The winner of the recently concluded governorship election in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki, has been receiving congratulatory messages from across the country, especially from stalwarts of his political party, the People’s Democratic Party.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governors Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State have all been effusive in their messages.
PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, as well as former Senate presidents, Senators Bukola Saraki and David Mark, also congratulated Edo State governor on his re-election.
Atiku commended the people of Edo State for their resilience in the face of the forces against them and said Obaseki’s triumph “is not just a victory, but a declaration of independence from the anti-democratic forces of godfatherism and militarism.”
In his congratulatory message, Fintiri encouraged Obaseki to write his name in gold as one who changed the politics of Edo State by putting godfatherism to rest.
In the message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, Adamawa State governor said Obaseki’s victory has changed the political landscape of Edo State.
Governor Wike of Rivers State, who was also the Chairman of PDP National Campaign Council, said the efforts of the party were not in vain.
Wike, who spoke in Benin City shortly after INEC affirmed Obaseki as the winner of the election, said: “Our efforts are not in vain. My brother has been declared the winner of the 2020 governorship election in Edo State. Let me thank my colleagues, the governors of Delta State, Oyo State, and all other people who served in the campaign council; I do not know how to thank them.
“I also thank the governor of Edo State for giving us the necessary support that led to this victory. A few hours ago, we were here to brief you on what was going on, and thank God, thereafter, the announcement came. We also thank all those who worked in the campaign council in Edo; we want to formally thank all of you.”
In his own message, Governor Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, through his Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant, Media, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, thanked God for ushering in a peaceful and credible election in Edo State.
Drawing similarities to what happened last year in his state. Emmanuel said, “Last year, the good people of Akwa Ibom State rose in unison and said no to godfatherism and the much-touted federal might, declaring their fidelity to the supremacy of our ONLY GOD in the affairs of man.
“Today, our brothers and sisters in Edo State have replicated the same wholesome faith and belief in God over the boastful exuberance of ordinary mortals by voting to return a leader who best represents their values and ethos; a doer and not a talker,” he said.
In a press statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, Governor Ayadeof Cross River described Obaseki’s victory at the polls as well deserved considering his achievements in the past four years.
“I extend my warm felicitations to you on your well-deserved victory in the just concluded Edo gubernatorial election. For those of us who have keenly followed your giant strides in Edo State, your victory did not come as a surprise,” he said.
Okowa who is the Delta State governor congratulated his Edo counterpart, and his deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu, on their re-election.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, yesterday, Okowa described the re-election of Obaseki as “the confirmation of the will of the people” and called on Nigerians to always stand for good leaders as Edo people just did for Obaseki.
He stated that the people of Edo across the 18 local government areas of the state spoke loudly and clearly in their reaffirmation of the choice of Obaseki as their governor.
Governor of Sokoto State and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Tambuwal, also congratulated Obaseki.
In a statement he signed, Tambuwal said the decisive turning point in any major contest is not who wins, but adherence to the ground rules that made it possible for a victor to emerge without a squabble.
“Our collective resolve, borne out of our shared democratic values, team spirit, and concern for the people as our primary constituency, galvanised us to work within the ambits of the spirit and letter of the law.
“All of us, as servants of the people, set aside, with the utmost caution, negative thoughts that our party will not have a fair deal. Our logistical and legal nightmares, if any, were that the people of Edo State will not get a fair deal if the rules of the game are circumvented before and during the election,” Tambuwal said.
Secondus has also congratulated Obaseki and Shaibu on their well-deserved victory, describing the victory as a clear affirmation and demonstration of the people’s goodwill in appreciation of the outstanding performance of the governor and his deputy in their first term.
The national chairman praised Edo people for standing up for democracy through their avowed determination to ensure that the will of the people and nobody else prevailed in their state.
The PDP as a party also congratulated the people of Edo State on the re-election Obaseki. In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the victory, as won by the people, is historic and serves as a strong, viable, and unambiguous lesson to leaders.
It said: “Our party celebrates the resilience and courage exhibited by the people of Edo State in resisting the antics of the enemies of democracy, who, as vote buyers, patrons of lions and tigers, as well as beguilers, attempted to take over the political space of Edo State.
“We rejoice with Edo people for helping to reset the political culture of our nation by casting their votes, protecting the votes, ensuring that their votes counted and following it, ‘bumper-to-bumper,’ to the final point of declaration.”
Congratulating Obaseki, Saraki in a statement from his Media Office in Abuja, stated that his victory represented the determination of the good people of Edo State to decide who governs the state and to ensure their votes count at all times.
Meanwhile, another former Senate President, Senator David Mark, said Obaseki’s victory was a triumph of the will of the people.