Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the people of Edo State to vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Monday Okpebholo in the upcoming September 21 governorship election.
Speaking during the grand finale of the APC’s campaign in Benin on Saturday, Shettima described Okpebholo as the ideal leader needed to transform the state.
A statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, quoted Shettima as saying, “Edo needs a strategic thinker, a builder, and a man who can unite and rally the people of the state.”
Addressing a diverse audience, Shettima emphasized that despite differences in ethnicity, religion, or occupation, the collective desire of Edo people is for a functional state that provides opportunities for all.
“What unites us is not our differences but our collective desire for a nation that works, a state that meets our needs,” he said.
Highlighting the recent increase in revenue allocation to all levels of government, Shettima urged Edo voters to support the APC candidate to take advantage of the “wind of positive change.”
“This is the best time to be a governor in Nigeria,” Shettima added, noting that the economic reforms of the past year have laid the groundwork for significant development opportunities.
Shettima praised Okpebholo, calling him a man with the compassion and tenacity required to lead Edo effectively. He also pointed out that Okpebholo, along with his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, will complement each other in bringing about radical change.
“Edo needs a leader who listens, who feels the pulse of his people, and who is committed to positive, people-centered governance,” the vice president said. “In Okpebholo and Idahosa, Edo will witness a positive reshaping of governance.”
He concluded by quoting former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, stating, “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.”
