We'll Not Distract Governor Obaseki, PDP Chairman Assures.

          Dr. Anthony Aziegbemin

          Chairman, PDP, Edo State.

By Lucky Isibor

 

The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, yesterday assured that the party will not distract Governor Obaseki in his determination to better the lot of the people of the state just as he cautioned politicians in the state, not to distract the Governor, as he settles down for his second term in office.

Aziegbemi, also debunked rumours making the rounds that Obaseki had demanded the dissolution of the elected executives of the party from the ward to the state level and a mini congress be organised, so he could infuse some of his supporters who came with him from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the leadership of the party.

The state PDP chairman, who stated this at an interactive session with journalists at the party state secretariat in Benin-City, the state capital, said the party's priority is to ensure all the programmes of Governor Godwin Obaseki which include; providing adequate security to Edo people, creation of job opportunities, continued reformation of the civil service, prompt payment of salaries, creation of multi billion naira industrial park, agricultural development and others are executed. 

According to Azegbiemi, "Let it be on record, this party under my leadership will give the Governor, His Excellency,  Mr. Godwin Obaseki all the supports he needs to succeed.

“I urge Edo people to please continue to support the PDP-led administration in the state. We need the support of all for the governor to continue the good works. 

“This party under my leadership will give the governor all the support he needs because we need to say this publicly for our people to know where we stand.

“On the political front, we want absolute quiet; we don’t want the governor to be distracted, we want him to focus on governing the state, on giving the Edo people the dividends of democracy they deserve, and so we are guaranteeing him absolute calmness on the political front so that he can have all the time in the world to do all the things he wants to do for the people because we want PDP to deliver on the promises we made during the campaigns, so distracting him politically will not help.”

On the rumours that Obaseki appointed some aides without consulting the party, the party chairman said: “It is not in our brief as a party to appoint personal aides to the governor

“Those appointments are his prerogative. Whether he briefs us or not, they are his personal aides, and that is why the party is in consonance with the appointment. So he has done the right thing in appointing the right people into various areas. You would agree with me that Osarodion Ogie is the most qualified for that job, and we should trust that the governor will bring the best decisions for the people.”

Aziegbemi said there are hundreds of casual workers in the office of the governor, including drivers without specific duties, and that the House of Assembly of 24 members has 600 staff members, adding: “If we had continued the way we are going, these things would have been swept under the carpet. None of these people will lose their job, there are many vacancies in the civil service, who will be trained and be employed.”

He added that the state government would soon come out with a strategy to check increasing insecurity in the state.