to do.”

He, however, noted that the process of wealth creation required the cooperation of all residents, especially as they go to the poll next Wednesday.

“Alone, I cannot do it; I need all of you to support the project to make it work, so that by the time we come here, almost everybody will be gainfully and skilfully employed.

“We have done a research in government. I do not want to be a governor where people fight to be senior special assistants before they can buy  cars.

“I want to be a governor that will produce 100 millionaires after four years. That is my goal, so that at the end my tenure, the people will truly lead because they will be empowered.”

Obaseki, who also received the support of the group led by its President, Mr. Osarobo Idahosa, added,”If you have your PVC, on September 28, you all should come out and vote for the APC.”

(PUNCH).

Obaseki: I’ve found my missing certificates

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday said that he has found the original copies of his academic credentials, which had earlier been declared missing in a sworn affidavit.

Obaseki had, in the said affidavit submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the September 10 election, reportedly stated that his academic documents got missing while he was moving his office from one place to another.

The development had on Monday attracted criticisms from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, which described his reasons for not being in possession of the certificates as “flimsy” and “unconvincing.”

However, Obaseki, who spoke during an interactive session organised by civil societies for governorship candidates in Benin, noted that though he had no reason to search for the documents, he had to provide the photocopies and swear to an affidavit for the election.

He explained, “I have found them. The truth is that I have not had any reason to look for them in the last 25 years. I know that I kept them somewhere in a safe box and I had photocopies.

“When I needed them for the exercise, I could not find them. So, I swore to an affidavit that I cannot find the originals.

He said that the photocopies of the documents were certified by the issuing institutions.

Obaseki added, “I took the photocopies to the institutions that issued them and they certified the photocopies.

“So when the whole controversy started raging, my cousin called me from New York and said, ‘But your originals are here. I said, ‘Please, send them to me now.”

The APC candidate also reiterated that his administration would provide security and manpower necessary to attract investors.

PUNCH.