₦airaland Forum

THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the governorship election in Edo rescheduled to Sept. 28, Osaro Onaiwu, has called for further shift of the exercise to Oct. 1.








The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday announced the postponement of the election fixed for Saturday to Sept. 28, following insecurity alert by security agencies.


Mr. Onaiwu told journalists in Benin on Monday that a further shift in the date of poll was necessary as Sept. 28 was the day students sitting for the ongoing General Certificate of Education (GCE) across the country would write Physics.
He said Oct.1 was the “earliest possible date” for the election.


Mr. Onaiwu said the shift would afford eligible voters among the students to participate in the election.


According to him, education is number one pillar in APGA’s manifesto, and the authorities must be wary of threats from some of the students that they would sue INEC if they were‎ prevented from voting in the election.


On the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the election was postponed because it was obvious that the party would win, the APGA candidate said that such claim was a mere presumption.


He slammed the PDP for insisting that the election should have been allowed to go on.


“Are we going to wait for what happened in Rivers? PDP is crying because they know what we don’t know.


“Since security agencies said the election was not possible and INEC has shifted it, everybody should abide,” he said.


Meanwhile, the candidate of Labour Party in the Edo governorship election, Amos Areloegbe, has lamented the increased burden of funding his campaigns following the postponement of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.


Areloegbe said that although he would have wanted the election to hold as scheduled, the security report was something that could not be ignored.


According to him, he would need to do some more work to sustain the support of his campaign, but noted: “That will definitely involve more cash”.


He said the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party had intimidating number of billboards and posters and had funds to sustain their campaigns, but the LP had no funds.


“To them (APC and PDP), they have the money, but we don’t have the kind of money they have,” he said.


“I can’t compete with the big giants, because of the way they are dishing out money.


“My campaign has been self-funding, I don’t have external funding. They have been in power, they have other governors to fund their campaigns.”


Mr. Areloegbe, however, said he would take advantage of the postponement to reach other places he could not get to before now.


“If the security men that are supposed to protect us are saying they are not prepared, then what do we do, we cannot risk our lives. If anything happens, they will also say it was because we did not yield to their advice,” he said.


“Since that is what they want, let us take it that way, we hope they do not change the date again.


“Whatever has a disadvantage, also has an advantage too. It will also make those who have not known me properly or met with me to know me more. There are pros and cons definitely.”


The LP candidate also lamented the failure of the INEC to carry party candidates along, saying he heard the postponement in the news.


PDP Accepts Postponement Of Election


Meanwhile, the Edo State PDP has accepted the postponement, urging its supporters to be calm and be prepared to vote out the APC on September 28.


While appreciating its supporters for their resilience in the run up to September 10, being the earlier scheduled date for the election, the party urged them not to be overwhelmed by the disappointment caused by the postponement.


“Our enthusiasm to partake in the voting exercise, which apparently was one of the objectives of the postponement, should not be dampened,” Chris Nehikhare, the party’s Publicity Secretary, said.


“Rather, this rude interference should serve as a challenge to rededicate ourselves to the goal of repositioning our state through the ballot by voting to ‘change the change’ which has made us almost miserable.


“September 28, the new date for the election, is around the corner. On this day, Edo people must make those that seek to subjugate or subvert their will know that on this matter, we are unbending and inconquerable.”


(NAN)

yanabasee:
Lol..... Even APGA the follow get mouth for wia Edo election de?


Party logos in Nigeria's funny!

PDP... Umbrella
APC... Broom
APGA. Fowl...

Amazingly deranged!

The Edaiken N’ Uselu and Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, HRH Prince Eheneden Erediauwa says Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has made giant strides in infrastructural development and has laid a solid foundation in the State for incoming governors to build upon.

Speaking while receiving the President and Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote in the company of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and former Ekiti Governor, Niyi Adebayo at the Edaiken’s Palace, Benin City, Wednesday, the Crown Prince said, “We thank God and our ancestors for giving us our able governor. I told the President that I have always said that he has tried in Edo State. I am also sure that he is reaping the reward of his efforts in Edo State. He has tried, and we pray that whoever comes in next should try harder to do better.

He has assured us that if it is his candidate that comes in, the candidate will do better than himself. What our governor did is a feat that nobody believed would have been possible considering that he was in the opposition. At the time he came in, he was in the opposition party, and he was not getting attention at that time from the federal. He struggled to generate revenue from within and he used his wisdom. We pray that God should give him more wisdom. My prayer to him is that, as it has always been, he should sail on and on his tenure without blemish to the end successfully. And that still remains our prayer until he hands over the mantle of leadership, and we pray that the next governor should learn from what the Governor has done.”


He continued, “This city used to be described as an ancient kingdom, referring to that ancient city literarily speaking as if it was looking ancient because it was dilapidated. No light and we were in the dark. He is the first governor that has come and he lit up the place. Why can’t one but commend the state Governor for a job well done, since he has laid a serious foundation for other governors to build on?”
The Crown Prince further said, “Our request to you is that wherever we need something from the Federal level, you should assist our dear Governor to actualize what our request is to Mr. President.

We hope that one day, we will have the opportunity of benefitting from that. So, I would like to request on behalf of our chiefs, the Benin people that you keep on representing us at the federal level, assisting the Governor who has done marvelously well. We also like Alhaji to support our efforts to promote tourism in the state. One of the programmes I have by the grace of God is to promote tourism immensely. My pet project is free trade zone at Gelegele, and I have always been passionate about that. So, I have to quickly mention it.”

Responding, the President and Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said, “I join millions of Nigerians and indeed the entire black race to congratulate you on the occasion of your ascension on to the seat of Oba of the ancient kingdom of Benin, one of Africa’s most revered and historical dynasties. I feel humbled and highly honoured to be invited to the occasion as one of the special guests. We have no doubt that you will build on the solid foundation laid by your forefathers. We all look forward to contributing our quota to the continuous growth and prosperity of the Benin kingdom during your reign. We pray the good Lord to give you the good health, long life and wisdom for a long peaceful and prosperous reign as Oba of Benin Kingdom.”

According to Dangote, “It’s always been a great pleasure for me to come personally and pay you a courtesy call. It is not even now; we have tried and tried to fix an appointment. There was a day even before that day for me to come and commiserate with you on the passing of our dear father. It is not only a loss to the entire Benin kingdom, but both Nigeria and beyond Nigeria, because he served Nigeria and he was a very peaceful person. And we pray to Almighty God to bless his soul.”

Dangote said, “I would like to personally commiserate with you and also to congratulate you for being the next Oba. I have no doubt, your royal majesty you will not only improve and also take Benin kingdom to the next level; I know that it will be felt all over Nigeria. With your exposure being an ambassador, knowing what has been happening all over the Western world, you will apply it here. We will continue to support your Royal Majesty. Right now, I know that with you, even though he is finishing his term in few days, with him and our new Oba, Benin will become a place where people will come from other places and look for jobs. This is actually a place that God has blessed. I was telling the Governor yesterday, creating jobs in Benin is not a difficult task.”

He added, “Governor Adams has actually done very well. People that have not been to Benin for the past ten years, if they visit Benin they will know there has been a real change, and I really congratulate Adams for doing his best bringing this state to this level. Today, I am more than happy that you are the next Oba of Benin. I congratulate you, and I want to assure you of my personal continuous support for this kingdom under your leadership. I will personally come back.”

Speaking earlier, Governor Adams Oshiomhole who accompanied Alhaji Aliko Dangote to the Edaiken Palace said, “Your Royal Highness, you remember I mentioned to you two months ago that I secured a date for Alhaji Aliko Dangote to come and visit you, to come and condole with you and the people of this kingdom. But then he took off from Lagos, and at Benin Airport there was no landing aid and that visit was aborted. It has been his desire to come to still commensurate with you, but this time to congratulate you on your formal installation as the Edaiken N’ Uselu. He has received your letter concerning the grand reception that we are all working for, God willing on the 26th of this month.”
Oshiomhole further said, “People refer to him in other terms, but I describe him in the way that I know him.

I describe him as the Africa’s most hardworking entrepreneur. It is that spirit of hard work that should inspire Nigerians, not the outcome of the hard work. So, in your palace this morning is Africa’s most resourceful entrepreneur.”

Billionsmith:
If PDP always carry umbrella as a symbol and APC do go with Broom, APGA should not hesitate to go with fowl each time they go campaigning now....
at least charity begins at home...
lolol