By Dcn Darlington Okpebholo Ray
On Monday, August 5th, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State that is currently suffering from massive rejection everywhere for the fact that it is not prepared for the September 21 governorship election, went to town with a fake, imaginary, diabolical and satanic news that the Court of Appeal has disqualified Dr Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This is not just another lie from the pit of hell typical of the party in the state, but actually a reflection of the level of desperation into which the badly flagging campaign of the APC has sunk into.
For emphasis and for the avoidance of doubt, Ighodalo’s candidacy is standing ‘gidigba’, tall, strong, solid and unshaken like the Rock of Gilbratal.
Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the campaign open on April 23, it has become evident that the APC has nothing to campaign with. It has the misfortune of fielding Senator Monday Okpebholo, considered by no less a person than the self acclaimed leader of the party in the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, as having “slowed engine.” Try and make meaning of that.
Other chieftains of the party have on account of Okpebholo’s non-suitability, dumped the party. Examples of such party members abound everywhere. They claim, and it’s now very evident for all to see that Okpebholo’s level of incompetence, lack of capacity, lack of administrative and managerial know-how, glaring lack of communication skills, which manifest in heart wrenching gaffes each time he speaks in public, are way out of this world . Importantly, his resort to hiding from the public and the people have all combined to make the political contest a big, daunting and challenging task for the party and its candidate. Indeed, the guber contest is now a huge mountain for the APC to climb.
It is, therefore, not surprising that 45 days to the election, the APC has no known manifesto, has no visible campaign activities, no town hall meetings, no nothing.
As an alternative, it has made the peddling of lies and propaganda its official campaign policy. For the APC, it is a one-day, one-lie and one-day, one-propaganda. There is no lie too big, small, or incredible and absurd for Edo APC to concoct and peddle in the vain hope that by so doing it will be able to discredit Dr Asue Ighodalo and boost the chances of their mute and uninspiring candidate.
Unfortunately for the APC, Ighodalo has since blasted into space like a rocket bound for the Moon leaving APC far behind to grasp at every floatsam available to stay above waters.
Ighodalo is focused, clear-headed and determined about his vision for Edo State. This he has succinctly articulated and caused to be compiled and published in his manifesto tagged “Pathway to Prosperity for All.” And the manifesto has since been unveiled and receiving rave reviews.
On the other hand, Okpebholo has been quoted as saying, and he is on recorded, that he doesn’t need a manifesto to govern Edo State. Just imagine a navigator saying he doesn’t have any need for a compass and he is about to venture into the high seas. Your guess is as good as mine. That speaks volumes about how low the individual’s reasoning ability is.
While the APC is daily dwelling on inanities, foraging in the dustbin for discarded garbage as news to peddle, Ighodalo is strengthening his bond and affinity with the good people of Edo State across the three senatorial zones. Together with his running mate, Osarodion Ogie Esq, “The Men Wey Sabi, Go Do Am” for Edo State.
Dcn Darlington Okpebholo Ray is the lead spokesperson of the Team Asue Media Organisation and Director, PDP/Asue/Ogie Diaspora Media Directorate.
