THE All Progressive Congress, APC, Edo Governorship Candidate, Senator Monday Okpeboho, has charged the people of Edo State to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the September 21 governorship election over the alleged nonpayment of 24 months salaries of lecturers of the Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma.
The state government and the management of the school have repeatedly denied the allegation but the lecturers through the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have insisted that they were owed salaries.
Okpebholo stated this over the weekend at Emuado – Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area of the state while receiving no fewer than 4,000 ‘Obidient’ movement defectors from Ward 4 and other wards of the University town.
The Senator highlighted the importance of education in the development of any society and emphasized that the neglect of lecturers in the state-owned university was unacceptable. He pledged to prioritize the payment of their salaries and ensure that such delays do not occur in his administration.
Okpebholo said the PDP had done enough damage in the state especially in the education sector and it was time the party and its baggage were booted out of the state.
Accompanied by his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, he said: “PDP has failed the people of Edo State. We are counting on you to chase away PDP from Edo State.
“I saw the governor of Edo State on television saying his party has all it takes to win over 80 per cent of the vote in the forthcoming governorship election.
Someone who has not been able to rescue Ambrose Alli University lecturers by paying 27 months salaries owed lecturers in the institution, saying he wants to bring his successor. He has already done enough damage to Edo State. PDP has done enough damage to Edo State. We need you to help chase them away from Edo State governance and we know that with you, we can do it.
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“If Obaseki can claim he has done well, then what crime have the lecturers here in Ambrose Ali University committed? What have you done to Obaseki? You have the opportunity to help us chase away Obaseki, chase away PDP from this local government area and the state.
“So, go back to recruit and canvas for people on our behalf that there will be a better Emuado, a better Ekpoma and a better Edo State, for all of us as partners. We don’t want to elect merchants, we don’t want to elect dictators, we want a partnership.”
Speaking earlier, the spokesman of the defectors, Mr. James Akharayi, said the need to align with a man that has the vision, the capacity and the ability to steer the state on the path of development and ensure an all inclusive governance informed their decision to join the APC.
He assured the APC candidate that they would work hard to ensure his victory at the election. Earlier, while receiving the defectors the State Chairman of the APC, Jarrett Tenebe and the deputy governorship Candidate of the party, Dennis Idahosa, assured the new members that they would enjoy the same privileges as old members.
