As campaigns for governorship elections in Edo State heat up, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has said that when elected, his administration would not engage consultants to do the work of civil servants.
Gatekeeper reports that the APC governorship hopeful also said that the monthly minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants would not be reduced, as widely alleged by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Okpebholo, who spoke on Monday in Benin City while addressing members and supporters of the APC in Oredo Local Government Area, assured that his administration would declare a state of emergency on education, health, security and infrastructure, among others.
He also assured that his government would bring all-round developments to the state.
According to him, Edo will witness a new development.
“Let me tell you, this is the time the civil servants in the state will enjoy. There will be no consultants coming from somewhere to do their jobs.
“We will give them a chance to do their job. Their salaries would be guaranteed. Nobody is going to reduce it.
“We are going to declare a state of emergency in our education, security, health, infrastructure and others once we emerge as we are elected into office in Edo State so that things will work again in Edo,” he said.
The APC candidate posited that to bring the needed development to the people and alleviate their plights, his administration would be declaring a state of emergency in all sectors of the state.
He also promised that his government would employ 5,000 teachers on assumption of office as well as give out interest-free loans to market women in the state to boost their businesses.
Earlier, the former governor of Edo State and senator representing Edo North at the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole, appealed to the people to vote for the candidate of APC in the forthcoming election, claiming that the PDP is dead in the state politically.
Oshiomhole explained that the literary meaning of ‘Akpakomiza’ in Benin, as the APC candidate is fondly referred to, is ‘Redeemer.’
He added that, as the name suggested, Senator Monday Okpebholo would be coming to redeem the people from the shackles of suffering and underdevelopment allegedly brought to Edo State by the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.
“Akpakomiza, even in this land (Benin), properly translated, means a redeemer, somebody you call to the rescue when there is trouble in the land.
“Right now, there is trouble in the land (Edo State) because a government is allegedly stealing 10 kg of rice,” he said.
However, some people who claimed to be members of the Obaseki family joined APC during the campaign.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had slated the off-cycle Edo State Governorship election for September 21, 2024.
