Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has pointed out that if elections were conducted between him and his counterpart in Delta State, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, he would win on a landslide victory even as he said he would not allow the money bag People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to take Edo State to the dungeon.
Oshiomhole who responded to the South-South PDP governors meeting hosted by Okowa at the Delta State Government House on Sunday, May 8, 2016 where the governors said they were strategizing on the possible ways of winning the Edo State election slated for September 2016.
Oshiomhole, who may have flashed his mind back to the days when Lucky Igbinedion held the state ransom between 1999 and 2007, rebuked Okowa for daring to say they were planning to win Edo State after Okowa was allegedly rigged into power, saying that they including the host governor were dreaming and as such should be allowed to dream until the election is over.
He said there are many state governors who have not been able to pay their workers’ salaries but are dreaming to win elections in Edo State, saying if allowed to contest elections in Delta, he would defeat Okowa and take over Delta from him.
He said his pedigree, charisma and oratorical power are his strength in government but not money which many governors display but fail to pay the salaries of their workers, leaving them in suffering and untold hardship.
“I will defeat Okowa in Delta State. My pedigree speaks for me. My power is not money but my oratory and pedigree. Those who cannot pay salaries want to come and take over Edo State. We pay salaries before the end of the month. The workers are already kicking against them. We will not allow them take Edo State to the dungeon,” Oshiomho said.
Meanwhile, the five South-South governors elected on the platform of the PDP may have decided to take up Oshiomhole on his claim that he would defeat all of them in their respective states in one on one popularity contests.
Oshiomhole had made the boast after the governors at a meeting in Asaba resolved to ensure that their party emerged victorious in the forthcoming governorship election.
Taking up Oshiomhole, the five governors at the end of the party’s zonal congress in Port-Harcourt weekend reiterated their determination when they met the four major aspirants on the platform of the party.
The four PDP aspirants include Chief Solomon Edebiri, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Osaro Onaiwu.
It was learnt that the aspirants were advised to continue to mobilize for the party irrespective of who picks the ticket, while they were assured of funds for the election as the PDP South-South governors has equally discussed the declaration by Governor Oshiomhole that he would defeat any of them in their respective states.
