...Says he’s an embodiment of humility
The immediate past Senator representing the people of Edo South senatorial district, Pharmacist Matthew Aisagbonriodion Urhoghide, has thrown his political weight behind the expected victory and performance of the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, insisting that “as an embodiment of humility,” the party’s flagbearer was primed with the strong-willed resolve and support of other party leaders, members and supporters to accomplish greater achievements as elected Executive Governor of Edo State.
Senator Urhoghide, who spoke in Benin language mixed with English, while addressing a cross section of party leaders and Local Government Executive members from Ovia North East Local Government Area, who were on a solidarity visit to the Edo South APC leader, His Excellency Dr. Pius Odubu, at his residence, penultimate week, in the presence of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Okpebholo, and State Acting Chairman of APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, emphasised the crucial importance of the party’s unity of purpose in mobilising and securing overwhelming votes for its candidates in the governorship election.
While citing the prevailing, uninspiring political governance of the state, by the Governor Obaseki-led PDP administration in the state, Senator Urhoghide spoke of the necessity of APC’s correctional intervention to curtail the state’s unfortunate drift in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, adding that the September 21, 2024 governorship election was a Must-Win for the APC.
The former Edo South Senator recalled his re-entrance into the APC fold in the state, August 2023, after an almost 10-year political sojourn during which he illuminated the nooks and crannies of Edo South senatorial district with verifiable people-oriented projects and programmes, disclosing that it was because of the noticed unwholesome political permutations and maladministration of the state “by the few hands who wish to perpetuate their unholy political dynasty, that I and a few of us said we must retrace our steps back to the APC fold to intervene in the matter of the state’s governance, and change the uninspiring narrative.
"Otherwise, this thing will remain in the hands of people who have been manipulating the system, against the common good and overall majority interest of the good people of the state. I am delighted to be back to the APC, and together, we shall achieve victory and enthrone an APC government in Edo State.”
Senator Urhoghide eulogised Dr. Pius Odubu’s political and leadership sagacity, pledging solidarity with the APC Edo South senatorial leader, whom he described as “the cynosure of all eyes,” adding that he was capably ready and willing to lend his shoulder of support to the former Deputy Governor in the onerous task of mobilising and galvanising Edo South voters, and ensuring APC’s gubernatorial election’s victory in the district and across the state.
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He, therefore, challenged and encouraged all members of the party, in Edo South senatorial district, in particular, and across the state, in general, to remain “strong-willed” and committedly invest their time, efforts, political, and electioneering know-how in ensuring APC’s victory in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, noting that “it is only when we genuinely work for the party and achieve expected victory that we can raise our heads high and rightfully demand for an efficient government that would address the people’s collective needs, and expect to get our fair share of political dividends, by ways of appointments and other privileges, from the party’s reward system. The APC leadership holds it sacrosanct that hard work and party loyalty deserve unrestricted rewards and benefits.”
Meanwhile, Senator Urhoghide has condemned “a mischievous video clip” of the political event, in which he was being misinterpreted, as “the handiwork of some wicked elements in opposition,” insisting that what he was canvassing for was “the sharing of political power, and not funds of the state.”
He explained further: “After winning an election at whatever level, party members, and other critical stakeholders, are involved in forming government and nominating capable, fit and proper persons, into government so as to elicit good governance that the people can benefit from. This issue of good governance takes into account the party manifesto. It is on record that this has not been the case in the last eight years. Party faithful, both in the APC and PDP, and critical stakeholders, have never nominated anybody to government positions. This is strange to democracy. We practice participatory democracy, where everyone contributes his or her idea, and certainly NOT about sharing money.
“The mischievous intention of the maker of the video is cheap blackmail. Anybody that knows me and the quality of representation that God Almighty has allowed me to give on behalf of the good people of Edo South Senatorial District in the last eight years, will attest to my character and abhorrence to corruption in any shape or form. Edo state needs all the resources for development. It certainly does not have the money, or funds, to be shared. The state’s profound development is the focus of the APC.
“No amount of mischief, or blackmail, by some mindless individuals, will distract us. The forthcoming campaigns will be based on issues of growth and development of our state. This mischievous video, and its likes, will not stop my honest and sincere intentions for my dear Edo State.”