EDO STATE: Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Etsako East Local Government Chairman, Princess Benedicta Attoh has enhanced the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo in winning the forthcoming governorship election in the state through deploying the Benedicta’s Market Women Money, a programme sponsored by a United Kingdom based Surgeon, Dr. Uyi Igbinadolor to help them in their businesses financially.
The programme with the aim of wooing them to Asue, empowered over 50 traders financially at the Imiekuri Markets in Okpella and Ebelle.
The Council boss, while giving them the money, decried the level of hunger and hardship that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government has brought upon Nigerians, pledging to continue with her regular financial support to women.
She called on the women to pray for the donor of the fund, Dr. Igbinadolor, who has constantly supported her in reaching out to market women.
Addressing the women at the Imiekuri Markets in Okpella and Ebelle respectively, the council chair, who spoke in her dialect, said: “I am here today as one of you.
“I have experienced hardship and suffering at various stages of my life as a young girl and as a mother.
“I understand your pain and I know what women are going through.
“The burden of the home is on you. By God’s grace, I will stand with you now and always.
“Do not be discouraged and do not give up. Soon, and very soon, all of this hardship would be over.”
She gave N5000 each to 40 petty traders selling vegetables, pure water, ice fish, cooked and roasted corn, groundnuts, and biscuits among others to them at the Ebelle Market, and urged them to add the money to their daily business as additional income.
Princess Attoh and the representative of Dr. Igbinadolor had earlier visited the Agenebode Main Market where several market women were empowered with N10,000 each.
Last week, she took Ighodalo’s gospel and that of his deputy, Osarodion Ogie, to various communities and markets across the council.
Distributing PDP’s campaign materials, including crested aprons, caps and handbills of Ighodalo and Ogie, she described the PDP candidate as the best man for the job.
“Asue Ighodalo is educated, knowledgeable, exposed, and enlightened about governance with a brilliant and listening Deputy Governor, Osarodion Ogie, who is one of the most experienced politician and human resource of inestimable value in Edo State,” she stated.
She assured that the duo would use their knowledge and experience to move Edo to a preferred destination.