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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, yesterday, said he would leverage on his wealth of experiences and connections to turn the fortune of the people of the state around if given the party’s ticket in the primaries, and eventually emerge governor of the state.
He disclosed this at his campaign office in Benin City shortly after returning from Abuja where he went to pick his Expression of Interest Form.
Dr. Umakhihe said if he could used his little connections then as a civil servant to impact on the lives of the people, he would do more if he becomes the governor of the state.
“Why I am the best candidate and the first choice for this position? I have a blue print on what I want to do.
“My antecedents spanned various sectors of the Nigerian economy. National Planning and Budgeting, Central Administration, Infrastructure because I was the Permanent Secretary, Works and Housing and of course, agriculture.
“That was the last beat before I retired and in the cause of these works, I have had extensive experience and connections with international development partners, local and I was also secretary to the National Economic Council, (NEC) and in that position, I have interfaced with the 36 governors, and of course, the Vice President and so, I know the workings of the Nigerian economy and dovetailing into the sub-nationals, those are the states and of course, the local governments.
” In the cause of my stay in the infrastructure ministry like Works and Housing and Agriculture. The aspect of agriculture, there is also rural development in agriculture.So, we had agriculture and rural development. I was able to attract a lot of projects to Edo State in the three senatorial districts whether is borehole, road infrastructure, connecting farms to markets, skill acquisition centers, health facilities, school buildings, empowerment of farmers.
“I have touched a lot of farmers indeed when I was the Minister of Agriculture. We have done a lot to empower women in this state because i had a gender unit which was focused on agriculture for youths and women and we have done a lot across all that.
“The driving force in this aspiration is that, with those positions, I could reach and touched a lot of lives. So, if I am giving a higher opportunity, I will excel and touch the lives of average Edolites in the areas of road infrastructure, education, agriculture, women empowerment, skill acquisitions and every other infrastructural development that the state urgently desires now. That is my driving force. All these things i have mentioned that i did, I didn’t promise anybody .
“I could have easily have stayed away without doing them. I didn’t promise and I did. So, if I now promise that I will do this, certainly I will do it”, Umakhihe said.
Umakhihe added that he is fully in the race and his determination is to win the forthcoming governorship election.
“I am still in the race fully. And they have been screened to six candidates and I was one of them.
“So, I have bought my form, that is what I could let you people know that I am fully in the race and I am filling it and retuning it by next week to the national secretariat”, Umakhihe added.
He urged the party faithful to rally round him for him to be victorious because he is committed to serve them just he has always done adding that the reward for more work, is more work.
“So, my plea to Edo people is, I always say the rewards for hard work, is more work . so edolites, please give me this opportunity for more work”, Umakhihe said.
