•Shaibu
Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, Felix Akhabue and Anslem Ojezua yesterday picked the nomination and expression of interest forms to content the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary scheduled for February 22.
Barr. Blessing Omosede Igbenedion, had on Wednesday purchased the forms, bringing the total number of aspirants to five, reports Daily Independent.
While the expression of interest is N5 million, the nomination form is N30million. At the cost of N35 million and with five aspirants, who had already purchased the forms, PDP has raked in N175 million into its coffer.
Addressing newsmen at the party national secretariat shortly after collecting the forms, Asue Ighodalo denied being the candidate of the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki.
“I have also heard the rumour that people have put out there, stories or rumours that have no basis. I decided by myself, prompted by the people that know that I have the capacity to serve as the governor of Edo State to run and it took me a long time to agree to run because of many other things that I was doing,” he said.
Disclosing why he thought he’s the best candidate for the job, Ighodalo said, “My experiences in the other spheres have indicated to me that in public offices, you have the opportunity to affect the lives of so many more people. At this point in my live, when I have been able by the grace of God to do things in other spheres, maybe it is time or hand of destiny that pointed me to the direction of wanting to help my state.
“People can say what they like and when people want to propagate certain propaganda so as to discredit, they say different things. I am not in the business of discrediting and there are many good people that can be governor of Edo state.
“What I am bringing to the table is definitive focus. I see a path that will move Edo state from where it is to first world economy. I see a path that will take our children all into school, to provide health services, to remove our people from poverty, to provide water, to provide electricity, to provide security, working with other people and working with our team, working with the federal government and working with other states.
“I am a man of peace, I am a man of fairness, I am a man of justice. I want to see my love for the people translate into benefit for the people of Edo State.
“If the people of Edo State give me this chance, I will do my very best and I know that my very best will be good for the people of Edo state.”
Also addressing newsmen, the deputy governor of Edo state, Philip Shaibu said that it is the turn of the people to decide who will be the governor of Edo State.
Speaking on behalf of Shaibu, the Forum of the past National Association Nigeria Students (NANS) Leaders led by Patrick Afubera and Godwin Maliga, who purchased his forms, said that once the deputy governor gets the ticket, the people will elect him.
“I think that it is the turn of the people to decide who will be the governor of Edo state. I am very confident that with what Philip Shaibu is made of, once he gets the ticket of PDP, the people will elect him as the governor of Edo State,” they said.
They further said: “For us, we believe that the primary is for the party. If the primary is going to hold today, we are confident that the delegates, who are party members will definitely pick our candidate.
“What we are doing here today is for PDP. PDP has never given its governorship ticket to anybody from Edo North, go and check the history. If you go to the central, they have had the ticket of the PDP over and over and in most cases they lose the election.
“PDP, the party on which Philip is contesting, we saw that he has a chance of emerging and he stands the brightest chance to emerge as the candidate of PDP and for PDP to win the governorship election, they should give the ticket to Philip Shaibu of Edo north. It is about strength and capacity.”
Explaining why he is in the best position to get the ticket, Akhabue said he will be able to galvanize his people to be able to win the primary.
He said he’s not just planning to win the primaries alone, but planning to win the election itself.
He said: “I am that kind of person that if I don’t have a conviction in anything I want to do, I don’t embark on it. There is nothing that I have done in the past that God has not blessed with success at the end of the day because I will pray about it and by the time I have a conviction, I put in all my efforts.
“I will be able to galvanize my people to be able to win the primary. Yes, the big names are there, that is not a problem to me. For me to have embarked on the race, you can be sure that old politicians like myself certainly have consulted widely, across the states.
“I am not just planning to win the primary alone, am planning to win the election proper by Gods grace.”
