Posted by By TESSY OKOYE on
The All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Hon Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula has said that the thought of stepping down for Adams Oshiomhole, Action Congress (AC) candidate has never and will never cross his mind.
The All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Hon Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula has said that the thought of stepping down for Adams Oshiomhole, Action Congress (AC) candidate has never and will never cross his mind.
Hon Arigbe-Osula who stated this when he paid a visit to three orphanage homes in the state, added that he is the most credible candidate for the Edo top job.
'I am resolutely committed to the guber race. It would be wrong for anybody to say I have stepped down for Oshiomhole. Indeed, the reverse is the case. Series of meetings held by our party caucuses at various levels in Edo State have decided to stop participation in the alliance talks in Edo State.
I want to be quoted. I'm a more credible candidate than Oshiomhole and I would under no circumstance step down for him. Edo State cannot afford to have a governor that is less than totally credible and dedicated to the cause of the people in 2007.
ANPP in Edo State would not be a party to any alliance in which we're not recognized as the leading party to such alliance.
He added: 'If any leader in ANPP is still conniving with anybody in the AC for their selfish reason, they are acting against the wishes of majority of the people in ANPP and the internal resolutions reached, that is totally against any alliance with the Edo State AC, which we believe is a rechristened PDP with all the characteristics that replicate everything PDP stand for in Edo State."
Arigbe-Osula, member, House of Representatives while at the Orosanye, Edo and Abini orphanage homes in Benin City, said no nation can be said to be truly great until the majority of its citizens have access to the basic necessities of life. He particularly expressed regret that rich as Nigeria is, majority of the people were living below poverty line, noting that the trend if not immediately checked could unleash social unrest.
'One thing we all must appreciate is that if the majority of the people cannot sleep because they are hungry, the comfortable minority also would not be able to sleep because their lives would not be safe. This is why we all must be concerned about the welfare of our people," he said.
At the three homes, he showered inmates with items including yam tubers, rice, cooking oil, gari, beans, provisions and cash gift.
He vowed that the welfare of the generality of the Edo people would form the policy thrust of his government if voted into power in the forthcoming governorship election.