Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the Edo 2024 election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo has boasted that he is the best man for the job of stirring the state to its economic and infrastructural El Dorado if voted in as the governor of the state in the forthcoming governorship election.
Against the backdrop of rumours that he is the anointed aspirant of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the next February primary of the main opposition party, Dr. Ighodalo, the former Chairman of Nigeria Breweries PLC who spoke with members of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at their secretariat in Benin, maintained that he is nobody’s candidate.
The PDP top aspirant said that having worked with the immediate past governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole during his stint between 2008 and 2016 and also with incumbent Governor Obaseki, he said that experience gathered will be used to develop the state if he wins the party’s nomination and the election, eventually.
Besides, he said that he is ready to bring his experience in the private sector where he became chairman of several companies to bear should he gets the nod of Edo electorate next year.
The most popular candidate said: “I am here to serve the state and I can say I am the best man for the job. I hear people saying I am someone’s candidate but I can tell you that I am nobody’s candidate. All I will do is to bring my experience to bear having been chairman of several top companies.
“It was tough decision resigning from those position. I’m coming from a comfort zone and you put all of that down to say you want to do things for your people. I have the ability to do things for many more people having done for fewer people in the corporate world.
“All of the experience and connection I have had all over the years would be brought to bear. I am committed and convinced that I can do it. It looks uncertain but even it will be certain in God’s name.”
Dr Ighodalo, the chairman of the annual Alaghodaro Summit and the widely adjudged promising aspirant said he was offering himself for service because of his desire to make Edo strong economically, adding that there were several parts of the economy that can be used to provide for the people and take them out of poverty.
The economist cum lawyer confessed that leaving the private sector for politics was one of the toughest decisions he had to make, noting that he was however prepared for the rigours of the job which demands integrity.
While calling on the feuding factions in the PDP to bury their hatchet and work harmoniously for the success of the party in the forthcoming polls, he promised to unite the different stakeholders within the party
The aspirant who promised to give youths the opportunity to serve if elected because the youths have talents to build the state, assured that he was fully committed to the upliftment of the state and will give his very best to ensure that.
Dr. Ighodalo explained that he will build on the success of past governments in the state, just as other policies will be fine tuned to meet current needs.