It was a harvest of defectors on Monday in Dagbala Town, located in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, as the campaign trail of the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, received a colourful reception from supporters and former members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A cross section of pensioners in the area also pledged their support for the governor.
Leader of the decampees, Moses Dada Promise, hailed the governor’s landmark achievements in all sectors of the state, declaring their support for Obaseki’s reelection.
He said the people of Dagbala are impressed with his performance and will, on September 19, 2020, vote en masse to ensure the governor continues with his developmental projects across all the communities in Edo State.
Responding, Obaseki assured the people of Dagbala that the Ojirami Dam built by the late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia will work again.
Addressing party supporters at Ward Five in Dagbala, Obaseki said: “Ojirami Dam was built by late Samuel Ogbemudia many years ago and I am worried that the dam is not working; I want to make it work again.
“I have brought engineers to help us with designs for the dam. The Ugboha Dam is already functional and supplying water to the people of that locality. The engineer that worked on it is already working to ensure we revive Ojirami Dam.”
The governor promised to open up the area with link roads and solve the power problem by linking the community to Okpella, so that the people can pump water from Ojirami Dam to their homes.
Pensioners back governor
A cross section of pensioners in the area said the governor would be rewarded for prioritising workers’ welfare.
They commended Governor Obaseki for his prompt payment of salaries and pension, which has improved the wellbeing of residents in the state.
Mr Rufus Adogame, who spoke on behalf of other pensioners in Akoko Edo, said, “We are here today to campaign for Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term election and we are sure of victory for him.
“Today, we want to assure the governor that we are ready to vote for him. His developmental strides have qualified him to contest under our great party, the PDP.
“Before now, pensioners got their pay every two to three months. But Obaseki has changed this narrative. We now get our pay as early as 24th to 26th of each month,” he said.
Adogame further said that the people are happy with all the great things Obaseki has done and continues to do for them, noting that they would mobilise for his reelection come September 19.
A former House of Representatives member, Mr Tunde Akogun, said that the people need a man that is honest, truthful and committed to the development of the state as governor, which is why the support for the governor is unprecedented.
“We all know the history of how pensioners took over the streets of Benin. Today that narrative has been changed by Governor Obaseki,” he said.
Akogun, however, urged the masses to come out in their large numbers to vote for Obaseki in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
