By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu called on the Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to prioritise the state’s development while assuring him of the Federal Government’s full support and the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
Tinubu advised in Abuja at a meeting with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress party, where the Edo governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect, Rep. Dennis Idahosa, presented their certificates of return.
He emphasised the importance of good governance and delivering results to the people of Edo State.
“Governor-elect, you can now face the task of development. We are here to work with you. You have seen the progressive governors of APC. They are truly progressive. Work with them. Learn the ropes, and I believe you are up to the task,” he said.
Acknowledging the challenges of democracy, particularly in emerging economies like Nigeria, the President added, “You have earned the victory. Democracy is difficult, particularly in emerging democracies and economies like ours.
“If you hear complaints from places like America, you know how difficult it is to navigate democracy. But it remains the best form of government.”
The President congratulated Senator Okpebholo and his deputy, describing them as a “good symbol of people ordained by God to work together.
“You started as rivals and ended us as partners. You are a symbol of good understanding in politics; the man at our party’s helm has been through it before.
“In Kano, he was a front runner, became a second runner, and became a deputy before he eventually became a governor,” he said.
Tinubu acknowledged the role played by former Edo state governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the progressive governors, and the APC leadership in the successful outcome of the gubernatorial election in Edo.
“I saw Adams Oshiomhole radiating in joy… sincerely the governors showed up in Edo, they impressed me. They defended the party. They worked hard for the party,” he remarked.
Tinubu also commended INEC and the security agencies for ensuring a peaceful and organised election, with no reports of violence or disturbances.
“I must thank the security agencies. There was no bloodshed, no riot; people voted and went back to their houses in peace, and the fears dissipated instantly,” he said.
The President urged the party leadership and membership to remain united and focused on achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Never mind the noise makers. I do a lot of statistical sampling and results. When you hear politicians saying ‘all politics is local,’ you must respect that notion.
“When you see the stability in the Edo North senatorial district, we see a man that won the Central senatorial district and a candidate who has won a seat in the south senatorial district; we did a match- which turned out to be a winning match,” he said.
Tinubu also commented on the heavy downpour on Election Day in Edo and the electorate’s commitment to vote in the rain without an umbrella.
“It is a very punching illustration,” the President said, referring to remarks made by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Ganduje, about the election-day rains in Edo.
In his remarks, Senator Abdullahi Ganduje, the party’s national chairman, commended the President, the governors, and all stakeholders for their leadership and support.
“On the day of the election, there was an exciting scenario: it was raining heavily, yet people came out to vote without using an umbrella. Your Excellency, the people were convinced that our party is the party to be voted for, and we won the election,” he said.
The APC National chairman noted that the party’s next focus is securing victories in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ondo and Anambra states.
*I’ll be servant to all Edo people – Okpebholo
Meanwhile, the governor-elect, Okpebholo, promised to be a servant to all people of the state.
Okpebholo made the promise when the National Chairman of APC, Ganduje, alongside the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, presented him to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Other APC governors in the entourage included the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Usman Ododo (Kogi), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun).
Also in the entourage was the Deputy Governor of Edo, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared the candidate of the APC elected as the next governor of Edo State against allegations of irregularities in the September 21 gubernatorial election.
Speaking to correspondents after the meeting, the governor-elect pledged to be a servant of the people in office.
He also said he would be prepared to work with the opposition if they provided good ideas.
He stated, “I’m coming as a servant to serve the Edo people. That is what is required of me, and that is what I will do.
“So, very soon, you will see a lot of development in Edo. We are going to employ teachers. We will renovate our schools…a lot will be happening over time. So, with time, you recognise that a new dawn has happened.”
When asked if he would bring everyone on Board his administration, he said, “If they have an idea that is beautiful and acceptable to the people, then why not? My door is open to everybody.“
He urged those who lost election to accept the outcome with patience.
“They have to bear it. They have to wait. It has happened. If I had lost, I would have borne it and congratulated the winner by now. So I’m expecting them to congratulate me,” Okpebholo stated.
On his part, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, said, “Only God can confer power. Man can make all the effort. If God chooses not to crown it, it will be in vain.
“So politicians campaign in vain unless God campaigns for you. I think that is our case, and I am excited not only for the fact that we (APC) have reclaimed Edo state, almost in the same manner that we reclaimed it from PDP in 2007, before (Godwin) Obaseki took it away back from us.
“My joy is that Edo people will now have a governor that they can hug, touch, feel, and the governor that will open the doors. Edo State people now have a governor that will not send pregnant women to jail on account of a N20,000 fine by a mobile court and who might end up delivering inside Prison.
“We have a man with compassion, with human feeling, because governance is not just about building roads and schools. It is that human touch; a governor with empathy, humble enough to recognise that public trust is not like a corporate Chief Executive.
“A corporate chief executive can behave the way he wants because he heads the business because it is his father’s money.
“But with public trust, the vote of the labourer and the vote of the Professor, the vote of the pauper, the beggar and the vote of the wealthiest person, one man, one vote is equal. And so we have a governor who understands this and went through this process about a year ago. His people entrusted him with the senatorial representation in Edo Central. And what the other guys fail to understand is what is going for him.”
In his message to the state opposition party, Oshiomhole said, “I have always said this. I said it once, and a section of the media twisted it. Only one person will win once you have more than one candidate seeking an election.
“And in joining such a race (in the case of Edo, crowded, I think we had about 16 candidates, and then people zeroed it down to three so-called main candidates, and now our own has prevailed), my advice to them is that they have to recognise that in 2016 when we won with Obaseki, people allowed him to govern and gave him their support.”
