A former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, who was also a foremost APC governorship aspirant, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe has expressed implicit confidence that the emergence of Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo and Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa as Edo State Governor and Deputy Governor-elect will usher in a greater and better Edo State where citizens wellness and preferences will be given utmost priority.
Their victory he assured would usher in a new vista of hope and tranquility for Edo citizens where all indices of development in all spheres would be attained to the satisfaction of citizens of the state.
Umakhihe’s statement is contained in a personally signed congratulatory message to Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor-elect, Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa and to the All Progressives Congress, APC for the hard fought victory of the party and its candidates in the Edo gubernatorial election held on last Saturday.
Umakhihe, whose impact in the election contributed significantly to the triumph of the APC in the two Owan LGAs noted that his total support for the candidature of Okpebholo and Idahosa stems from their very impressive antecedents and pedigree in delivering developmental projects towards the upliftment of their indigene and communities as well as their constant display of passion, empathy and concerns for the welfare of individuals around them.
He opined that the crucial and cardinal breakthrough for the Edo APC in the guber contest was the unity of purpose exhibited by the entire membership of the party, adding that the Edo APC was more united in the last Saturday guber contest than ever before, and commended the party’s leadership for taking noticeable steps that culminated in its victory and that of it’s candidates in the hotly contested elections.
“This all important victory clinched by our party is occasioned by the unity of purpose visibly displayed above all other primordial considerations by every stakeholder. Events leading to the guber elections brought out the very best from the party’s leadership and its flag bearers, leading to the APC being more united, forward-looking and ever focused more than ever before in its existence. “Those who obtained the party’s nomination and expression of interests forms in the guber process, including those that contested the primaries were swiftly approached by the party’s leadership and they immediately aligned towards ensuring a favourable outcome for all in the gubernatorial election. Not anyone was treated shabbily and asked to go and do his worst.”
He praised the party’s leadership for its foresight in not only uniting its disaffected foundational members prior to the elections, but for going further to reconcile those that were wronged in the past, apologizing to them where necessary and getting them fully integrated back to the fold. All these measures, he noted contributed immeasurably to the successes of the APC in the guber contest.
The APC stalwart congratulated the Edo people for making the right choice of voting for the APC and assured the people that the confidence they reposed in the character and capacity of the newly elected Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his Deputy, Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa to take Edo State out of the woods would not be taken for granted, as a new Edo where the people’s interest and satisfaction will take precedence over personal interests and considerations is on the horizon with their very wise choice of a new Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his Deputy, Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa.