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President Bola Tinubu has urged Edo State governor-elect Monday Okpebholo to prioritise the state’s development, assuring him of the unwavering support of the Federal Government and the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
This counsel was delivered by President Tinubu during a meeting in Abuja on Thursday with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where both the governor-elect and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, received their certificates of return.
Emphasising the significance of good governance, President Tinubu underscored the necessity of delivering tangible results for the people of Edo State.
‘’Governor-elect, you can now face the task of development. We are here to work with you. You have seen the progressive governors of APC. They are truly progressive. Work with them. Learn the ropes, and I believe you are up to the task. ‘You have earned the victory.
“Democracy is difficult, particularly in emerging democracies and economies like ours. If you hear complaints from places like America, you know how difficult it is to navigate democracy. But it remains the best form of government.”
The President congratulated Mr Okpebholo and his deputy and described them as a ‘good symbol of people ordained by God to work together.
”You started as rivals and ended us as partners. You are a symbol of good understanding in politics; the man at our party’s helm has been through it before.
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”In Kano, he was a front runner, became a second runner, and became a deputy before he eventually became a governor,” he said.
President Tinubu recognised the significant contributions of former Edo State Governor Senator Adams Oshiomhole, along with the progressive governors and the APC leadership, in the successful conduct of the gubernatorial election in Edo.
Additionally, Mr Tinubu praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their efforts in facilitating a peaceful and orderly election, noting the absence of violence or disruptions.
”I must thank the security agencies. There was no bloodshed, no riot, people voted and went back to their houses in peace, and the fears dissipated instantly, ” he said.
The President called upon the party leadership and its members to foster unity and maintain a steadfast focus on realizing the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
”Never mind the noise makers. I do a lot of statistical sampling and results. When you hear politicians saying ‘all politics is local’, you must respect that notion.
”When you see the stability in the Edo North senatorial district, we see a man that won the Central senatorial district and a candidate who has won a seat in the south senatorial district; we did a match- which turned out to be a winning match,” he said.
President Tinubu also commented on the heavy downpour on Election Day in Edo and the electorate’s commitment to voting in the rain without using an umbrella.
Speaking, Abdullahi Ganduje, the party’s national chairman, commended the leadership and support of the President, the governors, and all stakeholders.
The APC National chairman noted that the party’s next focus is securing victories in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ondo and Anambra states.
Meanwhile, Mr Okpebholo announced on his X page Thursday that INEC issued certificates of return to him and his Deputy after their victory at the just-concluded election in the state.
In the election, Mr Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, while the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came in third.
He wrote: “Today, alongside my Deputy Elect, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, we proudly received our Certificates of Return from INEC. This is not just a victory for us, but for every one of you who believed in the vision of a greater Edo.
“We were honoured to be accompanied by our National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and our esteemed party leaders. This journey would not have been possible without your unwavering support. Together, with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we will continue to strive towards a brighter future for Edo State. Thank you all!”
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