‘Our state needs development’ — Clem Agba joins Edo guber race

Clem Agba, ex-minister of budget and national planning, has declared his intention to contest the 2024 Edo governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Agba declared his intention on Tuesday at his ward in Uzanu community in Etsako East LGA of the state.

The election is scheduled for September 21, 2024.

He said as a homeboy, he decided to declare his interest at his ward because “charity begins at home”.

The ex-minister said he will implement an action plan for the development of the state if elected.

“I have come here to tell my people of my aspiration to run for the office of the governor of Edo State because it is not enough to continue to talk about the ills but to showcase what (good things that) can happen in every corner of the state with my village, which today, I think we can be described as a town or city,” Agba said.

“It is for that reason that I have decided that I want to run for the office of governor of Edo state. I want to be governor to implement the plans I helped put in place as a minister.

“All parts of Edo need development. When I was in government, I showcased what can happen to villages. We will focus on rural development, with multi-dimensional poverty in the country, we will put a stop to rural-urban drift.

“With rural-urban drift, the urban areas will turn to slums; there would be insecurity in those areas; food prices will go high. These are some of the things we want to deal with.

“It is not that it is not good to go to the moon like Americans and some other people are doing, but for me, we have to solve our basic problems of food, shelter, health, sanitation and others.”