By Balarabe Oshiaf
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has asked its members to intensify their support for one of its gubernatorial aspirants and former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, so as to defeat Asue Ighodalo, of the rival People’s Democratic party (PDP), an apparently preferred aspirant of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the coming Edo governorship election.
In a news release titled “Asue Ighodalo candidacy in PDP and the challenge before Edo APC”, signed by Osarobo Timothy for Concerned Edo APC Stakeholders and made available to Expressday,, APC said, “If you have been closely following the PDP’s campaign for Asue Ighodalo, the likely candidate in Edo State, you would notice its focus on his resume.
“Albert Obazee, the propaganda machine, has coined a special campaign slogan, Brain Box Asue Ighodalo.
“Their entire approach revolves around using the hype of the man’s purported private and public sector experience to potentially deceive the Edo people once again.
“However, APC cannot afford to toy with our ticket and hand it to the typical politician whose sole strength is claimed grassroots support, without a notable profile of achievements or a strong curriculum vitae to campaign with.
“Elections in Nigeria have evolved beyond mere grassroots politics; they now demand a blend of politics and performance.
“APC cannot afford to give the ticket to an aspirant with a tainted character, or one lacking a rich academic profile or significant private and public sector experience comparable to Asue’s.
*We must avoid candidates whose candidacy might raise concerns about bringing disorder back to the State, as witnessed in the propaganda of APC bringing back “Lions and Tigers” that undermined our campaign in 2020.
“APC must not repeat the mistake of offering tickets to candidates unable to engage Asue Ighodalo in debates or media engagements, considering the frequency of his appearances in the media.
“Without a doubt, the only aspirant in APC right now who meets these irreducible minimum criteria for our candidate is Prince Clem Agba.
“Let us resist the emotional blackmail of ethnic bigots who fail to comprehend the current realities of elections in Edo State. The average voter in Edo seeks more than a USUAL POLITICIAN whose only profession is politics, whose wealth source is known, and who cannot engage them intellectually on various issues because being a Governor transcends the ability to distribute transformers, build classrooms, or distribute wrappers to women, etc.
“These same tribal bigots whose only language of campaign is tribal population or sentiment is the same approach, thinking and miscalculation of PDP at the federal level that led to the loss of Atiku Abubakar who leverage on huge Northern votes to get the ticket which is the same failed calculation some individuals from Edo South are trying to raise now.
“It was the same reason Peter Obi lost that election because his ambition became an Igbo agenda which is the same thing many of our people from Edo Central are trying to also raise now.
“If APC is prepared to give PDP a formidable challenge in this election, it should appeal to all aspirants to rally behind Prince Clem Agba.
“While acknowledging that all aspirants from every Senatorial district are eminently qualified to be governor, the emergence of Asue Ighodalo of PDP and the likely Olumide Akpata of the Labour party makes it crucial for APC to nominate someone who can compete with them in all ramifications.”
