By Isaac Asabor
There is no denying the fact that despite every leadership approach that has so far been brought to bear towards the betterment of Edo State over the years by leaders of diverse political, professional, business and ethnic backgrounds that the state of affairs in the state has remained condemnable and appalling.
In fact, it is not an exaggeration to opine that the state is yet to witness transformational leadership, and that not a few Edolites seem to see the prospect as impossible. As the concept of faith in the Christendom, the principle of positive thinking dictate, it is expedient to urge such people not to be pessimistic as Barrister Dele Igbinedion, an aspirant for the Edo 2024 Governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) is capable and optimistic enough to face the challenges that the State is characterized with.
To this writer, if there is any governorship aspirant that has so far exuded candor towards transforming Edo as truly “The Heartbeat of the Nation”, he is unarguably Barrister Dele Igbinedion as his slogan ahead of the forthcoming electioneering is aptly tagged, “Let’s make Edo Great Again”.
At a media parley with this writer, with other select Journalists, few days ago, he conveyed the confidence and candor of “Making Edo Great Again” when voted to power as he said noting is working, and that the state is bereft of government that understands governance.
When he was asked about his reaction to the resounding uproar that trailed the pulling down of a Hospital for the building of a Museum in Benin-City by the government, he said no people-oriented government does that, and that they wanted to bring down the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) complex if not that the uproar was somewhat difficult to manage.
He added that the central library where people used to go and read, a place which serves as a resource center, has equally been brought down in the stead of a shopping mall already been built.
He explained that with the same destructive agenda that they went to somewhere in Benin, and said they want to build a new Benin but destroyed it, took over the peoples landed properties and they said they are building a public/partnership stuff.
He added that in terms of programs that nothing is working in Edo that governance in the state is running on autopilot. Making reference to the central hospital which has been brought down and a museum called, EMOWAN (MOWAA) is being built in its place, and asserted no sane government would do such.
Regarding the health sector, he said the state needs a government-friendly style of governance in the sector, particularly as no new doctors have been employed since the inception of the ongoing administration.
When reminded that there is a publication made by a blog, which is ostensibly owned by an advocacy group committed to good governance, wherein a list of names of all governorship aspirants for the Edo 2024 elections, that his name was omitted, he admitted to having seen the publication and urged his supporters and all Edolites to disregard the so-called list of aspirants.
He explained that the fictitious publication was presumably based on the information available to the writer thereof and added that the list of aspirants is not the official list with the Labour Party Secretariat. He said, “In addition, most of the names on that list are not known aspirants of the labour party. I repeat, disregard the purported list.
“It could be that there is someone, somewhere that is afraid of my candidacy. But if I may ask, “Who is afraid of Dele Igbinedion?” Come to think of it, can any serious politician in Edo State say he or she is not aware or has not heard that I am in the race?”
He was unarguably surprised of the publication as he explained that the leaders and executives in the two Wards in Igbanke are aware of his intention to contest, even as all the executives in his local government of origin, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, are equally aware since he has gone there to declare his intention. He added that similar move has equally been made to the Edo State Executive of Labour Party where he has declared his intention to contest the governorship election.
In the same vein, he said his aspiration is known to the executives and that leaders in the Edo South Senatorial District, even as it is equally known to the executives and leaders of all the local governments in Edo Central Senatorial District where he has gone to declare his intention of becoming the next Governor of Edo State are aware of his intention to become the next Edo State governor.
Still in the same nexus, he explained that the leaders and executives of all the local government areas in Edo North Senatorial District are aware of his aspiration. He asked, “What are we talking about, even the leadership of the National Secretariat of my party is not unaware that I have thrown my hat to the ring ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election.
He added, “If after all this, someone, anyone, pretends not to know that Dele Igbinedion is contesting for Edo Governorship seat, then, the question can be answered by saying that somebody, somewhere, is afraid of my candidacy. Without over flogging the issue, it is expedient I inform you in this parley that the authentic list of aspirants will be known after the sale of nomination forms by the various political parties and purchase of the forms as well as that of expressions or interest forms”.
