Candidates of four political parties contesting the 2016 Edo State governorship election on Sunday, participated in a debate organised by Channels Television in collaboration with a Civil Society Organisation, Enough is Enough Nigeria.
The Candidates include Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Osaro Onaiwu of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Amos Areologbe of the Labour Party, LP, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The debate was aimed at affording the candidates the opportunity to explain their manifestoes and how they intend to run the affairs of Edo State if they were elected to office.
Obaseki said he would build on the successes of the current governor. Adams Oshiomole but would seek to transform the economy of the state, based on the reduced allocation coming from the Federal Account.
“The foundation has been laid already by the current government of Adams Oshiomhole and that foundation is what I will build on,” he stated.
He also promised to empower the agriculture research institutes in the state to further deepen the state’s involvement in agriculture.
Obaseki said noted that he has been part of the new Edo project since 2009, adding that the allegations that he was imposed on the people by governor Oshiomole was unfair.
“I have been part of the Edo project to renew Edo State which had been run down by the previous administration.
“Over the last seven and half years, the evidence is clear from what we have done…
“To talk about a remote control in an administration where I and my colleagues designed a blueprint for Governor Oshiomhole is not being fair. I am not going to be remote controlled,” he insisted.
Candidate of the PDP, Ize-Iyamu, on his part said that his policies would focus on diversification of the State’s economy to increase output in agricultural produce, mining of solid minerals and building of necessary infrastructures that would draw more foreign-direct investments.
He said: “We need to diversify the economy of the state. There is too much dependence on allocation and it became even worse in the past seven to eight year.
“Agriculture is not funded by the present state government. Edo State was very good in tree crops.
“We have two research institutes here because of our experience in agriculture,” he stated.
“If we ensure that government money does not go to private coffers, a lot more money can come. We must consider solid minerals, industries and even housing. Lagos State generate a lot of its wealth from its land.
“All we need to do is to invest in our land, create infrastructure and sell that land like a premium.”
Ize-Iyamu accused the Oshiomole government of underutilizing the monies meant for security vote.
“Security votes should not just be money for the governors to play with, it should be used for security reasons,” he insisted.
Onaiwu, the APGA candidate said he would key into the party’s policies which is already working in Anambra State, another APGA-governed State.
He dismissed the notion that APGA was a party of the Igbo ethnic group.
“The APGA model which is ongoing in Anambra State is working.
“We are exporting Ugu leaf and other vegetables in Anambra State. The State is producing rice as we speak. It is not about propaganda. The template is already in Anambra and it is working. Agro-economy is number one,” he emphasised.
Candidate of Labour Party, Areolegbe also said his government would reduce dependency on crude oil and shift attention to the creation of industries.
“We have what it takes in Edo State to generate revenue for ourselves. We will encourage inventors and innovators to create jobs for the unemployed,” he said.
The Labour Party Candidate also promised to revive the dead companies in Edo State.
He also promised that, if elected, his government would make the agriculture sector attractive for young persons to go into it.
