Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, has said his agenda on taxation, youth employment, housing urban development, human capital development, and security will transform the state into a mini-country, especially with its rich natural resources.
Obaseki, who made this known at a Mass Meeting organised by the Godwin Obaseki Support Group, GOSG, in Benin City yesterday, however, tasked people of the state to ask his opponent in the September 10 governorship poll, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, how he hopes to create jobs as governor, when he has never worked or given jobs to any indigene of the state.
The APC flag bearer, who reaffirmed his campaign promise that he will create 200, 000 jobs in four years, said the combination of the state’s natural endowment will enable the creation of jobs which will grow the state economically.
He added that it would be possible if Edo people elect him as governor, promising that the value of the states’ revenue will be put to develop the three senatorial districts of the state.
Mr. Obaseki also stressed that his reason for contesting the governorship seat of Edo is to provide better life for the people.
SEE: Edo 2016: Obaseki Pledges 200,000 Jobs In Four Years
According to him, “With the combination of our location, the land we have and the people that God has placed in it, we can be whatever we want to be in this world. The way I see Edo, I don’t see it as a state, I see Edo as a country. We can survive: There are many African countries that are not as big as Edo or even have our population so we have to see ourselves as a country in a country.
“First we must make sure that we elect people that are not thieves in government because when you elect thieves; you will not see any money. So that is why this election and the quality of people we elect are important. We promise you, any money that we will get will be to work”.
“Don’t be deceived, someone who has not created job, can he give job to other people, someone that has never worked but has made it somehow, can he create work. Ask some people who want to be governor, what they have done before, where have they worked and which company have they created. So the quality and experience of the person matters because they can come and lie that they would do road, but ask them what they have done with their lives. If you have made it through deceit, why must that person be trusted with the state fund?” he queried.
Earlier, the Convener of the GOSG, Mr Taiwo Akerele, said the fundamental nature of the meeting was to x-ray the issues raised by the governorship candidate during the formal launch of his campaign last Saturday with a view to finding a solution to them.
Mr Akerele identified taxation, youth employment, housing, urban development, human capital development, and security as among the issues which the people will have a one-on-one discussion with Obaseki about since the opportunity was not created during the flag-off.
