Edo 2024: I will change the fortune of Edo State – Ighodalo

Asue Ighodalo, who is eyeing the Edo State Government House as successor to the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, has promised to change the fortunes of the people of the state for the better.

He made the promise at the head office of the Edo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benin City on Wednesday while officially declaring his interest in the governorship position come November.

On his policies as governor, he stated: “My ultimate objective is to lead a government that eliminates deprivation in all its forms, and makes Edo the best place to live and work in Nigeria. Our economic policies will uplift the poor, support the hard-working men and women of this state, and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.”

On education, he asserted: “I believe strongly that education is the gateway to opportunity, so we will continue to invest in education as a priorityfrom primary schools to secondary and tertiary institutions — throughout the state.

“We will ensure that our educational system becomes a beacon of hope, and ladder to opportunity. We will make Edo
State’s educational system our key to ending generational poverty, for good, in our great state.

“If, by the grace of God and the will of the people of Edo State, | am given the opportunity to serve, | intend to be the Chief Welfare Officer of the state, providing good and affordable healthcare, decent living conditions and basic food security for all our people.”

Going further, he stressed: “We will also tackle insecurity in all of its forms. While an improved economy will reduce some types of insecurity, we will work doggedly to stamp out the more stubborn forms of insecurity, that continue to deprive our people of their lives and property.

“Ending insecurity will not only mean that we can protect our people, it will allow us to maximise the potential economic advantages of our rich cultural heritage. Under the guidance, and with the blessings of our traditional fathers, we will be able to leverage our history and talent to create the cultural environment that will drive a robust tourism economy — proudly and respectfully rooted in the very essence of who we are as a people.”