I Have What It Takes to be Edo Gov, Says Umakhihe

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Frontline aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the February primaries of the party for the September governorship election in Edo State, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, said on Sunday, that he joined the gubernatorial race because he had the capacity to transform the state.

Umakhihe, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary, stated this while addressing his supporters on his arrival at the Benin Airport from Abuja, where he had gone to pick the expression of interest and nomination forms.

The governorship aspirant claimed he had garnered requisite experience, that would make him excel, during his career in the federal civil service.

He said, “My antecedent spans various sectors of the Nigerian economy – national planning and budgeting, central administration, infrastructure because I was a permanent secretary, Works and Housing and of course Agriculture ministries before I retired. In the course of this work, I have had extensive experience and connections with international development partners and locals.

“I was also at a time Secretary to the National Economic Council (NEC) and in that position, I had interfaced with the 36 state governors and of course, the Vice-President and understand the working of the Nigerian economy and dovetailing into the subnational government.”

The APC governorship hopeful also noted that he had touched the lives of many people, particularly farmers from the state while in service, adding that he had attracted infrastructure such as borehole, construction of rural roads, skills acquisition centres as well as health care facilities to each of the three senatorial districts of the state.

According to him, “if elected governor, I will focus on road infrastructure, education, agriculture, women empowerment, youth development, as well as skills acquisition for all.

“Remember I didn’t promise those things I did. Imagine if I now promise I will do these things, certainly, I will do that. So my plea to Edo people is that the reward for hard work is more work; therefore give me the opportunity to do more work”, the APC guber aspirant stated.