Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant Dr. Pedro Obaseki has warned Governor Adams Oshiomhole against any imposition of candidate, saying that it may backfire.
He said the governor is not bigger than the party, recalling that last year, the governor’s candidate failed during the senatorial polls.
Obaseki urged the people, including Edo in the Diaspora, to make a good choice, adding that the choice they make will determine the progress of the state in the future.
The 49-year old politician stressed: “Edo is on the throes of motor park democracy. Change is good, but we must change properly. I don’t have a godfather. God is my father. I will take my message to the Edo people, even in the Diaspora, to make a good choice.”
Oshiomhole has anointed Obaseki’s cousin, Godwin Obaseki, as his preferred candidate. The governor, who described the Chairman of the Edo State Economic Team as a competent technocrat and administrator, justified his decision, saying that he has the constitutional right to make a choice.
He said: “Edo is not an APC state. I can make it an APC state, leveraging on the achievements of Oshiomhole.”
The aspirant said the onus is on Oshipmhole, who rode to power on the back of his ‘one man, one vote’ campaign and serious resistance to godfatherism, to learn from the past. he said any manipulation of the selection process in favour of any aspirant will be to the detriment of the party.
Obaseki also condemned what he described as the evil of money politics, adding that stomach infrastructure will not play any role during the election. He said: “Only God anoints. I am not rich in terms of the interpretation of stolen wealth.”
Reflecting on the zoning debate, the former university teacher said: “I will not sacrifice competence on the altar of zoning. Edo people are one.”
He also warned against violence during the primary, saying the perpetrators of violence will be taken to task.
Unfolding his programmes, Obaseki said: “Edo is my political message, ideology and focus.” He said he will focus on agriculture, health care system, education, employment generation, culture and tourism.
He lamented that “Edo is where it is because of leadership laziness,” stressing that its natural endowment can take it far, if properly harnessed.
Obaseki, who shed light on his health manifesto, lamented the lack of ambulance serve in the health sector. He promise to introduce the ‘Edo health Initiative,’ which he described as a coordinated health policy to redeem the health sector. He said he will also create a data base in the health sector detailing the health history of the people.
On agriculture, he said: “We have the land. Nigeria imports 63 percent of its palm oil, which Edo can produce.”
I can make Edo an APC state - Don Pedro Obaseki
