Edo 2024: LP candidate vows to change Edo narrative0
From Imafidon OSAZUA (Benin)
The candidate of Labour Party (LP) in September 21st Edo State governorship election, Mr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, yesterday, described the state of affairs in Edo State as "desperate situation in need of serious intervention", promising to turn things around for good and uplift the People's living conditions.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City about the party's experience after campaigning the nooks and crannies of the 18 Local Government Areas of state twice, to what the state of affairs in the state is and to know what the people are encountering as citizens of the State.
He said from going round, they discovered that several communities across the state lack basic social amenities of life, citing Urhonigbe and Eme-Ora that have not had electricity for the last 10 and four years, respectively.
His report indicated many of the communities lack roads, schools, heath centres and other facilities.
"The situation we saw is nightmare but this is the situation of the Edo people on a daily basis, the farmers are unable to evaluate their produce to the markets.
The situation is not only in the hinterland, the approach to Benin City, the State capital, all the roads are a nightmare, flooding everywhere.
"The state of affairs I have presented is the misgovernance of the APC and PDP that have been in the helm of affairs of the state for the past 25 years", he said.
The Labour Party candidate stated that poverty has been weaponized which has made politics monetized, citing many of the communities the party took its campaign to, where the demanded for provision of transformers, construction of their roads and other facilities before they could give party a listening ear.
He said contrary to claim by the state government of siting health centres in every ward of the state, "our visit showed the government fell short", just as it disclosed that.
"We have seen schools that are in such decrepit conditions", adding "Government at all levels have become transactional and abandoned their responsibilities to the people".
Speaking on the scale of violence that is trailing campaigns in the state, Akpata said "In the course of our travel, we also have been victims of violence at Uhumora, the home of the Edo Speaker. Violence of any type, I abhor. These guys are not for the people, they are for themselves. If it is about the people, they can't be killing themselves", he said.
He said Labour Party is worried and sees itself as target of attack in the coming election, adding that it is disingenuous for anyone to link the party to violence, disclosing that he has already laid complaints to the police at Abuja, urging the police to be proactive and nip every threat of violence before and during the election.
