I’ll govern for the benefit of all –Oshiomhole

Photo: 

Sun News Publishing

By: 

TONY OSAUZO, SALAUDEEN OMONIYI and PAUL OSUYI

Date: 

Sun, 07/15/2012 

Re-elected Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole yesterday pledged to govern the state for the benefit of all without discrimination. Addressing journalists in Government House in Benin, the governor said the result of the election, which he won in the 18 local government areas of the state hadrubbished the effort of those who wanted to whip up sentiments and also proved that Edo people would not vote for the highest bidder.

“The way people have voted has made my task much easier. I will build on existing bridges, Edo people are one,” the governor said. He assured that his administration would transform the state to a level that the forces of darkness would not be able to take over again. Oshiomhole canvassed that INEC officials who presided over the elections that were nullified by courts in the past should no longer be retained by the commission.

Specifically, the governor called on INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega to encourage Dr. Ismail Igbani, INEC National Commissioner who supervised Saturday’s election in Oredo Local Government Area of the state to resign or be deployed in the interest of the nation. Governor Oshiomhole who accused Igbani of being responsible for the delay in sending voting materials to Oredo, urged Jega not to allow corrupt INEC officials take charge of elections, warning that allowing such officials to conduct election would tarnish his image.

He said he had earlier petitioned the INEC chairman over an alleged plan by Igbani and an opposition party in the state to delay voting materials for Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas with high voters’ population in order to reduce the votes of the local government areas. According to the governor, it was unexplainable that voting materials would be sent to far Edo North and Central senatorial districts and yet same materials would not be made available to Oredo and other nearby local government areas.

Oshiomhole who explained that, that was the reason he was hard on INEC on Saturday, however commended Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Kassim Gaidem and Professor Jega for providing leadership. He called on his co-contestants to join hands with him to move the state forward.

SOURCE: 15 July 2012.