Edo 2024: I will 'Panel Beat' Edo State Into Prosperity, Growth, APC Candidate Declares
From Imafidon OSAZUA (Benin)
Edo State Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC , in the September 21st, 2024 election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday said Edo State urgently need a 'panel beater', to fix deplorable state broken infrastructures and restore the state back to it lost glory.
The governorship hopeful who made this statement in an apparent reference to his political critic who in a derogatory manner described him as a 'panel beater's said he doesn't require outlandish grammar to tackle insecurity, provide functional health care, fix dilapidated roads, respect traditional institution and revamp the collapsed educational system.
Okpebholo who spoke at a media interactive sessions with members of the Edo State Correspondent Chapel, an arm of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Benin said under his watch his administration will immediate declared a state of emergency on insecurity adding that he doesn't really need a manifesto to understand how to deal with the multi- hydra-headed problems and suffering inflicted on the state by the PDP led Obaseki's government.
He also challenged Obaseki to give account of the huge monthly allocation, security vote and Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) the state has received in the almost eight years of his administration.
He said, "If elected by the special grace of God come September 21st, my job is to do things differently and restore Edo state back to it lost glory therefore we need a courageous leader that will do things rightly for the benefit of Edo people.
"Today, Edo state is receiving is N11 billion in monthly allocation with the debt profile put at N135 billion thereby mortgaging the future of our children.
" At this point what Edo really need is a panel beater. I'm here to panel beat the state where they will be no thuggery, where Bendel brewery will work, where our roads will be fixed, where our children will have a functional educational system with teachers in our class rooms.
"I'm coming as a servant leader to the people where I will introduce practical governance and govern with empathy and love for the people.
Earlier, the Media Consultant, Edo state APC Governorship Campaign Council, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said Edo State need an empathic governor that has emotional intelligence adding that Okpebholo's humility and candour is what selling him. He has anointing of God.
Afegbua had earlier listed some of the candidate interventionist projects to include, the provision of transformers, building of classroom, provision of security vehicles to Edo Central, provision of scholarship and the provision of boreholes to many communities among others.
