The Edo State Governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Hon.
Philip Shuaibu have received certificate of return from the
Independence National Electoral Commission with the promise to put the
interest of the people above their personal interest.
He made the promise while giving his votes of thanks shortly after
receiving certificate of return from the Independence National
Electoral Commission at the Edo State Headquarters in Benin City
yesterday.
He said his decision to run for the governorship position of the state
is to serve and provide a good leadership for the people while putting
the interest of the people first above his personal interest.
“I decided to become governor because I want to serve. I want to serve
and I will put your interest over and above my personal interest. I
prayed that with the blessings of God which we have so far received up
to date that my effort will be crowned with success along side with my
deputy, Philip Shuaibu”, he prayed.
The governor-elect who thanked the INEC for conducting one of the
free, fairest and credible election in the state said the election was
the freest of all elections ever being conducted by the commission
noting that, that was the reason there was no protest by the citizens
of the state after the election result was announced.
He said the pocket of protest being witnessed today is being sponsored
by few individual who saw it not being fair because they lost out in
the election.
“For me, this result has shown that we can be professional, we can be
honest, we can be opened. We do not have to tell lies, we do not have
to hoodwink our people to get electoral success. I want to thank you
INEC because for me, I know as an umpire, not every player will
accept or agree to your outcome but I saw the events leading up to the
election and after the election that they have proven that you were as
fair, transparent, opened as possibly as it could be. You were
efficient, you were not perfect.
“The people of Edo State generally accepted the outcome of that
election. That is why we did not have street protest immediately the
result was announced neither that night nor the day before or day
after. Everything else you see today
is contract protest”, he said
Earlier, the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Sam
Olumekun urged the governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory and
also remember those who stood in the sun to cast their votes for him
to become the governor of the state.
He thanked the security agencies and all other stakeholders that
brought about the most peaceful election ever witnessed in the state.
On the part of the INEC national commissioner, South-South, Mohammed
Mustapha, he said the commission would keep improving on the electoral
process while stressing that the card reader which has eliminated a
lot of frauds from the electoral process in the country has come to
stay.
By Elvis Omoregie