Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
As the search for the running mate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo State chapter governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, is gathering momentum, the name of a person that rings a bell is Gabriela Omosede Igbinedion, the daughter of the Honorary Romian Consul to Edo and Delta States of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.
All over the globe, winning an election requires numbers, especially in countries that practice democracy and Nigeria, being the giant of Africa, falls into this category.
Moreover, Nigeria is one of the countries that believe in 35 per cent Affirmative Action, and Edo State is the Heartbeat of the nation, it has been setting the lead for other states to follow and must not cease to do so this time around by choosing a woman as a running mate to Dr Asue Ighodalo.
While doing this, the person who best fits this position is Hon. Gabriela Omosede Igbinedion.
This is because she has been tested and trusted with positions and has been able to give a good account of them. we know that the reward for hard work is more work, and she is not complaining at all.
She is the topical example of the “Home Girl” because she is always with her people. She plays local politics and is certainly not a diaspora politician.
She attended the Igbinedion Education Centre in Benin City, Edo State, where she sat for and passed the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in 1998.
She moved to the United Kingdom, where she studied law at the University of Kent and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2003.
2005 she obtained a Master’s degree in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster.
She later returned to Nigeria to attend the Nigerian Law School at Victoria Island, Lagos, after which she was called to bar in 2007, while in 2015, Hon. Igbinedion was elected into the House of Representatives to represent Ovia North-East and Ovia South-West Constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Her willingness has always been to serve her people and not to be served.
Her legislative’s interest includes women and children advocacy, poverty alleviation, education, and Niger Delta.
She was a member of the House Services Committee.
Edo State, at the moment, needs someone with the experience, tact, skills, disposition, Amazon with a loud voice. Connections both within and outside the shore of Nigeria to team up with our amiable governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, to be able to win the forthcoming governorship election on September 21 and not a neophyte.
Besides, Gabriela Omosede Igbinedion has been an ardent PDP member in both good and bad times.
She is not a fair-weather politician. She has contributed to the party’s successes, and it is the belief and the aspirations of all the Edolites that her loyalty to the party should be rewarded with the deputy governor’s slot.
As the only female aspirant, she humbly stepped down for Asue Ighodalo to sail smoothly at the gubernatorial primary. She deserves a high sense of consideration for the second position in the state as she can galvanise the human and financial resources required for her contributions to the campaign, which will be a long stretch.
So, giving the slot to her will not be a wrong choice.
Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, who are watching with keen interest and are optimistic that the PDP as a party, having made the right choice of electing Asue Ighodalo as its party’s flag bearer earlier, will still consolidate on their right decision by choosing Gabriela Omosede Igbinedion’s to be the running mate to him if they want a leisurely sail to the Dennis Osadebey Avenue, the Edo State seat of power.
Only Gabriela Omosede Igbinedion has the magic wand, political enigma, and sagacity to pull the crowd and, jointly with Ighodalo, secure victory for the party.