TheCable

Stephen Osemwegie, a member of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo, has declared his intention to run for the governorship position of the state. 

Osemwegie declared his ambition during a meeting with Julius Abure, LP national chairman, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, on Friday.

He said Edo people have lacked quality leadership and it is time “to do things differently”.

“What I am here for is a new day and deal for Edo state. I have come with a direction, I have come with a new vision. Whatever we have been doing before has not worked. We cannot be doing the same thing and expecting another result,” he said.

“It is time for Edo people to do something different and choose the Labour Party. It is the only party that has now stood for the people. It brought out a candidate named Peter Obi that brought us into the Obedient movement to fight for a Nigeria that works.

“I think what he did nationally, we can replicate in our state. I’m here to basically say HIT A; I’m honest, I have integrity, I am transparent and I also have a fantastic attitude.

“What we have lacked over the years have been those key things. I believe as Edo people and Nigerians by extension, we are all created equal. In the US they say “all men are created equal and are endowed with certain inalienable rights”.

“What we lack in Nigeria as Chinua Achebe said, is leadership. By the projections in 2022, we are eight million people (in Edo).”

Osemwegie expressed dismay at the rate of unemployment in the state, adding that the people have the intellect and capacity to develop if given the opportunity.

“Unemployment is appalling, especially when you go to those under 40. We have the intellect, energy, and capacity. Edo is Obedient,” he said.

Edo state is currently governed by Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Obaseki won re-election for a second term in office in September 2020.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not fixed the date for the governorship election in Edo.