By Lucky Isibor
The Edo State government has challenged the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to address Edo people on the programmes they intend to implement in the state, what they would do to the numerous governance structures already put in place by the Governor Godwin Obaseki led PDP administration; their direction on the minimum wage and how they intend to raise resources to finance them rather than raising what it termed mundane issues to divert attention.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the state government on Wednesday, 24 July, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare wondered why the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo whom he said has more than 150 spokespersons and the state chapter of APC that has issued 150 press statements in the last three months have not addressed Edo people on the alternatives they intend to offer the people and how to finance same.
While enumerating the various programmes put in place to alleviate the economic hardships caused by the removal of subsidies on petroleum products which according to Nehikhare include free bus ride, release of One Billion Naira monthly for the feeding of the poorest of the poor; the Commissioner further challenged the APC on what the party’s position is on these programmes.
According to Nehikhare, “The APC is reeling from the fact that they have a candidate, who has continued to inflict the party and its handlers with the pain of making up stories to confuse Edo people and distract them from the main issue, which is selling their vision and plans to the people of the State.
“One wonders why a party that has issued over 150 press statements in the last three months will have none addressing the vision of the party and its candidate and how they plan to implement the vision to better the lots of Edo people.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Government in Edo State, led by Governor Godwin Obaseki, commits one billion monthly to provide food palliative to millions of residents, amid the suffering that the people of the State and Nigerians have been plunged into by the APC-led Federal Government as a result of the gross mismanagement of the economy. It is expected that the APC should share their plans on how to ameliorate the sufferings and hardship of the people rather than resort to their usual ramblings, lies and propaganda.
“Our PDP Government led the charge in the country to raise the minimum wage to N70, 000, and the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo has promised to look at ways to further increase the figure. We want to hear from the APC and its candidate what their plan is in this regard. Are they going to increase or reduce the minimum wage like they boasted a few weeks ago when they thought the Federal Government was offering N62, 000 as minimum wage? Do they have a more innovative way to raise funds to finance the minimum wage? What exactly is their plan?
“Since September 2023, the Governor Obaseki-led state government has been offering free bus ride to Edo residents in the wake of the fuel subsidy removal by the APC-led Federal Government, which has plunged the people into untold hardship and suffering. It is on record that this programme since its launch has benefitted over six million Edo residents from the three senatorial districts of the State. We want to hear the plans of the APC and their mute candidate. Are they going to scrap or sustain the programme? What does the party envision in this regard?
“It is common knowledge that the Edo State Government has employed over 5000 people into the service in the last five years. We want to know how many more people the APC and its mute candidate plan to employ or are they going to retrench employees to be able to pay the N70, 000 minimum wage which obviously only the PDP Government has plans for its sustainability?
“The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led Edo State Government has, from the first month in office, consistently paid workers and retirees their salaries and pensioners on or before 24th of every month. Are the APC and its candidate going to pay earlier or will take the State back to the era when pensioners wore black, protesting daily across major streets within the Benin metropolis in demand of their entitlements?
“Edo people are wise and can’t be deceived by the diversionary tactics of the APC. They are interested in the candidate and want to hear him canvass his vision for the State. In fact, we don’t want him to speak in English anymore, because we know he doesn’t have the capacity to; he can speak to us in his mother tongue, Esan, or pidgin. Edo people just want to hear him speak”.
Reacting to APC’s call on the presidency, to put Governor Obaseki on security watch list, the Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie noted that, “It is rather surprising that the APC is calling on the Presidency to put Governor Obaseki on the watch list when there are obvious pictures and videos of APC members wielding sophisticated weapons in the presence of policemen, breaching public peace and unleashing mayhem on the people of the State, and are still walking free. Their names are not on any watch list and they have not been arrested and prosecuted. What an irony!
“We also want to place on record that various globally acclaimed organizations and institutions have taken notice of the achievements and exploits of the PDP government in the last eight years across various sectors, from the Liberian Government, to the Rwandan Government, and the Lagos State Government, among others. Even renowned faith-based organization like Loveword have written several letters of congratulations, acknowledging the transformational projects and programmes carried out by the government in Edo State, which have fostered stability and progress. But the APC is blinded by their selfish interest”.