28th January, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
A retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, has explained how he plans to use the numerous experience and connection he garnered in service to transform Edo state.
He explained this on Sunday on his return to Benin city, after procuring the expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, to formally join the Edo state gubernatorial race.
Umakhihe said he joined the race out of his desire to transform Edo with the requisite experiences he garnered during his career in the federal civil service, that will make him excel as a governor.
According to him, “My antecedent spans various sectors of the Nigerian economy, national planning and budgeting, central administration, infrastructure.
“I was a Permanent Secretary [in the ministries of] Works and Housing and of course Agriculture, that was my last beat before I retired. In the course of this work, I have had extensive experience and connections with international development partners and locals.
“I was also at a time Secretary to the National Economic Council (NEC) and in that position, I had interfaced with the 36 state governors and of course, the Vice-President. I understand the working of the Nigerian economy and dove-tailing into the sub national government,” he said.
The governorship hopeful also disclosed that he had touched the lives of many people while in service, particularly farmers from the state.
Umakhihe further explained that he had attracted infrastructure such as construction of boreholes, rural roads, skills acquisition centres as well as health care facilities to each of the three senatorial districts of the state.
“If elected governor, I will focus on road infrastructure, education, agriculture, women empowerment, youth development, as well as skills acquisition for all.
“Remember, I didn’t promise those things I did. Imagine if I now promise that I will do these things, certainly, I will do them.
“My plea to Edo people is that the reward for hard work is more work; therefore give me the opportunity to do more work,” said the guber aspirant.
