Edo 2024: I am not prodigy, the more noise you make, the more nuisance you become— Ikhine
Says ‘ I will use agriculture to develop smart cities as first choice of destination for tourits
By David Lawani, Abuja
Aspirant for the Edo governorship election, Gideon Ikhine has pledged to developed Edo State to one that whoever is coming to Africa, will prefer Edo State as a first choice city of destination by tourists before any other place due to the opportunity provided by agriculture.
The Governorship aspirant who was at the All Progressives Congress, APC, national secretariat to submit his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms said he is not bother standing alone before the media centre to brief newsmen on his vision for the people of Edo.
He explained that he is concerned about the things most especially agriculture that can create wealth for Edo people instead of renting crowd at the expense of Edo people just to come and submit his form. He said that would amount to nuisance because a good politician doesn’t make noise.
” Politics is being organic. The more noise you make the more nuisance you become. Why do I have to import people from Edo State to come and submit form? I don’t engage myself in prodigy nature. I earn my money. I have never worked for government. I have work in private sector to be where I am today.
” What is needful is what is done. You don’t expect me to come here and hire crowd to impress you? You heard just now, the youth put themselves together to biy this form. It is not because I cannot afford it but they are trusting me with their hardwork. If I start to demonstrate my leadership by being very prodigy I don’t think I would have been where I am today”, he noted.
He maintained that he will deployed agriculture to turn around Edo State as one of the smartest cities because of its rich nature and geographical history, stressing the need that he will ensure more opportunities for the people to realise their own vision.
He said: ” This are things that can provide basic things for people. And if we are going into Agriculture this will help us to developed smart cities around in Edo State. If you look at Edo State geographical history, the names and cities you have been hearing since 1963 are still the same cities you are hearing of.
” They cannot go any further rather they are deteriorating. So we are going to create smart cities because you built smart cities through agriculture. Those of you that have been to Europe. You go to Europe you will know what is called city centre’s. You will see what is called industrial area. All the city centres in Europe were developed by the Jewish people and they were created out of farm.
“That is why if you look at the Israeli types of farming you will see the cubits system. Men to develop forest and live there to transform it into cities and towns. We are going to do this. Why are we focusing on food? If you look at your Google you will discover today Lagos consumed 4.6b of food daily. Not monthly but daily. Ibadan almost 2b daily. Onitsha 3.6b daily.
” This is what people consume daily. So as a state we want to be able to provide enough food for our people. And be able to feed the neighbouring states. There is really no land in Lagos to farm. Here our land is fertile. So why can’t we take advantage of it? Why can’t we think of going into mechanised farming and put people there? The richest people you have in Europe and America are farmers. Why do they have that interest? They have the basic needs wherever they are as farmers”, he said.
He took swipe at those who are also submitting forms, noting Edo is in debt and how prepared are they to take the state out of the deep debt it has found itself no thanks to the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki.
” Everybody seems to realise it today that we are in serious debt as a state. How are you going to pay that debt? Every person is running to become governor. Do they have programs? Do they understand the geography of the state? Do they know how they are going to transform the state from where it used to be to where it should be today?.So, to think of becoming the governor of Edo state you must first think of how to grow the economy.
” If you cannot grow the economy because you cannot tell them you are going to give them free health, education and housing. Before you can give all of this you have to first aid foremost create wealth and give it to them. Government have no cash to give to people but they can provide a platform for our people to be rich. That is where I come in. Today Edo State is in debt”, he stated.
Leave a Comment