Politics
Edo 2016: Obaseki Dedicates Victory To Delegates
The winner of Saturday’s All
Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said that his victory was a collective one for him, his co-contestants and the delegates.
In the result of the primaries announced in the early hours of yesterday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, venue of the exercise, Obaseki scored 1,618 votes to clinch victory.
He defeated 11 contestants, including his closest rival, Dr Pius Odubu, the Deputy Governor of the state, who polled 471 votes.
The result was announced by Chairman of the primaries committee and Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State.
In his acceptance speech after the announcement, Obaseki urged his co-contestants to work with him to achieve victory for APC in the September 10 governorship election in the state.
According to him, the primary election was only the first leg of other challenges ahead.
“The delegates were true heroes of democracy. They have shown that indeed, democracy has evolved and far more sophisticated than they have been given credit for.
“We have collectively decided who will fly the flag of our great party in Edo. My greatest encouragement in this race was my co-contestants, this array of accomplished individuals, including the deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu.
“I am indeed humbled by my nomination, but I will like to state that this is our collective victory.
“As a party, we must continue to work as a team to deliver victory at the Sept.10 governorship election. But, let me assure you that we will win,” he said.
The party’s nominee said that the state had commenced another journey into a brighter future, “a future which will define the state as a modern and progressive state where every citizen is provided with opportunity to live life to its fullness”.
He promised to build on the successes of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
In his remarks, Masari, who presented the Certificate of Return to Obaseki, urged those who participated in the primaries to regard themselves as winners and not losers.
He said that together the aspirants could and would make Edo and Nigeria better.
“For those who are not lucky to be the flag bearer this time around, they should get ready; four years in the life of a nation is so small, even in the life of an individual.
“In politics, we have to learn to accept defeat and prepare for the next election.
“May I appeal to the winner also to be magnanimous in victory because this is the first leg.
“The second and most important is the general election, where you need the support of not only the members of APC, but also other people of Edo State.
“For this reason, I call on you to extend the hands of fellowship to your fellow contestants.
“And, for the contestants, take solace that it is only God that decides and who chooses who to lead in a particular time,” Masari said.
He said that the committee adhered strictly to the rules and guideline provided by the party in the conduct of the primaries.
APC primaries which started at about 9 a.m. with accreditation on Saturday came to a conclusion at about 4:30 a.m. yesterday.
It would be recalled that the chairman of the Edo State Economy and Strategy team, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, won the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress, after beating 11 others in the race.
The other aspirants include the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; a former governor, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, and a former Minister of State for Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi.
Others are Maj-Gen Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Kenneth Imasuagbon, Peter Esele, Tina Agbarha, Blessing Agbomere, Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula, Professor Ebegue Amadasun and Austin Emuan.
The other contestants including Imasuagbon and Ogiemwonyi had 247 and 137 to settle for third and fourth places, respectively. Airhiavbere got 11 votes while Arigbe-Osula had 10 votes.
Other results are Esele (eight votes), Amadasun (eight votes), Emuan (seven votes) and Agbomere (five votes).
The only female aspirant in the primary, Agbarha, had a total of three votes.
The total number of invalid votes was 41.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.