Edo2024: Asue Ighodalo gets mammoth support, followership in Edo South

_...as journey to Osadebey Avenue heats up_

The journey to Osadebey Avenue continue to get brighter as the days go by; Asue Ighodalo's ascension to the seat of Governor of Edo State is daily getting the needed momentum, this cannot be unconnected with the huge support, solidarity and followership the project gets day-in-day-out.

The fantastic reception now accorded "Ai" in Edo South (the Benin speaking area of Edo State) is one sure vehicle capable of taking the most popular gubernatorial aspirant to Osadebey Avenue.

Edo, considering her historical background remains a major politically conscious society, to win her people's overwhelming support, administrations must uphold the ideals of good-governance, at every point, administrations must show sensitivity to the yearnings of the people and develop policies that tends to address their ever-increasing demands.

Asue Ighodalo, considering his robust understanding of the economic potentialities of Edo State and as well, the challenges, and having participated in major policy roles in recent times, the Esan boy can best be described as the best foot forward now greatly desired for a new Edo.

The tour of Edo South and the accompanying support and followership, plus the pronouncements in favour of "Ai", further stamps the race in the sands of time; his is a major project, capable of changing Edo's political dynamics for the good of the State.

Edo South is very much aware, conscious and desirous of this narrative, viz: a new and more developed society for the generality of Edo people, hence the loud ovation now blasting from the seven hills of the district ahead the all-important Edo guber poll.

In a thickly populated Ikpoba-Okha local government area for instance, an area with an extremely high voter population, capable of trouncing an entire senatorial district, the leaders and people of Ikpoba-Okha, few days ago, adopted Asue Ighodalo as sole candidate for the race; the local government's political authority went further to state that any other aspirant that may wish to visit Ikpoba-Okha is alien, unknown to the LGA and as such unqualified to enjoy any support by the who-is-who in Ikpoba-Okha.

This is same political commitment that has played out in Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode, Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Egor in the last few days; same gale of support and endorsements is expected to play out when Asue Ighodalo visits Oredo in the ongoing tour of Edo South.

This development reminds observers of the 2020 gubernatorial election, during which a few political elements waged war against Obaseki in his second term bid; Edo people at home and abroad moved out en masse, and the will of the vast majority of Edo people overpowered that of a few political hawks.

The talks of development and the need for administrations to be more committed to the people must be seen to be matched with action, administration after Obaseki's must from first day at work, earmark policies and programmes physically beneficial to the people of Edo State.

The next Governor of Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, God-willing, must be one to sustain the political decency now prevalent in Edo, while building systems that directly impacts on the lives of Edo people, individually and/or collectively.

Today's Edo holds significant expectations and potentials; in education, Edo has witnessed commensurate reforms, her educational ranking at the subregional stage have been on the high in recent times, same goes for her civil and public service, which is now digitized to meet contemporary demands.

The Obaseki-led administration built a very robust relationship with workers in Edo by way of providing enabling and quality work environment, embarking on huge public policy reforms, including prompt and reviewed remuneration of workers' wages, frequent capacity building initiatives, plus other palatables; this no doubt, has tripled workers' commitment to public service delivery in Edo State.

And as the Obaseki-led administration draws to a climax, it is necessary to build a successor around one who understands Edo's economic, socio-political, public policy, and Asue Ighodalo, having been in and around government since 2008, with evidential participation in policy formulation and development roles for the State, plus, having chaired the State's economic establishment, he naturally holds the magic wand to turn around the State's economic fortunes for the benefit of all.

Fortunately, the race to Osadebey Avenue now very formidable in Edo South, while gaining momentum in other areas, will continue to be a model of support upon which Asue Ighodalo will build his ascension to the seat of governor, aimed at redefining the cause of development and placing Edo on an admirable pedestal for improved economic rebirth, heightened investor confidence, renewed infrastructure growth, quality living and growth of citizens, which no doubt, are some of the indices of a successful government.

And as the d-day draws near, and with Ighodalo now globetrotting the nooks and crannies of Edo, the people must continue to exhibit that unity and sincerity of purpose in getting Edo's most popular, most formidable, most prepared, most competent aspirant, Asue Ighodalo to the seat of Governor for the good of the generality of Edo people.