Obaseki: I won’t dump PDP for any party

Governor Godwin Obaseki has ruled out any plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another party now or in the future.

Obaseki defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) when he was denied a return ticket in 2020.

There have been insinuations whether the governor would return to the APC after he secured his second term on the platform of the PDP.

But Obaseki on Saturday said he has no plans to join another political party, reassuring that his party affiliation will not alter development plans for the state.

Obaseki, who spoke during a banquet in Benin City, as part of activities for this year’s Alaghodaro Summit, said his government is committed to ensuring a progressive and prosperous Edo State where all citizens will live life to the fullest.

The governor said: “No matter the persuasion to join any political party, I will not. I will continue to provide leadership for all Edo people. We don’t need to join another political party to develop Edo State to become a home for all.

“Our goal is to position Edo where it should be, as our state has been created to provide leadership for this country; that is how it has been and will always be.”

Obaseki said the Alaghodaro Summit has become a platform which his administration is using to prepare the youth of the Edo State for tomorrow’s leadership position.

According to him, “Our politics is being driven by data. We will continue to do our best as a government to make life better for our people who trusted us with their votes.

“In the last five years, we have been in the foundation laying stage for the development of Edo State. That era has passed and now, it’s time to move as fast as possible in developing the state as the challenges and barriers have been taken care of.”

Earlier, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex-Governor of Edo State, John-Odigie Oyegun commended Obaseki for curbing irregular migration among Edo youths.

According to him, “Today, our youths are no longer traveling through the Mediterranean Sea as you have curbed the menace of irregular migration. Our youths are now being prepared for the future with the use of technology.

“When Edo prospers, the nation will prosper; our artefacts are all over the world, our achievements are all over; this is what Alaghodaro is all about.”