The well-known socio-cultural group Unuedo Renaissance, which represents Edo people in Nigeria and the diaspora, hosted a town hall meeting that was attended by the gubernatorial candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP). This event was noteworthy because it shed light on the political climate in Edo State.
The meeting, held in Lagos on Friday, provided a platform for Asue Ighodalo of the PDP and Olumide Akpata of the LP to articulate their programs and visions ahead of the gubernatorial election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
Notably absent from the meeting was Monday Okpebholo, the candidate representing the All Progressives Congress (APC). His absence drew sharp criticism from attendees, with one participant describing it as “political hara-kiri.”
They emphasized the importance of Unuedo Renaissance as a key player in the Edo diaspora, suggesting that Okpebholo’s decision to skip the event was a significant misstep.
During the well-attended meeting, both Ighodalo and Akpata took the opportunity to outline their priorities for Edo State. Key areas of focus included education, healthcare, security, and human capital development. They both expressed a commitment to fostering a secure environment, pledging to collaborate with existing security agencies to minimize crime and enhance safety across the state.
Olumide Akpata, a distinguished lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, underscored the necessity of centering governance around the needs of the people.
He voiced his concerns regarding the state’s struggling economy and the marginalization of citizens in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
“I am motivated to return the people to the center of governance,” Akpata stated. “Edo needs recalibration. We need to reorder our priorities to focus on people. Our party’s philosophy is centered on ‘Papa, Mama, and Pikin,’ reflecting our commitment to policies and programs that directly benefit the people.”
Akpata further articulated his ambition to alleviate poverty in Edo State, asserting, “It is my goal to move as many people as possible out of the doldrums. We need to create opportunities for success across the board, ensuring that no one is left behind.”
When discussing security, Akpata proposed the establishment of a state police force, emphasizing the importance of equipping and supporting this initiative to enhance safety in the region. “We will support the state police very well. I will prefer we have state police where we will move and effectively channel our resources to equip them because we will have a direct interface with them,” he explained. He also highlighted the need for a strong relationship with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, noting that effective collaboration is essential for achieving security goals.
Education emerged as another critical topic during the discussion. Akpata expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of education in Edo, stating, “I have never schooled outside Nigeria and I can assure you that I can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any of my peers anywhere in the world. We at the Labour Party are all about mama, papa, and pikin.”
He lamented the decline in educational standards, recalling his own experience taking the entrance exam for Kings College, Lagos, where he scored 91 percent. “What changed? What are the basic ingredients to make Edo State work?” he questioned, pointing out the dire conditions faced by students today. “In Edo today, we have pupils lying on the bare floor to read and write. This means infrastructure is critical. The teachers are not motivated. Most schools do not even have teachers at all. Teacher recruitment is abysmal.”
Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, outlined his vision to transform Edo State into a prosperous, first-world sub-national entity. He emphasized the need for strong leadership at the sub-national level to drive Nigeria’s development.
