“Beware, this election will bring out the worst in Obaseki”, Campaign Organisation ...Congratulates workers’ resilience

The Senator Monday Okpebholo Campaign Organisation has called on the electorate to beware of the antics of government because the September 21st governorship election would certainly bring out the worst deception in Governor Godwin Obaseki.

It insisted that the Edo State government has perfected plans aimed at vote-buying through several ‘Greek gifts’ to workers and the electorates in favour of his godson, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. 

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. John Mayaki said, “Governor Godwin Obaseki’s promises and lies are all delivered in an alternating climate of hope and fear - and that’s just about the voters. Today, Obaseki has dressed up vote-buying in the form of minimum wage increase, and as such, bringing out the worst in him”, Mayaki said.

“However, we must congratulate workers in Edo state for their resilience and for what the election has forced our Governor to do. In fact, the fear of Edo workers in an electioneering season is the beginning of wisdom for Godwin Obaseki. The Governor’s action can be termed as blackmail too cheap - without election, Obaseki doesn’t need workers votes. So, we must now understand the rationale behind the minimum wage increase - vote-buying, however guise it is dressed up.

“For Governor Obaseki, therefore, elections are not about delivery of promises - they are all about creating illusions. And the big illusion in this year’s contest centers around wages. The many promises yet undelivered litter the nooks and crannies of the state, including the ‘rundown’ teachers’ house among several others.

“But here’s the core of the matter - workers must watch it. To announce a new minimum wage is not the issue but a scratch in the surface of a serious matter. Obaseki has also set up a system for workers revalidation which comes with victimization, categorizations of those to benefit, and how much percentage a particular worker is entitled to, workers’ retrenchment among several other factors that would make this announcement an illusion and of no meaningful impact.

“While we jubilate with workers, we query the intention and the timing, which we see as not only political but also an anti-people strategy to buy votes by Governor Obaseki in favor of his godson, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. We are also not unaware of several other measures that would be unleashed on the polity just to hoodwink the people in the coming days.

“We therefore urge the people of Edo State to be beware in other words "caveat emptor" of Governor Obaseki and his PDP gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State”.