Oshiomhole groomed me to succeed him, says deputy gov

Pius Odubu, deputy governor of Edo state, says Adams Oshiomhole, the governor, has groomed him for the number one seat in Edo.

Odubu, an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the claim on Saturday, at a reception organised for him by his team of supporters in Benin.

He said he had understudied the governor since their assumption of office more than seven years ago, and that the Oshiomhole rated him as the best candidate for the September 10 gubernatorial election.

“I have been in school; I have been in Oshiomhole’s school of governance and he, himself, has rated me as the best,” he said.

“We need a governor that will hit the ground running. We need a governor that is game-ready and not one with potential.

“We will bring to bear, all that the governor has taught us, and our expertise. We will do the greatest good to the greatest number of the people within the shortest time possible when we get there.

“By His grace, I know and I believe that I am the man that will take over from the governor.”

He urged the party’s delegates for the June 18 primary not to be coerced into voting against their preferred aspirant.

He advised the people of the state not to sell their permanent voters cards (PVCs).

“My good people of Edo, I hear they are collecting your PVCs; please, your PVC is your property, it is your right, don’t sell it, don’t mortgage your future,” he said.

“You have to freely choose the man or woman that you want. You must choose who will govern Edo of your own free volition.”

He announced that the party’s screening committee had cleared him for the primary and appealed to his supporters to remain steadfast and conduct themselves peacefully “before, during and after the exercise”.