Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Vanguard, a socio – political and economic pressure group whose aim is to promote unity, peace and progress among the people of Edo state all over the world has said it has thrown its weight behind the candidacy of the People’s Democratic Party( PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Asue lghodalo in the September 21st, 2024 governorship election in the state.
Introducing the group during a meeting with the candidate at his residence, the Assistant secretary of the organisation, Mr lkponmwosa Gold said Edo Vanguard is a non- ethnic, non – religious, non – profit and non – governmental organisation founded in the year 2022 with the primary aim to foster unity, peace, progress and development amongst all sons and daughters of Edo who have distinguished themselves in both public and private sectors in Nigeria and the diaspora.
Mr Gold further stated that the group aim at channelling the course of good governance by giving support and direction on the best choice of candidate irrespective of political affiliations, adding that their believe is to ensure that only those with the capacity to deliver on their mandate are allowed to hold political positions in the state.
“Edo Vanguard has been researching on whom to support for a long time, at a point we involved a marketing company to search and we got three names which eventually narrowed down to Prof. Oserhiemien Osunbor but the ruling party at the centre which is the All Progressives Congress (APC), chose to deny their best candidate its ticket for the election as a result of endless sentiments”
“The Edo Vanguard aim in all of this is to ensure that there is a system of government that will become a model for other states in the country and the federation of Nigeria.
“Flowing from the above, the group decided to go into a search for the pedigree of the flag bearer of the three foremost political parties in Edo state using all search engines and then found out that none of them is any where near Asue lghodalo”, Gold said.
Gold added that the Edo Vanguard did not stop at that search, they went into consultations, first with the indigenous people of Edo state and a couple of political elitie then engaged stakeholders and found that the PDP governorship candidate, Barrister Asue lghodalo is in a class of its own as a result, the group concluded that he (lghodalo) is the best man for the number one job in Edo state.”
He said it was on that note that the Edo Vanguard decided to pay a courtesy visit to Barrister Asue lghodalo in his house where we had a fruitful discussion with him and a piece of brief information about his background and his deliverables when he comes into office as the next governor of Edo state.
Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer ( PRO) of the group, Mr. Christopher Adeyanjie thanked the PDP governorship candidate , Barrister Asue lghodalo for the warm reception and informed that everything seems to be in his favour, adding that if Edo Central claim that for the sake of justice, it is the turn of the senatorial district to produce the next governor, then lghodalo is the rightful person for the job.
“Without any sentiment, we can see the enthusiasm and preparedness with which Asue lghodalo wants to contribute his intellect and skill in making a new Edo state that will be conducive for all and as such, Edo Vanguard would support Ai because of his capacity looking at his antecedent in both public and private sectors as a distinguished lawyer and economist who studied in Nigeria and abroad”, Adeyanjie.