Ahead of the governorship election in Edo State coming up on September 21, 2024, a Niger Delta militant group, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), has endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, saying they are ready to do all within their means to ensure his victory at the polls.
This was contained in a statement signed by a member of the RNDA, Johnmark Ezonebi, also known as Obama, along with the leaders of the nine Niger Delta militant groups across the nine Niger Delta states.
According to the statement, the RNDA being a foremost militant group in the Niger Delta, which comprises Edo State, the reason behind the endorsement and massive support for Okpebholo was taken after a crucial meeting in one of the creeks in the region.
The statement further explained that at the said meeting, the group critically assessed the track records and backgrounds of the various parties’ candidates and, therefore, unanimously agreed and threw their weight behind Okpebholo of the APC.
The statement reads in part, “It is imperative to make this critical decision, and we, the leaders of the dreaded Niger Delta militant group, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), after our crucial meeting in one of the creeks about the candidates of the various political parties contesting the governorship election in Edo State, critically assessed and concluded by taking our decision on whom we are endorsing and supporting to victory.
“At this point, we want to let the people of Edo State know ahead of the election who we have endorsed and will support to victory, and he is nobody else than the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, so the people of the state would not fall into the hands of a party and their candidate, which does not mean well for them.
“Senator Monday Okpebholo, nicknamed ‘Akpakomiza’ the Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Edo State, in the 10th National Assembly, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, is a man of impeccable character with a high sense of humour and passionate about the lives of the Edo people.
“He is a Senator who has been distinguished based on his track record and achievements, and specifically, what attracted and endeared us to him is his giant strides in infrastructural development and human capital building, and this is what we yearn for in the Niger Delta region.
“We will mobilise massively and megally to ensure the people of Edo State vote en masse for Senator Okpebholo, and this victory will be a landslide victory because we have our structure across Edo State to the ward level, and we have set in motion our mechanisms to sensitise and get the full assurance of the people, and we will not leave any stone unturned as far as this election is concerned.”
The group also disclosed how they have been following the activities of the APC candidate, saying, “We have read and heard about his solid and focused views about the people’s plight and how to solve those protracted developmental challenges.
“A situation in which he has already reached out to relevant federal agencies, including the Sustainable Development Goals Office, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, Education, Water Resources, Universal Basic Education Commission, National Directorate of Employment, and other MDAs, in order to garner pivotal road projects, rehabilitation of primary and secondary classroom blocks, hospitals and health centres, the provision of 500KVA transformers, water borehole projects, as well as employment opportunities for his constituents in the federal establishments and the security agencies.
“He has also trained women and youths under numerous skill acquisition schemes and vocational occupations. We are happy that his vision and mission to be carried out when elected the next Governor of Edo State are really in line with our yearnings and struggles for the Niger Delta region, which is to ensure that Edo State becomes the most preferred destination for foreign direct investment in the telecommunications, banking, financial services, manufacturing, industrial, and product merchandising sectors in order to provide hundreds of thousands of jobs for the teeming youths in the state.”
According to the RDNA, Senator Okpebholo has the pedigree to cause a paradigm shift in the governance of Edo State, in terms of fighting corruption, promoting accountability and transparency, and overhauling the civil service.
The group also said he is able to adhere to the rule of law and due process, therefore ensuring corrupt persons are brought to justice, and he will improve the security of Edo State.
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