By Iduozee Paul, Benin
Governorship aspirant of the Peoples’ Party of Nigeria (PPN) in the forthcoming 2020 Edo State governorship election, Comrade John Darlington Iyoha, has accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of not spending security votes which according to him, is close to N600million, on addressing security issues.
Iyoha’s made the assertion while addressing party supporters and faithful at Evbuotuvbu area, Benin City. He said crimes are rampant in the state because the governor is not spending the security votes meant to address security challenges in Edo State.
He berated politicians who he said, use money to induce the electorate to get their votes during election, stressing that, vote buying has brought shame to the country’s democracy.
Comrade Iyoha urged the electorate not to be bought over by selfish and greedy politicians. “Say no to financial inducement. Rather, stand by your vote and let your vote count,” he advised.
The aspirant who, went to Evbuotuvbu, Ward One in Egor Local Government Area to receive defectors from the All Progressives Congress, APC into the PPN, assured them of a revolution in the economic, power and other sectors of the state if voted into power in 2020.
He said he is on a rescue mission.
“We are going to give Edo State wind turbine within six months as is applicable in Europe and other developed nations, and before you know it, there will be electricity everywhere. I am on a rescue mission.
“We are going to introduce a smart card; this smart card will qualify you for all the entitlement as an Edo State citizen. We are going to introduce a special food farm in all the senatorial districts and that will lead to creation of jobs.
“We are going to develop the state to near world service infrastructure. We are going to produce and bring in investors to the state so our people can enjoy a better life. But what will qualify you for all these is your smart card. We are going to set up food outlets across the state whereby things will be sold at cheaper rates.
“When you present your smart card like ATM to the designated food outlet, it will be inserted into the system and when you are identified as Edo indigenes, you will be given (things) at a discount, that is what is obtainable in Europe. But you must do this within one week interval else when you go to another outlet to use the card, the system will identify you”, he explained.
Iyoha said as an experienced business man who has operated in Europe and other developed countries, he is ready to usher in a better life to Edo citizens if given the opportunity to serve his people”
To address the problems of human trafficking and illegal migration, he said: “We can replicate the better life enjoyed in Europe and elsewhere in Edo State and this will not make people to look for greener pastures even through the Mediterranean Sea and other illegal routes which has led to untimely death of many of our people.”
Responding on behalf of the defectors, the party leader in Evbuotuvbu, Comrade Okofere Chucks, said he defected from APC to PPN because of the injustice going on in the ruling party. He said over 100 of his supporters defected to the PPN.
Okofere said since APC took over power in the state, there have been no good roads, hospitals, schools, water and other vital amenities.
