By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
An Edo state governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gideon Ikhine has said that he is set to reclaim the governorship of the state from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ikhine made the submission on Tuesday at the PDP National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, while speaking with newsmen shortly after submitting his governorship nomination and expression of interest forms.
Ikhine, who is from Edo central, said that party did not zones the position but expressed optimism that the party will reclaim power in Edo come September 19.
He said, “If you are a student of history you know that when God want to do his things, His patterns are always right.
“So, I want to assure you by the special grace of God and by hard work and by the strong will He has put in me, the days of PDP being in opposition in Edo state will be over this year.”
The aspirant was very optimistic that he is the right candidate that has the capacity to floor the ruling party at the polls.
Responding to the agitation that Edo South should be morally supported to clench the position so as to complete their eight years, Ikhine said that the PDP from its history in the state do not zone it’s governorship position in Edo state.
He went further to recount that in the last 12 years after PDP lost power to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, it has fielded two unsuccessful candidates from Edo South for governorship position.
“So in the wisdom of the party leadership under the leadership of Chief Lucky Igbinedon, the party leaders met at this time that we don’t need to zone it to any party of the state.
“So the governorship ticket is opened to every part of the state so that we can get the best candidate. Like you know I am from the central. Central has never fielded any candidate for governorship in Edo state and lost.”
He said that when he climbs the saddle, Edo will a business destination of choice and its economy self sustain.
“Edo state presently is a consumer state. We are not producing and we keep depending on Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).
” I want to let you know that where we are going right now in the country , is not a place where we need people who do not have industrial experience.
“I can tell you FAAC is not going to help us because we need someone who is going to turn the state back to a government that is self sustenance.
“I want to assure you that under my watch, in three years Edo will no longer depend on Abuja for survival.
“I am coming with strong industrial experience. I am coming with strong capacity to liberate my people in Edo state from darkness to light.
“If you look at my vision for Edo state I said Edo is going to be a destination of choice for anybody coming into not just to Nigeria but to Africa because we have things that we can develop that can make us to be self sustaining and I am going to focus more agriculture and industrialisation of Edo state.”
