Why I joined Edo governorship race – Ighodalo

A governorship aspirant in the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Mr Asue Ighodalo, said his desire to serve the people informed his decision to join the governorship race.

Ighodalo, who had dismissed rumours that he was lured into the race by Governor Godwin Obaseki, however promised to make life more meaningful for the people through improved infrastructure, if he won the September 2, 2024 governorship election.

Ighodalo said this while addressing members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at their secretariat in Benin, the state capital.

The aspirant, who had recently resigned his position as the Chairman of Nigerian Breweries, listed his areas of priority to include agriculture, rural development, education, provision of infrastructure, water, energy and others.

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Ighodalo promised to leverage the comparative advantage of the local government areas as a tool for revenue generation and economic development without necessarily adding to the burden of the people through excessive taxation.

He stated, “One thing that has worried me is the level of poverty in Edo State. It’s rather high. So, we need to drive our people out of poverty by deploying problem-solving instruments and drive financial inclusion that will make Edo State a hub for global trade.”

The governorship aspirant challenged media practitioners to be precise in profiling aspirants seeking elective positions, while urging the media to set for contestants, agenda that would entrench credible leaders in coveted positions by separating rhetoric from facts ahead of the election. This, he said, remained fundamental.

Ighodalo said his love to serve the Edo people was his reason for his recent resignation from his positions on the boards of some corporate organisations.

He added, “My love and passion to serve humanity are the driving forces for the success stories in places I have worked.

“It is the same driving forces, integrity and character of purpose that have compelled me to tender my resignation before I announced my aspiration to contest the governorship seat because that is the right thing to do.

“I am 100 per cent committed to the upliftment of our state and the betterment of our people. You can’t tell us our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is X or same with Dubai when people cannot eat or have money in their pockets.”