Over 3,300 members of Ovia North East Local Government Area Community Development Associations have endorsed Mr. Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 10 gubernatorial election in Edo State. The latest ensorsement is coming less than three weeks to the election.
President of the Community Development Associations in the Local Government, Mr. Osasere Osayogie and Vice President, Etinosa Ighogaro declared at a solidarity meeting in Benin City, Wednesday, that “we will deliver Ovia-North East for APC come September 10, 2016.”
According to Osasere Osayogie, “We the youths of Ovia North-East endorse Godwin Obaseki for governor. We have done it before. We will do it again. We are here today to rejoice with Godwin Obaseki.
“Come September 10, 2016, Godwin Obaseki will be elected the next governor, ” he said.
Receiving the youths, Governor Oshiomhole recalled how his government revoked land which was illegally allocated to an individual and returned same to the people.
He said: said, “On assumption of office, I discovered that almost all the land in Ovia North-East had been allocated to only one man. I revoked the land illegally allocated to only one family and I returned it to the people of Ovia. I revoked it, I stand by it and it remains revoked and given to the people.”
According to the governor, “The purpose of government is to protect the interest of the people and I believe you must defend that and ensure that no one man takes your land.
“We will hand over to a man who understands what it means to protect the public interest.”
On Obaseki’s endorsement, Oshiomhole said: “when I see the large turn-out of the community leaders here, I know it is finished. ”
Taking a jibe at the past PDP government, he said: “when they come to campaign in Ovia, you must ask them: “where is the dual-carriage way from the junction of the Benin-Sagamu expressway to Okada.’“
He said efforts by the state government to extend electricity to some communities in Ovia was hampered by some desperate politicians who organised thugs to stop the truck carrying electric poles to the beneficiary community.
He said: “If anybody breached the law, they will be prosecuted and sentenced to prison. “We respect authority but we will not tolerate rascality. Everybody is equal before the law,” he said.
He thanked the people of Ovia North-East for their consistent support for his government and the APC, assuring that government will protect them from harassment and intimidation.
Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, thanked the Ovia communities for endorsing him, assuring that he would not abandon them when he becomes Governor.
He said: “I want thank you for the very bold step you have taken to endorse me as the sole candidate for the governorship position”, assuring that there would be continuity in the building of more infrastructure.
He promised that his government would attract agro-industries to their communities who would engage the youths in mechanised farming.