From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Friends of Monday Okpebholo have contributed over N50 million to pick the expression of interest and nomination forms for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.
The friends, who stormed the national secretariat of the ruling party in Abuja, in their numbers, described the senator, representing Edo Central at the current National Assembly, as an aspirant to bring fresh air to the state.
Co-ordinator, Friends of Okpebholo, Musa Ikhilor, said for the fact that Okpebholo, is among the four anointed aspirants to contest the party primary, makes his aspiration much more easier.
Speaking to newsmen after going through the ceremonial purchase of the nomination forms, Musa said the purchase means expression of absolute confidence in his capacity and capability to transform Edo and turns things around for the people of the state.
“It is a remarkable honour to be here. We are friends of Okpebholo. We came all the way from different parts of the country, especially Edo, we are sons of the state.
“Because we are very much interested with what is happening in Edo, we decided to come together to find a suitable person who can give people a breath of fresh air and we have looked round and found Monday Okpebholo, as someone who is very much capable to provide that breath of fresh air for Edo people.
“That is why, as friends, we decided to take a bold step to purchase this expression of interest and nomination forms for him. He is not even aware of how this forms was purchased but that is the kind of person he has been.
“Even as a senator, he faced this similar pressure from us because we saw what he was doing, all the interventions he was giving to the poor and the downtrodden and all the projects he was doing. We have told him he needs a bigger platform to do more for more people.
“And that was how he was convinced to come into the Senate race and we are aware he broke a jinx set for over 24 years by being the first senator to do something that has not been done in the whole of Edo Central senatorial district.
“We are taking that spirit to the whole of Edo State and that is why we decided to contribute and purchase the forms for him to contest. We are going to present the form to him.
The presentation is an absolute expression of confidence on his capacity and capability to transform Edo and turns things around for the people of the state.
“We are ready to stake whatever it takes, our money, time, and resources to buy the nomination forms while he will do others. So far, what we were able to raise is even more than the amount for the forms. Others will go into mobilising for him,” the co-ordinator of the group said.
On whether their aspirant is among the anointed, he said: “We have heard much about the anointed aspirants, and I think it is a good thing the party leadership intervened to reduce the rancour by trimming the numbers of the aspirants from 29. From what we heard, there were different stages and criteria that the aspirants went through before accepting to abide by the resolutions to undergo the screening.
“It was pruned down to 10, and from the information we heard, he has been pruned from six to four. We are happy that by the special grace of God, our principal is among the last four standing. We are very delighted he is found worthy to be selected by the elders to be among the four anointed aspirants.
“However, our project goes beyond the screening and pruning down. We have absolute believe he is the right person for the job because he is an unusual character. He is not the regular career politician, he is a positive disruptor and he is going to be a game changer and the right person to rule Edo State,” he said.