EDO 2024: Asue Ighodalo has most boisterous CV –Prof. Nwaokobia

The Convener COUNTRYFIRST MOVEMENT, a Good Governance Advocacy Group, Prof Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr, has described the politics of Edo State Governorship contest as very intriguing since the return to civil rule in 1999.

He said the choice is a Three-horse race between Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the ruling party at the centre, Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party LP, and Asue Ighodalo A.I, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the trio are predictable in so many ways having shown unique tendencies, and their uniqueness makes the choice before the Edo people an easy one come September 21, 2024.

Nwaokobia said very curiously however, the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election appears the simplest and the most predictable. Not in any way denigrating the league of other contestants for the high office of Governor of Edo State.

He said: “As the Edo People go to the polls to elect a successor to Governor Godwin Obaseki on the 21st of September, 2024, barely a month and one week from today, they are faced with three major candidates amongst others, and the next Governor of Edo State will most likely emerge from this class of three.

“The first person and apparently the Choice of the Edo People is Astute Asue Ighodalo, fondly called A.I not the now famous Artificial Intelligence but called by his initials. He was the first of the leading three candidates to present his manifesto called PROSPERITY FOR ALL to the Edo Electorate. In it he set out his vision for an Edo State that works for all. He articulated his programmes, policies and programmatic, and told how he intends to achieve them.

“He has consulted with the largest number of Edolites at home and in the Diaspora knowing that the challenge before the Edo People and the State is about forging a united Edo that works for the good and benefit of all. He has pledged to bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to bear in taking Edo State to a new level of progress and prosperity. And he means every bit of it.

“Astute Asue Ighodalo is not a rookie, of the leading three candidates running for the high office of Governor of Edo State he has the most boisterous CV and the most illustrious resume’. He has been Chairman of several blue chip companies, and the chairman of a successful bank. He runs one of the most successful Law Practice in Nigeria, one that ranks amongst the best three Commercial Law Firms in the country.

“He knows how and where to raise the funds to fulfill and make real the promises of his manifesto. He knows how to improve the Internally Generated Revenue IGI of Edo State without stressing the people. He knows what to do and how to do it, little wonder the cliche and mantra of his campaign ASUE/OGIE GO DO AM. With A.I in the saddle as the next Governor of Edo State, a New Edo State is manifestly possible.

“If you want to know more about why and how the choice of A.I is an easy and simple one, please google search his manifesto and see what future he promises Edo State, and see his well articulated pathway to PROSPERITY FOR ALL EDO

The other two, Olumide Apapta and Monday Okpebholo of the Labour Party and APC are not in the contest. “One is very mute and unable to articulate his plans and vision for the State. Another has pretty dance steps and lovely jingles but less and thin on policy programmatic, and appears distant regarding his understanding of the Edo challenge. And the third is clear on policy, on programs and on his vision for Edo State. This position is as true and as firm as the Himalayas.

“Monday Okpebholo is mute, he hardly and scarcely speaks to the issues others canvass on his behalf. Senator Adams Oshiomole goes about mute Monday’s campaign as though he is the candidate…Barrister Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party has great and nice sounding jingles that he dances very well to…He comes across as an excited young man who intends to learn on the job but the sophisticated Edo Voter wants more than that. The Edo Voter is more interested in the future of the State than Obaseki bashing, and that’s how and where Dancing Olumide lost it.”