By GEORGE ETAKIBUEBU

My dear people of Edo State,

Greetings. I hope this short letter meets you in perfect peace. Kindly permit me to state first that we are at the threshold of history. It is, therefore, with a profound sense of duty to our great state, present and future generations that I write to you today.

I want to respectfully remind you, peradventure, you have forgotten that our people say: "we use only the wood that is fit and proper to produce mortars and pestles." In other words, mortars and pestles are made from the hardest species of wood. If you allow me, I would mention the Iroko, Oak and the Cypress as good examples of such wood. Mortars and pestles are never made from pulpwood or softwood.

The reason is simple and straightforward – mortars and pestles are supposed to be resilient, durable and able to withstand the constant tests of pounding in the morning, afternoon and evening. And they must be resistant to attacks by termites and worms. They are also meant to withstand severe negative impacts of all weathers and the elements – be it rain, sunshine, cold winds, harmattan or hot air throughout the year and for many years.

In 27 days time, we will be electing another Governor to lead Edo State for the next four years. Let us elect the best candidate. We all know what it means to lead about 7 million people. Not just lead them but provide the roadmap, the vision and the dream of where, as the governor, he wants them to be economically, socially and politically.

It is not a job for a man who is glaringly incompetent and lacking in capacity. It is not for the man who is untested, a man who is shy and withdrawn because he is intimidated by his own inadequacies due to his lack of proper and sound education and social exposure.

But I rather plead with you all to kindly invest in a mortar and pestle that is made from the finest of hardwood. In this regard, I make bold to recommend Dr Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election.

Ighodalo fits perfectly the bill. He is the most competent of the lot. He has the capacity. He has the vision. He has outlined the vision in his "Pathway to Prosperity for All" manifesto. He is compassionate and determined to serve you faithfully and conscientiously with all the talents that God has given him. He has been tested in several places and found fit for purpose everywhere.

Ighodalo has offered to lead in the pursuit of an enduring chapter of greatness that will serve as a reference point for all times in Edo State.

Don’t let anybody deceive you, through lies and propaganda.

Ighodalo knows where the shoe pinches. And he has the soothing balm that will bring lasting relief, comfort and succor to our state and our people.

I can confidently declare, and many of you will attest to this fact, that Ighodalo is the best man for the job. He stands, from shoulder upward, taller than the rest candidates.

Ighodalo is ready to lead the charge to birth a prosperous, flourishing, secured and attractive Edo State that will be the destination of choice for businesses and for leisure.

On September 21, we have the opportunity to write a profound and an enduring chapter of rapid infrastructural development in Edo State; of building social cohesion, of creating the enabling environment for small and medium scale enterprises to flourish; and birth a first world sub-national sovereign in Nigeria by voting PDP and by extension, Ighodalo.

•Etakibuebu writes from Benin City.

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