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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
An aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Edo governorship, Joe Ikpea, has promised to deploy the vast natural gas deposits, oil and arable land to create jobs for the youths and develop the state if given the party ticket and elected governor.
He made the promise during a visit to the secretariat of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo Council in Benin, saying being a foundation member and major financier of the party in the state, he deserved to be compensated with the party governorship ticket.
Asked if he was aware his party, the APC, has streamlined aspirants from his zone (Edo Central) to three, of which his name is conspicuously missing, Ikpea said he was aware, but insisted he would continue with his course, and with God all things were possible
“We were invited for a meeting in Abuja where we were asked to provide our membership card, voter card, and proof of support for the party over the years. And if we go by that, I think I should be the person to be considered. If you look at the history of the party, I am one of the founding members, and not just a founding member, but one of the financiers of the party. But like I said earlier, the party can do whatever it wishes. But I believe in God, I am going to push my course and leave the rest for God.”
While acknowledging that the party has the final decision on who to fly the governorship flag, he said he expect his labour for the party over the years to be recognised by giving him the ticket, even as he promised to support anyone the party gives the governorship ticket if he failed to get it.
He said his propelling interest in the governorship race is to correct many things that are wrong, such as infrastructural decay and unemployment, among others.
“So, if given the opportunity to govern the state, having known the history, having known the problems and having worked with different administrations, I am in the best position to right many wrongs. I know our challenges. One of our major problems in the state is unemployment.
“Edo is more into agriculture. We have to use the vast land provided by God for us. In Edo South, we have oil, in Edo North, we have solid minerals, these are ways we can create job for the people if we utilise them. If we go into agriculture, our youths will get jobs. This will reduce several crimes such as kidnapping, experience in the state,” he said.
Elaborating on how he planned to use agriculture to tackle unemployment in the state, Ikpea said: “If you look at the banks, they declare a lot of profits each year. If I have the opportunity to be governor of the state, I will have discussions with the banks to invest their profit in agriculture in our state. I will discuss with them on the area they have interest in the agric sector and ask them to invest in such areas. I will also discuss how the profit will be shared among us. It will be a kind of partnership.”
Besides, he promised to use the oil and gas in Edo South to set up a modular refinery to create jobs for the youths, and also invest in mental healthcare in the state.
The governorship aspirant lamented that many of the youths have now gone into drugs, and their future being threatened due to the manner things are going.
“The future of our youths is in doubt. The reason it is in doubt is that most of them have gone into alcoholism. The reason many of them have gone into alcoholism is because they are Idle. So, under healthcare, if given the opportunity, I will look at mental health,” he said.
