Ijaws in Edo State, on Thursday, in Benin endorsed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Godwin Obaseki’s re-election bid ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state.
The Ijaws, under the aegis of Ijaw G5, declared their support for Obaseki’s second term bid when they paid a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House, Benin.
The Chairman of the group, Joel Aigbekumo, said that the Ijaw G5 is a formidable group put together by the five clans of Ijaw across the state: Olodiama, Egbema, Furupagha, Gharaun and Okomu – and wish to support the re-election of Obaseki.
According to him, we have resolved to work for the actualisation of the re-election of Obaseki and Shaibu come September 19, gubernatorial election.
`We have put in place various measures to actualise this laudable project, ranging from holding strategic meetings with stakeholders, spreading the message of your re-election to all the nooks and crannies of various local government areas.
“Let me use this opportunity to debunk the rumour that we have adopted the other candidate, who we are not even sure if he is qualified for the election,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Obaseki commended the group for endorsing him, saying that it meant a lot to him.
“This endorsement you people pronounced on me, you people don’t know the meaning yet, because I understand what you people are going through, but God has revealed it to me that you people will be part of those to benefit more in my second term.
“I will commence the construction of Ekehuan road as soon as the dry season starts. If the road is not motorable, you people won’t have access to the major city.
“I will start with the construction of that road; I need your support to construct the Benin River port, when we finish the construction of that port it will help to eradicate poverty.
“It will provide more job opportunities for our people; this endorsement means we are going to work together to develop our state.
“I must build that port and construct the Ekehuan road before the end of the second term, I must bring electricity, I must build schools; all of these developments will help solve the crisis in the area.
“This endorsement is of good life, it’s endorsement of development, its endorsement for peace, its endorsement for growth, and I want to promise you all that I won’t disappoint in all my promises,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, began the distribution of sensitive election materials to the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, ahead of the election on Saturday.
The materials were distributed amidst tight security.
The exercise, which took place at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Benin branch, was witnessed by political parties’ agents, accredited observers and newsmen.
Speaking to newsmen, Mr Timidi Wariowei, INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Edo State, said that the distribution of the materials began with the farthest LGAs.
Wariowei said: “So far, we have loaded about 11 LGAs. We started from Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Owan East and Owan West among others.
“Some have gone and others are completely loaded and are sorting out their security escort and very soon materials will move to all the local governments.
“From the local governments, the materials will move to Registration Areas Centres (RACs) and from RACs, they will move to the polling units and voting points on Saturday morning.
He said that INEC was fully ready for the election, adding “this is the high point of our preparation, that is moving the materials from the CBN to LGAs’’.
