Politics

2024 Poll: I’ve Been In State Economic Team Since 2008, Have What It Takes To Reposition Edo – Ighodalo

Published

2 years ago

December 11, 2023

By Joseph Kanjo, Benin

Mr. Asue Ighodalo, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the 2024 Edo State governorship election has said that being a member of the state economic team since 2008, he firmly believe he is in the best position to reposition the economic fortune of the state.

He added that being experienced in the public service and corporate world, he was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that he has what he takes to govern the state and lift the over 5.2m Edo people above the poverty level if given the opportunity to govern the state.

The Lawyer turned politician who stated this when he paid a visit to the secretariat of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State council, stressed that having worked in the background for several years – in Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki administrations – he decided to offer himself for service because of his desire to make Edo strong economically.

While describing himself as a bonafide Edo citizen from Ewohimi in Edo Central, Ighodalo stated that he is nobody’s candidate but one who is ready to bring his experience of serving as chairman of various companies to bear when he gets the nods of the electorate next year to govern the the state.

Noting that there were several parts of the economy that can be used to provide for the people and take them out of poverty, he noted that Edo State as the heart beat of the nation should have good infrastructure like good roads, pipe borne water, good hospitals, good schools and many others.

While noting that Edo is blessed with different natural resources that can be harnessed to better the lives of the people, the immediate past Chairman of Nigeria Breweries PLC, promised to invest across the 18 local governments according their (LGs) god-given resource (s).

He said, “I am here to serve the state and I can say I am the best man for the job. I hear people saying I am someone’s candidate, but I can tell you that I am nobody’s candidate. All I will do is to bring my experience to bear having been chairman of several top companies.

“It was tough decision resigning from those positions. I’m coming from a comfort zone but I decided to put all of that down so I can I can directly do things for my people. I have the ability to do things for many more people having done for fewer people in the corporate world.

“All of the experience and connection I have had allover the years would be brought to bear. I am committed and convinced that I can do it. It looks uncertain but even with that, it will be certain in God’s name.

“I pledge to give youths the opportunity to serve in my government because the youths have talents to build the state. Be assured that I am fully committed to the upliftment of our state, and I will give my life to ensure that.”

While pleading to aggrieved PDP members to put their differences aside and work for the success of the party in the coming election, Ighodalo promised to unite members of the party in the state when he becomes governor.

He also promised to build on successes of past administrations in the state, while ensuring that other policies would be fine-tuned to meet current needs.

Politics

Coalition: Abure-led LP Gives Obi 48 Hours To Leave Party

Published

18 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

The Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has given the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, a 48 hours ultimatum to leave the party haven formally joined the coalition party.

This was contained in a statement signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja, on Thursday.

He explained that the Labour Party under Abure’s leadership remains vehemently opposed to joining the coalition while dismissing members of the coalition as “power mongers whose only interest was self and not the people.”

The party warned Nigerians that the often mouthed ‘new Nigeria is Possible’ is a ruse and cannot be achieved with the assemblage of old, recycled, desperate and frustrated politicians in the coalition.

Ifoh said the party is aware that all those who mismanaged Nigeria over the years are the ones that gathered themselves in the coalition while noting that desperate politicians can’t birth new Nigeria.

He said, “We are aware of several nocturnal meetings between Peter Obi and some of our members, lobbying them to join him in his new party. We’re also aware that a number of them has refused to defect with him.

“Labour Party has consistently said it is not part of the coalition and therefore, any of our members who is part of the coalition is given within 48 hours to formally resign his membership of the party.

“Labour Party is not available for people with dual agenda, people with deceptive persona. The party will not avail itself to individuals who have one leg in one Party and another leg elsewhere.

“People who in the morning they will claim to be in the Labour Party and in the evening they are in coalition.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the Nigerian population are youths who are tired of the old order, tired of gerontocrats deciding their fate. The new Nigeria that the youths are dreaming of, is not what can be realized from what we are seeing in the coalition.

“These people are opportunistic politicians who are only interested in relaunching themselves into circle of power, people who are desperate to continue holding on to power.

“The new Nigeria of our dream can only be realised through the Labour Party, and the party is willing to lead Nigerians along that trajectory.

“I therefore urge all members of the party to remain loyal and keep the party structure intact ahead of future elections.”

Politics

Only A Formidable Coalition Can Salvage Nigeria, Says Peter Obi

Published

18 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has given his full support for the coalition of opposition parties aimed at ending President Bola Tinubu’s rule in 2027.

He explained that it was a fact that no single group can change Nigeria alone, hence the need for people to come together to pursue the goal.

The former Amambra State Governor said this in a post on his verified X handle, on Thursday.

He said this just as the Julia Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has given him 48 hours within which to formally resign from the party or risk expulsion.

Obi in his post wrote, “Yesterday, the coalition members formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 Nigeria General Elections with Distinguished Senator David Mark serving as the National Chairman and H.E. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola serving as the National Secretary.

“Our commitment is to sacrifice and work together towards the 2027 General Elections, ensuring that Nigeria gets a competent, capable, and compassionate leadership that will prioritise the nation’s future by putting the welfare of Nigerians first.

REAS ALSO: Peter Obi Speaks As Port Harcourt Refinery Begins Production

“This decision was not made lightly. It comes from deep reflection on where we are as a country and what must be done to move forward.

“No one group can change Nigeria alone. To dismantle the structures that keep our people in poverty and insecurity, we must build bridges, not walls even when those bridges are uneasy. A New Nigeria is Possible. -PO.”

Politics

I Don’t Owe Anybody Explanation On Truce With Fubara – Wike

Published

22 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, declared that peace has returned to his home state, Rivers, saying he does not owe anyone an explanation on the terms of the truce.

Wike disclosed this during a Media chat monitored in Abuja.

According to him, several people had turned the crisis in Rivers State into an “oil well”, from which they were drawing illicit funds for their selfish interests, saying such fifth columnists are no longer happy that he has reconciled with the suspended Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.

Details later…