From Tony Osauzo, Benin
GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, yesterday reiterated his commitment to focus on agriculture if voted into power, promising that his administration will in its first few months re-open the Leventis Farm in Weppa-Wano, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State which was abandoned over the years.
Besides, he promised to expand the curriculum of the College of Agriculture Agenebode to include Aqua Science, due to its access to River Niger, adding that exploiting the agricultural potentials and its access to River Niger will be his major focus in creating employment opportunities in the area.
The APC governorship hopeful made the promise yesterday while speaking at campaign rallies in Agenebode and Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area.
Speaking to a large crowd of party supporters shortly after he was introduced by Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the state chairman of the party, Anselm Ojezua, Obaseki lamented that the PDP destroyed the infrastructure in the state until the coming of Governor Oshiomhole.
“I am going to continue from where he stopped.
Oshiomhole has laid a solid foundation for development and we are going to continue from there.
“Investors are already coming into the state due to the conducive environment already created by the Comrade Governor. Our youths will have jobs and I want to say that by this time in January next year, we are going to open the Leventis farms which are situated here.
“Whether you are in school or not, we will get jobs for you. Our women will be given soft loans to improve on their businesses.
It is sad that the PDP destroyed all that was built by Dr Ogbemudia until Comrade came to revive the state. I thank God for Oshiomhle because I have somewhere to start from. So it is not going to be difficult” he said.
In his speech, Oshiomhole told the people that “the PDP has nothing to offer. Their factional candidate Ize- Iyamu has been shuttling from Port Harcourt to Benin due to the N700million they shared amongst themselves during the election. This is the same person who joined in the under development of this state between 1999-2007.
“You have seen PDP’s ten years in this state and you have seen our seven and half years, so you can see the difference. PDP wants to come and continue to steal, but they will never get there. Ize-Iyamu signed most of the fake jobs that were used to siphon money under the Igbinedion administration and we have the records which will be published,” he said.
Earlier, the Okumagbe of Weppa-Wano, HRH Dr George Oshiapi Egabor, urged his people to support Obaseki, saying that “Oshiomhole brought him and said he is a good man, we believe he is, because APC has worked for our people. So we will support you so that the development we are witnessing will continue.”