By Ehichioya Steve Odion
Governorship candidates of the various political parties participating in the September 21, 2024 poll have begun to meet with stakeholders and other relevant groups in the state in their bid to convince the voters on how they intend governance to improve the lives of the people if elected.
In the midst of this are those the candidates are presently meeting with who should pay attention to their parties' programs and manifestoes to be able to assess them on that basis as they will act as judges on the election day through their ballots.
The question on the lips of many commentators with regard to this coming election is, what should Edo people be looking out for in each of the candidates of the contending political parties.
Some have said that Edo people should consider Competency, Credibility and the capability to turn things around for the good and benefit of the indigenes and residents of the state. They argue that this shouldn't be the period to elect someone who will just be out to advance selfish political and primordia sentiments those who do not mean well for the people of Edo State to be telling us that even if the candidate have NEPA BILL as certificate or without experience.
No, the people must do the right thing by sincerely coming out to work for the right candidate who is prepared and has what it takes to turn around the economy in a short while. For those politicians who believe they can always live through the sharing of the state patrimony, they should be well humiliated in this governorship election in order to get rid of them and get it right by identifying the rightful candidate that will bring joy and happiness to the people of Edo State, especially the downtrodden.
It is also wise to know the antecedents of these candidates. Do not say it does not mean. Let's know where they are coming from. For those who have not managed a sizable people cannot and should not be entrusted to govern and manage a state with a population of over 5 million people.
There is no magic wand that can turn things around if you have no faint idea of what you want to advance good governance in the State. Therefore, this 'Home Boy Politician slogan" being sang around by some expired politicians in the state who have nothing to contribute to the development and well being of Edo State should equally be put to shame by the generality of the people, because they are very few.
Carefully look at those politicians and check their past records and I have no doubt that you will be a good judge having seen their bad records either while they were in the elective office or as leaders who keep demanding for public funds from the office holders all to the detriment of the society.
I am of the opinion that this 2024 governorship election, Edo people must wake up to their responsibility and simply do the needful by voting the rightful candidate to achieve the desired result.
The youths have a very big role to play in this coming election. Just continue to play your part as good citizen. Try not to make yourself an instrument of destruction in the hands of bad and wicked politicians to always achieve their selfish interest just for his or her benefit and that of their immediate family. Recently, a 37 years old vibrant youth, H. E Omobayo Godwin was appointed the Deputy' Governor of Edo State. He got that appointment because he distinguished himself amongst the youths. You can equally take example of such and achieve that feat if only you work in the right direction to ensure the most competent and credible candidate is elected. But if as a youth you decide to allow yourself to be used as thug, you can only end up as a miserable person.
So, do not be in a hurry to conclude in choosing any candidate, whenever they come to you, wait and patiently listen to their programmes and there is no doubt that you will have something to take home which you can as well share with your family members and now know who actually has the interest of the people at heart. You must try and resist those propaganda that could lead you to voting for the wrong person. Ask them questions and scrutinize them very well in order to know them better. Because it is already in the public domain that some candidates are always running away from questions. If as a candidate you cannot interact with your people, how would you know what they need to be able to serve them better?
Above all, I think Edo politics has grown past the stage where candidates will be going into the family life of his opponent during campaign in an attempt to run such person down. And for those who are familiar with the politics of Edo, they will agree with me that some persons and their political parties suffered had a backlash when deployed the instrument of name calling and propaganda to wink horn the people. They lost woefully in governorship election that follow. If you choose to follow the part of trying to talk ill or ugly things about your opponent you may be doing no good to yourself rather you are demarketing yourself and your party which will eventually lead to loss of votes.
Therefore, let's keep engaging the candidates in every given opportunity as it's the only and better way to know them and help you know the best among them and who to vote for come 21st September, 2024.
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