All progressives congress, APC, governorship candidate, Dr. Godwin Obaseki said when elected governor of the state, he will use technology to run his administration to create efficiency and save cost.
Fielding questions from journalists during an interview in Benin, the APC governorship hopeful revealed how people’s attitude towards him made him to come up with a plan to help him achieve victory at the Party’s primary last Saturday.
“My administration will create the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and create employment.
“I will introduce the Lagos model where I will focus on governance and allow others to manage politics”, Obaseki said, promising to expand agriculture and employ more people into the State’s Civil Service.
Commenting on the indebtedness of Edo State, Obaseki said the state was owing N41 billion naira and not N168 billion as claimed in some quarters, even as he explained that the state is not owing any bank in the country.
On the national economy, the APC governorship candidate said the oil phase that nurtured the Nigerian economy was coming to an end and therefore, called for a social re-organisation ot the entire system.
“God has awakened Nigerians with the fall of crude oil price and the general down-turn of the economy. What has happened to us is that we were in a slumber and we just woke up one morning and found out the price of oil has fallen.
“Now, we realise we no longer have oil money and have to manage the little resources we have. I believe from the ashes, Nigeria will rise again”, Obaseki said
On his emergence as candidate of the party, Obaseki said that he was humbled and expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for him to be victorious in a contest he was not given chance of winning.
“When Governor Oshiomhole cast his lot with me, people tagged it imposition. But imposition cannot take place when democracy is about choice.
“The attitude made me sit back and come up with a plan to start meeting with each delegate in every ward in the 18 local governments of the state”, Obaseki said, adding that the interaction created a bond between him and the delegates.
“Since most poeple recognised me, it was easier for them to vote for me when they saw my photograph on the ballot paper. I ran the delegates’ election like a full blown election”, he said.
Speaking on effort to reconcile with some of his co-contestants at the party primary, Obaseki said he has already met with the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu and Gen.Charles Airhiavbere, both whom agreed to work with him and for the sparty, explaining that he would meet with other co-contestants to achieve total reconciliation for the party ahead of the September 10 gubernatorial election, even as he promised to get inputs of the former aspirants into his Campaign Organisation.
The APC governorship candidate while welcoming his PDP counterpart, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on board, advised that they should conduct their campaigns in a very civilsed manner” adding “in my campaign, my duty is to convince the Edo people why I am the better candidate”.
He disclosed that the issue of his running mate would decided by the party at the appropriate time
He disclosed that the issue of his running mate would decided by the party at the appropriate time