Ahead of the September 21^st 2024 gubernatorial election, the people of Edo State have been warned to be wary of the ‘black market’ being hawked around by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Majority Leader, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Charity Iguodala Aiguobarueghian,

Representing the sagacious people of Ovia North-East 1 Constituency, sounded the warning on Sunday in Benin City.

Senator Monday Okpebholo is the candidate of the APC in the coming governorship election in the State.

Hon Charity argued that it is a dangerous thing for the party leaders in the State to have perfected an elaborate design of always hiding and shielding the APC candidate from the people.

He said: “Let me warn my good people of Edo State, as a lawyer of many decades, that there is this saying ‘caveat emptor’, that is ‘buyer beware’. I want to use this opportunity to warn my people that only a possible Black Market Product is treated the way APC is treating their candidate and it is because of obvious deficiencies which they don’t want the buyers to know, recognised or be acquainted with until they have gotten home with the product, with a hidden instruction that you cannot return and collect your money after payment. We must be careful. APC is hawking a Black Market Product that is why they are hiding him everywhere.

“I give you only four examples. In April, the Benson Idahosa University (BIU) invited all the three leading candidates to their popular program to meet with the students and staff of the school, Okpebholo exhibited truancy. Two weeks ago, the APC South South caucus held its meeting in Calabar, a meeting that focused the greater part of the discussion on his own election, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, making some outrageous statements, but the candidate Sen. Monday Okpebholo was never allowed to say a word. Not even the vote of thanks!

At the Nigeria Bar Association Law Week in Benin City last week, he also did not show up, even though he was supposed to present a paper as a guest speaker. His role was played by another person. His paper was presented by Barr Emmanuel Usoh though he was in Benin City that day. They hid him from an inevitable gaffe which is his second nature.

The latest Is their visit to Aso Rock on Friday, in Abuja. After he was led to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of Niger Delta, Hon Abubakar Momoh, accompanied by his own running mate, Hon Dennis Idahosa, he was smuggled out of Aso Rock just to avoid meeting with press men. Oshiomhole did all the talking. Where is Okpebholo? They can’t continue to hide him. Edo people are not ready to buy a Black Market Product. So, I call on them to beware of the antics of the sellers of Black Market products. The only time he was allowed to speak for five minutes in the USA, he couldn’t differentiate a Zoo from a Museum. We have to be careful, we don’t have another State”, the lawmaker warned.

Hon Charity said on the other hand, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Asue Ighodalo is everywhere, meeting with the people and explaining to them what he wants to do through his ‘The Pathway to Prosperity for All’ manifesto in Edo State.

“But you can see the difference between our candidate and their own candidate. The difference is so clear. Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the PDP has a clear-cut agenda for the good people of Edo State. He is everywhere explaining his ‘The Pathway to Prosperity for All’ both here and in the Diaspora. He is meeting with the people and exchanging ideas. He is not hiding. They love him. They like him. They want him for his competence, capacity, character and compassion. Honestly, politics apart, I recommend him for Edo people. Asue Ighodalo is the type of person we should be begging to come and lead. I appeal to Edo people not to listen to lies and propaganda. Our State must move forward, and we need a capable leader. Not the man that is hiding,” he concluded.

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