The immediate past Executive Director Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (rtd) has declared his intention to contest the 2024 Edo State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Declaring his intention at his APC Ward 1, Benin City on Monday, Airhiavbere said APC cannot afford to be at opposition with the government at the centre, hence his intention.
Insisting that APC must take over Edo State in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, Airhiavbere said, “We must trust the state at the Centre. We must make sure we rescue this state. Edo cannot afford to be at opposition with the Federal Government.”
READ ALSO: Edo2024: Airhiavbere Aspires To Reset Edo for Prosperity
He added: “I am here to tell you, my APC Ward I, women, youths and leaders of our party that I will be running for the 2024 governorship election in Edo State. We must trust the state to the government at the federal level, and we must key in and return Edo to the APC come 2024.
“Returning Edo to APC is a task that must be done. That is one of the reason I have to throw my hat into the ring and make sure we build Edo State.”
According to him, after retiring from the Nigerian Army in 2011, his wish ever since then has been leading Edo people to the land of prosperity, economic growth, land of safety and infrastructural development.
“In 2016, I joined the APC because it was the government at the federal level. I have always insisted that Edo state must remains under the federal government because this is the heartbeat of the nation. How can the heartbeat be in another party, it doesn’t work,” he said.
READ ALSO: Edo 2024: Airhiavbere Will Herald A New Era Of Robust Development, And Prosperity
On zoning, the General said: “Some people are saying there should be zoning or no zoning, but you can only zone what you have. If you don’t have a daughter, you can’t give her out in marriage, that is why APC must present the best candidate and I am the best,” said the governorship aspirant.
He, however, said he would bring his wealth of experience in his military career and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to bear in the governance of Edo State.
He added: “What we did in NDDC is what I want to replicate in Edo State. When we came to NDDC, there was no approved budget, but we make sure a budget was approved and budget were made. We also make sure we prepare promotion exams for our staff, a thing that has not been done for long. Our 8 months in the NDDC was like 8 years, and this is exactly what I want to replicate in Edo,” he said.
News5 days ago
