Obaseki pledges to revamp agriculture

The All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki

 Revamping agriculture would form the policy thrust of the All Progressives Congress (APC) if elected.

Its governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki, disclosed this when he took his campaign to the central senatorial district of the state.

Addressing party supporters at Amedokhian, Egbele, Uzea and Ivue, near Uromi, he said it is only agriculture that can boost the state’s economy in the face of dwindling oil prices.

 At Ugbegun and Opoji, near Irrua, he promised to establish a strong partnership with traditional rulers, adding that in driving the expected development, he would seek investments to the rural communities.

He said: “The progress of the entire state is what I care about. I want to assure you that Governor Adams Oshiomhole has laid a solid foundation and our role is to build on it.

“It is a foundation that can carry skyscrapers and we understand the design, we understand where the pillars and columns are and what the structure can hold,” he said.

Obaseki described the “PDP years of leadership in the state as characterised by wastages, because it claimed there was no money in the state and so, failed to build schools, construct roads and build hospitals.

“But our efforts these past seven years have shown that Edo is a viable state. This is evident in the schools and hospitals we have built, the roads we have constructed and the water we have provided across the state.

“It is for this reason that we have the boldness to ask for continuity. The continuity the party is seeking is that the work we have started must be completed,” he added.

Oshiomhole, who also spoke at the campaign, said his administration’s developmental strides cut across the state.

He explained that politicians of the central senatorial district, who had governed the state, could not match what his government has done for the area.

“Instead of developing this place, they only gave N2000 each to the electorate to buy their votes and abandon them, resurfacing again after another four years to seek a re-election.

“To me, this is disservice to you. This tells you that they never mean well for you. They only try to buy you to gain power in order for them to enrich themselves,” he added.

Meanwhile, the clan head of Uzea Kingdom, Solomon Iluobe, endorsed Obaseki when he visited him in his palace.