Dismissing rumours that he was persuaded into the race by Governor Godwin Obaseki, Ighodalo pledged to enhance the lives of the people through improved infrastructure if he emerges victorious in the September 2, 2024 governorship election.
During an address to members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at their secretariat in Benin, the state capital, Ighodalo outlined his priority areas. These include agriculture, rural development, education, provision of infrastructure, water, and energy among others.
Ighodalo, who recently resigned as the Chairman of Nigerian Breweries, committed to utilising the comparative advantage of the local government areas for revenue generation and economic development, without imposing excessive taxation on the people.
He expressed concern over the high level of poverty in Edo State and emphasised the need to alleviate poverty by implementing problem-solving instruments and promoting financial inclusion to transform Edo State into a hub for global trade.
The governorship aspirant urged media practitioners to accurately profile aspirants seeking elective positions. He called on the media to set an agenda that would establish credible leaders in coveted positions by distinguishing rhetoric from facts ahead of the election.
Ighodalo attributed his recent resignation from his positions on the boards of some corporate organisations to his love and passion for serving the people of Edo. He stated, “My love and passion to serve humanity are the driving forces for the success stories in places I have worked.
He affirmed his commitment to the upliftment of the state and the betterment of its people, emphasising that the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) cannot be compared to that of Dubai when people are unable to afford food or lack money in their pockets.