Ighodalo, an Aspiration for Greater Edo 2024

Benin City, the Edo State capital stood still as Asue Ighodalo officially declared his governorship ambition with a promise to run an inclusive government that will create economic rejuvenation of the state,  Adibe Emenyonu reports

For a greater part of Wednesday, January 17, commuters and residents around the Airport Road axis of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, had a hectic time trying to access the area as Asue Ighodalo, former Chairman on the boards of Nigerian Breweries, Sterling Bank, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, declared for the governorship of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Leaders of the PDP in attendance include: Edo State PDP chieftain and past senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Clifford Ordia; Secretary, Edo PDP Senatorial Caucus, Central, Mr. Luckson Ogendengbe; National Leader of the PDP, Chief Tom Ikimi; Edo PDP Senatorial Vice Chairman, Central and Senatorial Caucus Chairman, Archbishop Anthony Okosun, and Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Marie Edeko.

Others are former House of Representatives member representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency, Joe Edionwere; past deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Omo Ezomo; serving House of Representatives member, Hon. Marcus Onobun;  former Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly and former member of the House of Representative, Friday Itulah, among others.

Ighodalo in the last seven years has been the Chairman of Alaghodaro Summit Limited, a private sector think-tank which means in Bini parlance, ‘moving forward.’

He was accompanied to the PDP state secretariat along the Airport Road, Benin City, by thousands of party loyalists and leaders, where he assured the people that if given the ticket, and eventually elected governor, he would run an inclusive government that would guarantee economic rejuvenation and equal development the three senatorial zones of the state.

The PDP governorship aspirant, who hails from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South East Local Government Area of the state, which is under Edo Central Senatorial District, was presented to the crowd by the former Foreign affairs Minister, Ikimi, as the consensus candidate of the zone, and was endorsed by the former deputy governor of the state, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, who noted that the Edo North Senatorial District leadership and members of the party also endorsed the aspirant’s ambition as the candidate that had the capacity to retain the state for the PDP in the September governorship election.

Declaring his intention to occupy the Dennis Osadebey Government House, Ighodalo said as the Chairman of Alaghodaro Summit, he had in the past seven years advised the state government on how to resolve some of the economic problems confronting the state. According to him, he had decided to go beyond giving advice, and deliver the real solution that would unleash a new future for the state and its citizens.

Also, during the eight years of Adams Oshiomhole as governor, Ighodalo also featured prominently as a member of the state Economic Team headed then by the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, thus making him a “home boy” right from time. 

Speaking, Asuelinme, which is Asue’s full name, noted that contrary to the insinuation that he was new to the state’s core governance, he had in the last 16 years been part of the team that chattered a new economic course for the state right from the government of the former governor, Oshiomhole, where “I served on the Economic Team, providing insights and inputs on the development of key government policies, programmes and initiatives, leading to reforms implemented by the then government.”

Ighodalo assured that his policies, if elected the governor of the state, would be tailored towards leading “a government that eliminates deprivation in all its forms, and makes Edo the best place to live and work in Nigeria”, adding that his government would initiate economic policies that “will uplift the poor, support the hard-working men and women of this state, and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.” 

“While, in the past, I have advised our leaders on how to resolve some of these problems, today, I am here to ask you for the opportunity to act – beyond giving advice – to deliver real solutions that can unleash the promise of a new future for all of us. As governor, by the grace of God, my mission will be to create an Edo where quality education is accessible to all, where hard work is rewarded and where our talented youth can turn their dreams and aspirations into reality. I believe in the promise of an Edo where every person, regardless of their start in life, can write their own story of success -if we take the right steps, together. 

“No part of Edo will be left behind. From the high plains of Kukuruku to the lush vegetation of Ilushi; from the rich, red sands of Sakponba, to Esanland’s incredible biodiversity, we have all that is needed to make our state a mesmerising destination for progress and wealth. Across each administrative zone, in Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South, we will create practical and focused economic development teams that will harness each area’s unique potential to create wealth for all our people. 

“I believe strongly that education is the gateway to opportunity; so, we will continue to invest in education as a priority from primary schools to secondary and tertiary institutions — throughout the state. We will ensure that our educational system becomes a beacon of hope, and ladder to opportunity. We will make Edo State’s educational system our key to ending generational poverty, for good, in our great state. 

“If, by the grace of God and the will of the people of Edo state, I am given the opportunity to serve, I intend to be the Chief Welfare Officer of the state, providing good and affordable healthcare, decent living conditions and basic food security for all our people. We will also tackle insecurity in all of its forms. While an improved economy will reduce some types of insecurity, we will work doggedly to stamp out the more stubborn forms of insecurity, that continue to deprive our people of their lives and property.” 

Ighodalo did not end there he also promised to build on the achievements of the current administration of Governor Obaseki on independent power generation, the Ossiomo Independent Power project, by replicating the same “across the three senatorial zones and exploring affordable ways of providing electricity in rural areas, declaring, “We will create an enabling environment for businesses and people to thrive across the state, and activate economic corridors that will connect our value-added goods and services to domestic and global markets.” 

“These are not simply ambitious dreams; they are carefully thought out and financially achievable plans. With innovative financing and cross-sector partnerships, we will access the financial resources to fund these projects, and more. My personal experience, local and international networks, and decades of negotiating, fundraising and project finance experience are part of what I will bring to bear to achieve our goals.” 

Explaning how the Edo Central Senatorial District arrived at Ighodalo’s candidacy, Ikimi said that he led the committee that midwifed the consensus that led to five other aspirants from the district such as two former speakers of the State House of Assembly, Friday Itula, who was a two-term member of the House of Representatives, and Marcus Onabu, the immediate past speaker, stepping down, followed by the former Chairman of Esan North-East Local Government Area, Mr. John Yakubu, and a two-term senator, Clifford Odia.

Ikimi, while thanking the leaders of the PDP in Edo North and Edo South Senatorial Districts for conceding the governorship to Edo Central, assured that the carefully-selected candidate, Ighodalo, would fulfill their aspirations for a greater Edo State.

Similarly, Ogiadomhe reiterated that the leadership of the party in Edo North endorsed Ighodalo as the consensus candidate because of his antecedents and the belief that he “has all it takes not only to win the coming election, but to also improve on all the gains of the current PDP administration in the state”.

From all indications, Ighdalo will contest the PDP ticket with the incumbent deputy governor, Philip Shaibu; the former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), now in PDP, Mr. Anslem Ojezua; former council Chairman, Felix Akhabue and Ambassador Martins Uhumoibhi if they insist on going ahead to slug it out at the party primary election coming up in February.