Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has spoken of the need for politicians to strengthen the foundation of democracy in the country, advising them to key into President Goodluck Jonathan’s agenda of transformation based on the principle of one man one vote.
Speaking at his re-election rally in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area, Oshiomhole said: “It is not in the interest of politicians to weaken the foundation of democracy.
“When we fight for one man one vote, it is not because we cannot do what they are doing.
“But Nigeria cannot make it if the foundation of democracy is corrupted.
“The mother of all corruption is electoral fraud.
“In 2007, I said in many places that those who say poverty is an act of God are just blaspheming God.
“Poverty is the result of the mismanagement of resources, which God in His infinite power put in the hands of our people.
“I promised that we will offer a leadership that would improve our people.
“Although we do not have all the money we need to do all that we desire to do, but we have enough to meet the basic needs of our people.
“We do not have enough to meet the greed of the godfathers.”
He noted that as long as our commonwealth is feasted on by a few people, majority of our people must continue to wallow in poverty.
He said: “Today, I have come to present before you as we have done across the local government what we have been able to do in three years and six months in Edo State.
“When I would have finished, you would compare it with the PDP report card that governed the State in ten years.
“We will build more schools.
“Every child deserves to be in good schools. We will build more roads.
“We will bring electricity to the people.
“We will build more hospital. We will transform the rural areas.
“I am happy, I feel justified that from Auchi to Ikabigbo, to Afashio, there is street light. We are going to extend the street lights to Afowa and Iyeke. Edo State can never be the same again because once the light is on darkness disappears.”
He said that for ten years “we had government in Edo State and even salaries were not paid, pensioners died on the queue, teachers went on strike several times. But today, the Edo pensioners receive their salaries before the governor receives his own.
“Next week, we will formally launch the provision of free eye glasses for our people from 60 years and above who require eye glass. The money they used to service the godfather we will use to work for the people. We will use the instrument of state to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of people.
“If PDP has confessed that in ten years they have been a failure and that they have not changed, it is absolutely vexatious to say that Edo people should trust them and vote for them now.”