Edo State indigenes in Europe have honoured Governor Adams Oshiomhole, two local government chairmen and two commissioners as well as the deputy governor, Dr. Pius Otubu. They used the opportunity to announce their endorsement of Dr. Odubu as their preferred candidate for the 2016 governorship election.

This was the highlight of this year’s Edo Day, held at the Borussia, Monchengladbach Main Stadium in the Republic of Germany, which attracted over 5,000 indigenes of the state from various parts of Europe. The group also concluded that in their estimation, more development has taken place in Edo State within Oshiomhole’s regime than any other since 1999.

In a statement e-mailed to News Express, the organiser of the event, Mr. Francis Okoemu, a United Kingdom-based security and terrorism expert, disclosed details of the award as follows: Best Governor of Edo State since its creation in 1991 was presented to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Dr. Odubu won Best Deputy Governor of all time; Award for the Best Commissioner in the state was jointly won by Comrade Didi Aifediyi Adodo, commissioner for establishment and special duties and Mr. Washington Osifo, commissioner for higher education; Best Council Chairman was jointly won by Hon. Joe Ikpea, Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Area and Chairman, Owan East Local Government, Mr. Jimoh Ijegbari.

Okoemu, an executive director of Blackwell Security Consultants UK Limited, who, in his keynote address, spoke to the gathering in English and Deutsch, reflected the heartfelt views of thousands of Edo indigenes gathered at the stadium, venue of the event. He described the gathering as historical, noting that “this is the first time all sons and daughters of Edo State in Europe have come together to celebrate and review the development in our state.”

He said: “I must tell you all here today how lucky, how blessed we are to have such a great son, brother and father as Adams Oshiomhole. But we the Edos here today are asking if the constitution would allow it for Oshiomhole to continue forever as our governor. I visited home in March this year; you hardly differentiate between night and day in Benin: all because of the introduction of street light by our God-sent governor.”

Mr. Okoemu described Odubu as the most humble, gentle, loyal, honest, trustworthy deputy governor Edo State ever had, adding: “Since we cannot change the constitution to allow Oshiomhole to continue forever, we have someone who is credible and trustworthy as Oshiomhole to be our governor. We ask for Dr. Pius Odubu to come out and contest for the 2016 governorship of our state. Let me use this word, we are asking, Dr. Odubu to come and serve us. He is the only credible person to continue from where Oshiomhole will stop. After a careful study, we the Edos (in Europe) could not find an alternative to Dr Odubu. So for the labour of Oshiomhole not to be in vain and for a continuation of development in Edo State, we ask Odubu to come and serve us.”

On Adodo and lawyer-turned-politician, Osifo, Okoemu thanked the governor for giving the two gentlemen the opportunity to serve their state and thanked the group for the award. To serve in three different ministries as commissioner, Didi Adodo is truly the best commissioner. He described Adodo as an illustrious son of Edo State who believe in justice, fairness and equality. He added that Osifo came at education in the state someone like him. “Osifo is the best commissioner for education Edo State ever had,” he stated.

On the council chairmen, the security expert observed: “I am so lucky to come from the local government that produced the best chairman.” He listed some of the achievements of Mr. Ikpea to include construction of an industrial borehole to provide potable water for the council secretariat and the inmates of the Nigerian prisons at Ubiaja; construction of security post on the major roads in the local government to tackle insecurity, peace accord among the warring factions in Illushi, construction of modern magistrate court building in Ubiaja, construction of over one 115 lock-up shops and more than 50 public toilets and gave all the primary schools in the local government a new look. Besides, he is also one of the three council chairmen who are up-to-date with payment of workers’ salaries, despite dwindling allocations from the federation account. Mr. Okeomu equally appreciated the chairman of Owan East Council, Mr. Jegbai, for the unparalleled development he brought to the local government. Owan East is one of the three local governments where workers smile home every month.

Mr. Paul Linges, who stood in for the chairman, Stadt Monchenglabach, thanked the Edo sons and daughters for holding the event in Monchengladbach. He said: “From what I have read about Oshinomhole, right from when he was labour leader, he is a great man.” He also described Mr. Okoemu as their son and the first Nigerian to be a member of St Hubertus Bruderschaft.

The statement also appreciated Dr Leemon Ikpea, Chairman/CEO of Lee Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited and Ambassador (Dr) Martin Uhomoibhi, for their effort in bringing a Catholic university, one of the few in Africa, to Ewatto in Edo State.

In his remarks, chairman of the occasion, Pa Kelly Edomwande, expressed gratitude to Oshiomhole for his selfless service to the people of Edo State. He urged him not to hand over the governorship tickets to those politicians who joined the party after the electorate rejected them at the March poll.

•Photo, courtesy of Nigerian Observer, shows Governor Oshiomhole (left) and Deputy Governor Odubu at public function.

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