The governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has vowed that government will now take a backseat while his administration concentrates on tactics to help the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) win the 2023 elections.
On Friday in Benin, at the beginning of the state PDP campaign council, Obaseki made the announcement.
He said, “I want to assure you that I am here to support this campaign to the fullest. For me, the governance process will take a backseat from today. Politics will now take the front seat.
“Every time I have the privilege to talk with Atiku Abubakar, the incoming president, he always refers me back to what happened in 1999. He said don’t forget when we took over in 1999, Nigeria was as divided as it is today. The military has been there for a long time, the democratic culture has seized. He said the same tools we used then to make sure we bring Nigeria back together, we will deploy it this time.
“The economy of Nigeria was in shambles in 1999. Oil production and prizes had collapsed. He and Obasanjo came in. He was in charge of the economy, all the things that kept Nigeria going, the debt relief we got, all the investments they had to make.
“How they fought in Odi to send a lesson that nobody can vandalise pipelines or nobody can hold this country to ransom. All of those things they did at that time, today the same man is coming and he is giving another opportunity to help us salvage our country.”
Obaseki added, “Edo is not in contention. So, what we now need to do is to make sure that we use this as a base, for Atiku/Okowa election. This office will support the national campaign. There is a situation room from which we will connect other situation rooms across the country.
“This election is hand to hand combat. We have done it before. During my election, we visit every ward, that is the first time we did ward to ward campaign? We are going to repeat it again.”
Earlier, Tony Aziegbemi, the Edo State chairman of the party, urged the 503 inaugurated members of the campaign council to do their work diligently and ensure the party emerges victorious in the different positions for the elections.
Also speaking, Umar Bature, PDP national organizing secretary, said with what he saw during the inauguration, the PDP in Edo is one.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate in the 2023 presidential election, is currently campaigning in Edo.