· Says APC ’s woeful performance red flag
By George Etakibuebu
Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, a coalition of several youth organisations under the aegis of Edo Youths Awake Initiative (EDYAI), has declared that the salvation of the state lies in voting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into power to continue the good works of the party in the state, saying that the “woeful and calamitous misrule and rudderless governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre in the last 9 years is a potential red flag for the voters to run far away from the APC.”
The youth coalition insisted that “The choice of Dr Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must not be compromised or subjected to debate because he represents the way forward in terms of progress, development and prosperity for our dear state and people.”
The group, in a statement made available to newsmen by the National Coordinator, Earnest Odion Eromosele, in Benin on Monday, highlighted the plight of the ordinary Nigerian and the deteriorating economic situation in the country since 2015 till date when the APC took centre stage and the grim prospect of the coming days, months and years till 2027 when another general election circle will fall due. The youth body urged the voters in the state to reject the APC and all its associated misrules, economic woes and oppressive policies.
“We have come to the inevitable conclusion that Edo State cannot gamble with the APC in Osadebey Avenue. The woeful, calamitous, disastrous, ruinous and rudderless governance which the APC at the centre has afflicted on the nation in the last 9 years must be seen as a potential red flag. And we wish to advise them to vote wisely and avoid the APC like a deadly plague so as not to compound the misery, hardship and suffering already created for the people.
“We insist that the salvation of the people of Edo State lies with the PDP and urge you all to vote for Dr Asue Ighodalo. Make no mistake about it, the worst of PDP (assuming but not conceding) is better by far than the best of APC. Don’t be carried away by their lies and propaganda. It is their stock in trade. They use sweet talk to deceive the people only to put them in misery and suffering.
“Today as we speak, the nation is virtually at a standstill. Inflation is at an all-time high, insecurity is growing at an alarming rate, unemployment is running riots all over the country, corruption is growing and drug abuse is festering.
“We call on all voters in Edo State to shine their eyes. Be deliberate and intentional in your choice. Don’t use your voter’s card to impose hardship, suffering, insecurity and corruption on the state by voting for the APC. Instead, vote for Dr Asue Ighodalo and the PDP. The difference between the two is very clear.
“We consider this our civic duty and responsibility to educate and enlighten all our brothers and sisters who will be voting not to make the mistake of voting for the APC and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. The PDP is the party and Ighodalo is the candidate.”
The coalition then called on Edos to shun sentiment and the campaign of calumny by choosing the best man for the job come September. It stated that after a thorough examination of the three top candidates, they were convinced that Dr Asue Ighodalo should be the candidate to support.
“We have carefully and thoroughly examined the three front runners in the contest, focusing on 10 crucial areas of Track record, Pedigree, Compassion, Competence, Capacity, Character, Contact and Connection, Maturity, Visibility and Believability and marking each area on the scale of 1-10.
“At the end of the day, Dr Asue Ighodalo tipped the scale heavily to emerge the clear and by far the best candidate going into the election with over 80 percent aggregate,” the coalition declared.