Ahead of the September governorship election in Edo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has advised the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki and his anointed candidate, Asue Ighodalo, to refrain from character assassination and focus on the desired needs of the electorate in the south-south state.
The APC candidate gave the admonition on Tuesday in a press statement.
Senator Okpebholo was reacting to a press conference by the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, which also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), over claims that Okpebholo sprayed the naira at a public function.
The APC candidate, who alleged that Governor Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were behind the allegation, accused the PDP and Governor Obaseki of desperation over what he called the imminent defeat of the party.
The statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the media office of the leading governorship candidate, Okpebholo wondered why the PDP would resort to character assassination to score cheap political points.
He said that as a private and public person, he has never sprayed or mutilated the naira, insisting that the video agents of the governor and PDP members are sharing on social media does not belong to him.
Senator Okpebholo maintained that he has never been arrested by the police for any civil or criminal offences, and accused the PDP and its agents of fabricating fake news to tarnish his image ahead of the election where he is favoured to win in the polls.
Okpebholo warned those behind the rumoured petition and state agents to apologise for misleading the Edo people. He also called on the IGP to investigate the faces behind the petition and prosecute them accordingly.
Okpebholo said: “Godwin Obaseki, the crisis-ridden PDP and their novice candidate, Ighodalo, have decided to resort to cheap blackmail. They know that they will lose the election, and they are jittery.
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“They are scouting for fake news and non-existent things to blackmail me and lie to Edo people. Unfortunately for them, we know what they are up to. They are smelling the defeat already. Edo people have already decided, and no amount of State-sponsored intimidation will work.
“In Edo State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC administration is working. The federal government is reconstructing federal roads in Edo Central, Edo North, and Edo South. The APC-led federal government is planning to implement other social welfare programmes in Edo State.
“That is why it is imperative for Edo people to take sides with the APC and vote for me as the next governor of Edo State. We will bring the federal government closer to Edo people. We have been isolated for too long, and it is time to end that alienation.
“There is no going back. We must liberate Edo State from the grip of mini tyrants and economic scavengers who want to use our commonwealth to enrich themselves. Edo State deserves a home-grown solution to the many problems created by Obaseki’s clueless administration.
“In the coming days, our Campaign Organisation will unveil our plans for Edo people. We will focus on key areas that will uplift the lives of the people. Education, healthcare, agriculture, security, tourism, food security, and economic development, among others, will take centre stage when we take over in November.
“I call on Edo people to ignore the new distraction the PDP and their agents are trying to promote. ‘Edo no dey carry last’. We are smart, and no one can deceive us, including Obaseki, who has failed the people.”
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