The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Dr Asue Ighodalo, has arrived Europe in his determination to engage the Edo Diaspora in continuation of his campaign ahead of the election.
In Edo State, the Diaspora community plays a very significant role in influencing the pattern of voting back home.
The engagement is scheduled to start on Monday, June 24 through June 29 and will see him holding crucial meetings with sons and daughters of Edo State in five major cities across Europe.
The itinerary shows that he would be at Reggio Emilia, Milan, Italy, on June 24th; Manchester, UK, 26th; London, UK, on the 27th; Hamburg, Germany, on 28th and Nuremberg, Germany, on 29th of June.
The move is designed to foster community engagement with Ighodalo and enable him to harvest crucial views and input from the Edo Diaspora in Europe.
The gathering is equally designed to provide a platform for Edo Diasporians living in Europe to participate in an open and honest conversation about the future of their beloved state. This initiative underscores Ighodalo’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity in governance, encouraging active involvement from the Diasporian community in shaping local policies and initiatives.
According to a statement by his media team, Ighodalo expressed joy and happiness as he looks forward to the meetings.
“I’m excited to personally invite all my fellow Edolites to join me on Monday in Reggio Emilia, Milan, Italy.
“Let’s come together and discuss our visions and aspirations for our state. Your voices matter, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can move forward together.”
The event promises to be a pivotal moment for Edo people living in Italy to express their concerns, ideas, and hopes directly to Ighodalo. It represents an opportunity for constructive dialogue aimed at addressing pressing issues and possible solutions for a prosperous future.
Ighodalo added that, “I therefore, encourage all Edolites in Italy and environs to join the event and participate actively in shaping the path forward for our dear state.”
Meanwhile, Ighodalo shone brightly on Monday night at his first engagement with Edo Diaspora Community in Europe.
The meeting, which held at the Reggio, Emilia Via Cherubino Forzani, Reggio Emilia, Italy, and monitored by our correspondent via a zoom link, recorded an impressive attendance.
Ighodalo, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, to the meeting, spoke extensively on his plan for Edo State to intermittent rapturous applause from the attendees.
The meeting which coincided with the release of his widely acknowledged Manifesto, “The Pathway to Prosperity for All,” saw him made cupious references to the document which enjoyed massive rave review on social media upon release.
Ighodalo appealed to his audience to support his dream to make Edo State a first world sub-national in Nigeria. He insisted that it was doable.
“Our idea of a pathway to prosperity for all is done with a view to plan and implement the next phase of our journey towards becoming a first world sub-national.
“We have to harness our God-given resources and the immense potentials of our people; and translate them into shared and inclusive prosperity for all.
“I believe it can be done. That’s why I am running for the office of Governor,” he declared to a loud applause.
The presentation was followed by a lengthy question and answer session. Ighodalo answered the questions ranging from security to infrastructure, economy, food security, Diaspora Commission, health, agriculture and many more.
The PDP candidate was able to, time and again, reference his Manifesto on how he intends to provide solution to all the questions if elected on September 21 as the Governor of Edo State.
He highlighted some of the areas where the present administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki has done marvelously well and pledged to build on them and said if there are any area that needs adjustment, he would do that.
Ighodalo thanked those who were able to make it to the meeting for their time and show of love for Edo State and support for his aspirations. He assured them that he would not disappoint nor fail them as governor if he is elected.
The next leg of the engagement will be in Manchester, the United Kingdom, on June 26.
