Tony Osauzo, Benin
With about a year and eight months left of his four-year constitutionally prescribed tenure, moves are already on by supporters of the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, urging him to seek a second term.
Few weeks ago, campaign materials started appearing in Benin City, the state capital. One of them was a diary/jotter with Obaseki’s photograph printed on it, with the inscription “4 plus 4,” meaning the governor will do a second term in office.
Meanwhile, the Oredo Local Government Area chapter of the party, in a statement on Sunday, endorsed Obaseki for a second term, just as a leader of the APC in Edo North senatorial district, Senator Domingo Obende, yesterday, called on the party in the state to ensure Obaseki gets a second term; to enable him complete the works he started.
Obende, who represented Edo North in the Senate from 2011 to 2015, said with Obaseki’s performance in the last two years, “there is no vacancy in Osadebey Avenue and, to whom much is given, much is expected
“Governor Godwin Obaseki has given his all to us and I believe that is not the finality of his capacity. The only good thing that can happen to us in Edo state is for him to come back for a second term; so that he can download all his investment experiences and the opportunities so that Edo can be better for it.”
Senator Obende also noted that Obaseki has demonstrated the positive sides of continuity as “he has been able to take the state successfully from where the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole left it to a new level.”
He dismissed fears in some quarters that Obaseki may not get Oshiomhole’s support and that of some party leaders.
“It is because Comrade Adams Oshiomhole loves good things, that was why he brought Godwin Obaseki to us in the first instance. Comrade Oshiomhole was governor for eight years; I am very convinced that he is not going to be averse to Godwin going for the second term, moreso that Obaseki is doing very well.
“He has been able to sustain his legacies which is not common in this part of the world.
“Without any reservations, I am personally endorsing GGO for a second term and would appreciate if all necessary synergy is put in place to actualise this God-given development opportunities for Edo in order to move on to the next level of value addition,” senator Obende said.