Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State , as part of the festivities, visited leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo North Senatorial District, to celebrate with them amid the yuletide.
Obaseki at the Christmas and New Year courtesy visit to the leaders in Eperi, Fugar and Ogbona respectively, said he was around to reach out to the stakeholders and other citizens of the State in the spirit of Christmas.
The leaders visited in Edo North senatorial district include National Vice Chairman, PDP South-South, Chief Dan Orbih in Ogbona; former Senatorial candidate, Paschal Ogbome, in Ugbekpe-Eperi and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe in Fugar all in Etsako Central Local Government Area of the State, among others.
The governor was accompanied on the visit by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Osaigbovo Iyoha; Deputy National Youths Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor; members of Edo State House of Assembly, EDHA; serving Commissioners and top government functionaries, amongst others.
Obaseki said: “Edo is one united indivisible entity with groups that need to look out for each other’s good and take actions to forestall and strengthen our unity. We are one group and share strong values and our values should keep us together.
“As the governor of Edo State, it is important for me to reach out to our citizens to continue to contribute to the progress and development of Edo State, and clearly you can’t talk about the politics of Nigeria and PDP without talking about the role played by National Vice Chairman PDP, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih.
“This is the time for peace and love as we are going round to meet our people because this year has been a very difficult time for us. Before politics, let’s talk to our people as politics will come at the back of it all.”
Decrying the poor state of the Benin-Auchi Road and the continued failure of the federal government to fix their roads in the State, Obaseki said: “I have traveled the Benin-Auchi Road as this was an opportunity for me to go round and I just felt like crying seeing the state of the road this dry season. I am just imagining what will happen in the next rainy season.
READ ALSO:Tribute to Aketi by Banire SAN
“I am just concerned about the welfare of Edo people and Nigerians. Coming here to listen and hear the pains of our people who have not had light in Ugbekpe-Eperi for six months, those are the priorities we want to talk about.
“These are the issues politics should fix, not putting politics before the issues affecting our people and citizens.”
He added, “The issue in PDP and in our politics in Edo State is exaggerated. I don’t agree that there is a semi-ideological divide.
“A few people are not happy and you are not expecting everyone to be happy. I came from another party to join PDP and I am glad I did and am happy they gave us the umbrella. PDP is a solid party, with a good structure and great politicians. Few people may have issues that are normal and we will address them with time.”
Earlier, Chief Dan Orbih thanked the governor and his entourage for the visit, noting, “We are working hard as a party to move our State forward.
“We are happy you traveled through this route to this place and sure you have experienced what we experienced and sure you will put more effort into ensuring that the federal government puts efforts to address the issue of federal bad roads.
Also, Paschal Ugbome, who described the governor as the father of the party in the State, said “I represent a divide of the party and the governor is doing everything to ensure that everyone who has one disagreement or the other is resolved.
“We have an election coming and all of us want to ensure that we bridge the gap and sort out all the issues that are causing disagreement between us to ensure unity. This is why the governor is moving round across the divide to ensure unity.”
