6th April, 2015
Former Minister of State for Works Chris Ogiewonyi has appealed to voters in Edo to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls.
He said at a news conference on Monday in Benin that a vote for the APC would translate to more development in the state.
He said being in the opposition had not actually worked in favour of the state and urged the people to vote for the APC now that the party controlled the center.
He stressed the need for the people to continuously support Gov. Adams Oshiomhole by casting their votes for all candidates of the APC.
“What Edo people want is development; more modern schools, increased economic stability for job creation in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
“We must reject the toga of opposition and reject the persuasion of those who seek to use an expected numerical edge in the state House of Assembly to instigate instability and chaos in Edo.
“The argument that an opposition-controlled legislature acts as checks on the excesses of the executive is tenable only in a healthy political development,” he stated.
Ogiewonyi, who said the politics of inclusion was a panacea for attaining sustainable development globally,
added that “our interest as Edo people will be better served within the framework of the APC”.
He said “with an Illustrious son of the state as the National Chairman of the APC, Edo must vote APC so that as minority, the people can get the necessary leverage to secure appointive positions at the national level”.
It would be recalled that Ogiewonyi served as a minister under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration but recently defected to the APC.