Governor Godwin Obaseki, who on Monday won his final victory in the struggle for the governorship seat of Edo State, seems set to totally win over the people of the state by providing effective governance. Ahead of the judgement, his administration had activated massive infrastructural projects in the state.

The Ring Road area, which is the city centre of the capital Benin City has been cleared of all roadside business activities, giving the place a serene look that is quite analogous to the governor’s style of working effectively and silently to bring more development to the state.

One area that has received a reawakening is the football sector, as the state’s Bendel Insurance Football Club that is competing in the national Division 1 league is being better funded by the government. The face of the renewed push to bring back Insurance to the premier league is the state’s Deputy Governor, who not only comes to cheer the club during almost all its league games, but also takes time off to train with the player on occasions.

Members of Obaseki’s All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State had gone wild in jubilation on Monday as news filtered in that his victory over PDP’s Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu had been reaffirmed by the apex court of the country, the Supreme Court.

Dismissing the appeal of Pastor Ize-Iyamu on the grounds of lack of merit, the Supreme Court said it would give detailed reasons for its judgement on July 24th.

In a swift reaction, Pastor Ize-Iyamu issued a statement which also appeared on his official Facebook page, congratulating Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

He wrote: “Today, the Supreme Court has by its judgment brought to an end our struggle for the office of the Governor of Edo State which began on 28 September, 2016.

“I accept in good faith, this decision of the highest court of our country, which affirms Mr. Godwin Obaseki as the Governor of Edo State. I therefore congratulate Mr. Godwin Obaseki and assure him of my goodwill.

“I also want to use this opportunity to thank all our supporters and party men and women for their immense support for our struggle right from the time of the election to this day that it ended at the Supreme Court. Let me assure them of my acknowledgement of their various sacrifices and promise that I will always be there for them.

“I thank all Edo people who have been part of our struggle all the way. In our various ways we should keep the fire burning in the quest for an Edo State of our dream.

“Finally, I thank God for His grace that gave me the opportunity to seek the office. To Him be all honour and Glory. God bless Edo State.”

Ize-Iyamu had challenged Obaseki’s victory in last year’s gubernatorial election, citing corrupt practices during the election and also accused INEC of having not complied with the electoral act during the election.

The PDP candidate’s supporters have been quick to pitch his fight up to the Supreme court and his eventual concession speech as moves to deepen democracy in the land, but not a few felt he was always heading for doom in the judiciary, giving the fact that, at least to many, the judgements were most likely going to be influenced by politics, and with the PDP in some national disarray, Ize-Iyamu always stood little chance of mustering enough political support to sway the courts.

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