From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Immediate past executive director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (retd.), has said that next year’s governorship elections in Edo State is a win-win situation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) if the party fields a qualified candidate like himself.
Airhiavbere, who made the prediction while flagging off of his campaign at the Edo APC State Secretariat in Benin-City, underscored the pivotal role of a right candidate in garnering enthusiastic support from the people of Edo for the APC.
“In the Edo State 2024 governorship elections, the APC will thrive with the right candidate, and I have the reach and qualifications to win the elections.”
Reflecting on his political history, Airhiavbere stated, “I supported the present governor’s election in 2016, and in 2020, I was part of the seven aspirants who agreed to the consensus that produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. It is my turn to try, and I’ve asked them to let me be the one that sets the trap that catches the antelope.”
At the event, he unveiled his manifesto, tagged, “PIE” an acronym for Peace, Infrastructural Development and Economic prosperity, saying his campaign for the ticket of the party revolves around these three foundational pillars and interconnected elements essential for crafting a better society for all.
Explaining the first aspect of his manifesto he called Peace, the retired Army General said, “For anything to happen in any environment -even in our homes- there must be peace. Without a peaceful Edo State, there will be no food security. You can’t even attract investors to the state and the people cannot have the best life”.
On the second aspect he called Infra-structural Development, he explained that “A robust infrastructure is the backbone of any prosperous State and pledged, “to prioritize infrastructural development by investing in modern transportation systems, sustainable energy initiatives, and upgraded technology networks”.
Similarly, he explained his Economic prosperity plan to mean the implementation of policies that he said will, “Stimulate job creation, encourage entrepreneurship and support small businesses. By fostering a conducive environment for innovation and investment, we aim to boost economic growth and ensure that the benefits are shared equitably among all citizens”.