Why Edo residents will vote against Jonathan – Governor Oshiomhole

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Saturday said President Goodluck Jonathan abandoned the state despite securing majority votes for his election in 2011.

oshiomhole

Speaking at separate rallies of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ehor, Uhumwode Local Government Area and at Igueben, Igueben Local Government Area, Mr. Oshiomhole said Mr. Jonathan has refused to come to the aid of the state, especially as regards the erosion ravaging parts of the state, in spite of several letters written to him.

The Governor said the people of the state are wiser now and will not vote the President come February 14.

Mr. Oshiomhole said “the last time, we voted for President Jonathan, he got 95 per cent of the total votes in Edo State. Yet, I cannot think of any meaningful thing he has done in the state.

“We have written volumes of letters to Abuja on the Queen Ede erosion site. That erosion was caused by the Federal Government as a result of the design errors in the course of constructing the road to Asaba. It started as a small erosion, over time it has escalated.

“I have written for support from the ecological funds which we are entitled to, to rebuild and reclaim the place. It has destroyed some houses, destroyed farmlands, destroyed a secondary school and right now almost destroying a Catholic Church, yet the Federal Government has done nothing.

“Last year, President Jonathan gave N2 billion each to some PDP States even where he lost election to deal with erosion. Those that don’t have flood erosion were given money for desertification but we in Edo state that voted for him got nothing.

“I am not lamenting this. We have learnt from it and are determined not to repeat our mistakes,” Mr. Oshiomhole said.

He said the state has now secured funds from the World Bank to “rebuild Queen Ede erosion and restore it and save the lives, farmland and properties of the people who live around there”.

Mr. Oshiomhole said the Federal Government has had no project in the state for 16 years except the “Ofosu up to Benin old dual carriage way”.

The governor said the Federal Government was pushed to build the carriage way because his administration started constructing addition lanes.

Jonathan does not care about youth

Mr. Oshiomhole said the failure to prosecute those indicted in the ill-fated immigration recruitment exercise in 2014 is an indication that President Goodluck Jonathan does not care about the welfare of the Nigerian youth.

“Young people were defrauded in the name of providing jobs. They were asked to pay 1000 naira to apply for Federal jobs that did not exist, illegally using consultants in clear breach of federal laws. PDP federal government defrauded our youths to the tune of N800 million and then they organised a mock interview using various stadiums across the country and young people lives were wasted.

“The Minister that presided over this national fraud was given honours. For PDP, this is a normal way of life, not one person was punished. People lost their lives. Last week, the relatives of those who died in Benin were protesting to us that the Federal Government has not given them even the jobs they promised,” he said.

Mr. Oshiomhole asked Edo residents to vote out the PDP at all levels saying, “I believe that with General Buhari, Nigeria will be in a safer hand beginning with security. Under PDP, security has completely collapsed. Insurgents have taken over. People are now afraid to go to church or mosque to worship.”

He alleged that the Nigerian Armed Forces has lost its prestige because the money for defence has been stolen since 1999.

“We can’t continue to lament. We need a competent President with courage to stand, be counted, defend Nigerians, secure our country and return us to the path of sustainable growth and development. We believe that General Muhammadu Buhari can and will do it. We need a man who is not corrupt to fight corruption and if we do not fight corruption, Nigeria cannot make it and General Muhammadu Buhari is the man we need at this stage,” Mr. Oshiomhole said.

Meanwhile, the Governor assured the people of Orhionwon Local Government Area in the state that construction work will commence in the Abudu Township road within one week.

“I can promise you now that latest Wednesday, the caterpillars will move in here, demolish the PDP and start building roads of APC and this Local Government will now wear the looks of a local government headquarters. We are committed to bringing change and development to the state”, he said.

Why Edo residents will vote against Jonathan – Governor Oshiomhole