The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday presented Certificates of Return to the Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa.
INEC national commissioner in charge of Edo State, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, presented the certificates at the commission’s national headquarters in Abuja.
In his remarks after the collecting the certificate, Okpebholo said he would work for the people of the state, while also thanking them for giving them their mandate.
The event had in attendance the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Other dignitaries were the deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu; Senator Matthew Uroghide, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd), Senator Francis Alimikhena, Hon. Ogbeide Ihama, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion and Blessing Agbonmhere among others.
Also speaking, Ganduje said the in-coming governor has a blueprint to develop the state, adding, “Edo State was an APC state. Later on, the governor as a nomadic politician, cross- carpeted to the PDP, but today, we fought for it and we have recovered our state for the APC.
“I am so happy because essentially, our governor-elect is an experienced politician, a distinguished senator has a blueprint for the development of Edo State and we assure you, you will see great changes.”
A former governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, said the people of Edo State now have a governor that would respect them.
Oshiomhole noted that the people were excited because they now have a governor who would not be fighting with the traditional institution over artefacts, or demolishing a hospital only to replace it with a museum.
“For us, it is a new dawn. When a lion moves into your home and starts destroying your things, the power of democracy is that because the process is tenured, when it is time, the ordinary people will now have the potency to make a verdict about the tenure of Governor Obaseki and the verdict is now.
“The important thing that I am happy about is that Edo people now have a new governor who will not disrespect them. We now have a governor who will respect our traditional institutions, the heart of our culture. We now have a governor who will not be fighting about artifacts.
“We now have a governor who will not demolish a hospital amd replace it with a museum. We now have a governor who understands the value of education and will not destroy a library and replace it with a market. For me, this is what excites Edo people,” he said.
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