The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) candidate in this Saturday's Edo governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, has unveiled his strategic vision and insights on driving sustainable development and progress in the state if elected.
Ighodalo presented his blueprint christened: 'Pathway to Prosperity for All' at a fund-raising dinner, organised by Corporate Nigeria; comprising investment bankers, investment financiers, infrastructure financiers, capital market dealers, legal practitioners and private sector leaders within and outside Edo for the PDP candidate.
The Edo guber hopeful who is a member of Corporate Nigeria observed that despite the state's rich heritage, it has faced numerous challenges throughout its history, with the advent of democracy contributing to several efforts to restore its glory.
Ighodalo expressed his desire to consolidate on Governor Godwin Obaseki's transformative policies in education, healthcare, agriculture and other key sectors of the economy.
These include Obaseki's Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation programme, codenamed EdoBEST, which revamped the educational sector, particularly at the primary and secondary school levels, resulted in Edo consistently ranking second and third places when it comes to basic education in Nigeria.
Others are the health with fully equipped Primary Healthcare Centres, reconstruction and accreditation of Edo School of Nursing, Science and Midwifery, telemedicine partnerships with the Diaspora, and the launch of Edo State Health Insurance Scheme, agriculture, economy, civil service and Edo Master Plan and contributions to the people's welfare.
"Given the enormous social and macro-economic challenges we face in Nigeria today, we cannot afford to gamble with our collective future and the destiny of our children by electing leadership that is incapable of addressing key developmental challenges with competence and vision," he said.
Ighodalo provided a detailed plan of action to achieve a prosperous future that honours the state's rich heritage and actualises its full potential.
He said his prosperity agenda focuses on security, law and order as foundation for prosperity through police support, use of technology and value restoration; ensuring wellbeing for the people through job creation and provision of social amenities; economic growth through industrialisation and harnessing natural resources.
Ighodalo promised that his administration would also focus on good governance through transparency and accountability in public finances and protection of the environment.
The guber hopeful also indicated the achievement of full state and local government policing, provision of food banks, promotion of made-in-Edo products, boosting Internally Generated Revenue and ensuring clean and healthy environment, among others, will define his tenure as Edo governor.
He promised to support the elderly, women's rights, youths and students, children, traditional rulers, civil servants, farmers, teachers and other stakeholders of the state.
In his opening speech, the group chief executive officer, EverCorp Industries, Eric Idiahi, described Corporate Nigeria for Ighodalo as comprising forward-thinking leaders who understand the critical role Corporate Nigeria should play in addressing the challenges of the nation.
According to him, the future of Edo and Nigeria depends on leadership that not only recognises but actively engages with the private sector as a partner in progress.
"Our businesses are more than just economic engines. They are essential to solving the complex problems we face from fostering sustainable development, creating jobs and driving innovation.
"What unites the members of the group is the belief in Ighodalo's leadership and understanding that good governance in any part of Nigeria has a ripple effect on the entire nation. Ighodalo is not just another candidate, but a leader who embodies integrity, humility and a deep commitment to public service.
"With decades of experience in law, finance, boardroom and public service, Ighodalo has demonstrated a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of Edo. But more than his impressive resume, his passion for people is evident in every aspect of his life and work. He will continue from where Obaseki stopped, and take it further," he said.
On his part, Governor Obaseki thanked Corporate Nigeria for Ighodalo for coming out to support the campaign.
He said, "This is to thank you very much for coming out tonight to support your own. Ighodalo will be a good governor. You know, he will perform as a governor, because he not only has the experience in terms of governance and building businesses. He has been part of the Edo project from the beginning, since 2006. So, he understands where we have been and how we got to where we are today."
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The governor appealed to the participants to help in raising funds required to support the Ighodalo campaign. He said funds would be required to cover election logistics, and ensure that party agents were mobilised to do their work effectively on election day.
Some Ighodalo die-hards at the event dared fifth columnists in the PDP and the politicians threatening to put fire in some PDP states to try Edo and meet their albatross.
"We dare PDP 'unfaithfuls' and saboteurs, who play chess with the party, to try Edo and see what fire does with the ear of a stubborn rat. Edo is not like any other South South state that can be used to trade political favours. They are doing it in Rivers and they have planted their relations to superintend over the Edo election, but we are here for them," one of the participants said.
Another participant noted that Edo people "cannot trust" the party that wanted to take the state by crook after Obaseki's first term, by trying to pull the rug off his feet, with the welfare of the Heartbeat of the Nation.
