27 Months Unpaid Salary: APC Candidate, Okpebholo Charges AAU Lecturers to Chase Away The PDP with Their Votes

By Correspondent

Ahead of the 2024 governorship election, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Candidate, Senator Monday Okpeboho, has charged the people of Edo State to use their PVC to chase away the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the state come 21 September, 2024.

Senator Monday Okphebholo said the charge was germane so as to ensure a departure from the bad governance and administrative mediocrity currently being experienced in the intellectually endowed state, and ensure that, “we don’t elect merchant,” again.

The Edo APC gubernatorial candidate gave this charge on saturday at Emuado – Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area of the state while receiving over 4,000 ‘Obidient movement’ defectors from Ward 4 and other Wards of the University town of Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government to the APC.

Addressing the defectors at the University community, Senator Okpebholo acknowledged the challenges they have been facing due to the non-payment of their salaries for an extended period of 27 months. He expressed his empathy and reassured them of his commitment to rectify the situation if elected as the governor of the state.

The Senator highlighted the importance of education in the development of any society and emphasized that the neglect of lecturers in the state owned university was unacceptable. He pledged to prioritize the payment of their salaries and ensure that such delays do not occur in his administration.

Senator Okpebholo also called on the lecturers to chase out the incumbent governor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their unsuccessful governance, urging them to consider the greater good of the state.

He argued that the forthcoming elections provided an opportunity for a fresh start, and promised to restore dignity to the teaching profession, by ensuring that lecturers receive their deserved remuneration.

He added that the PDP had done enough damage in the state especially in the education sector and it was time the party and its baggage were booted out of the state.

Speaking in the company of his running mate and the member representing Ovia federal constituency, Rt Hon. Dennis IDAHOSA, APC State chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe and other party chieftains, Senator Monday
Okpebholo added: “PDP has failed the people of Edo State. We are counting on you to chase away PDP from Edo State.

“I saw the governor of Edo State on television saying his party has all it takes to win over 80 percent vote in the forthcoming governorship election. Someone who has not been able to rescue Ambrose Ali University lecturers by paying twenty seven months salaries owned lecturers in the the institution, saying he wants to bring his successor. We don’t want him to further mortgage the state to his merchant friends.”

Okphenholo continued, “He has already done enough damage to Edo State. PDP has done enough damage to Edo State. We need you to help chase them away from Edo State governance and we know that with you, we can do it.

“I want to appeal to you as l welcome you to this party as members. l also welcome you as canvassers and ambassadors of the party. Go to your communities, wards and units and preach the gospel that enough is enough”.

Challenging the incumbent governor on the plight of the lecturers in the state owned university, Okhebholo said, “If Obaseki can claim he has done well, then what is the crime of the lecturers here in Ambrose Ali University?

“What have you done to Obaseki? You have the opportunity to help us chase away Obaseki, chase away PDP from this local government area and the state.

“So, go back to recruit and canvass for people on our behalf that there will be a better Emuado, a better Ekpoma and a better Edo State, for all of us as partners. We don’t want to elect merchants, don’t want to elect dictators, we want a partnership.”

Speaking earlier, the spokeman of the defectors, Mr. James Akharayi said the need to align with a man that has the vision, the capacity and the ability to steer the state on the path of development and ensure an all inclusive governance informed their decision to join the APC and assured the APC candidate that they will work assiduously to ensure his victory in the September 2024 governorship election.

While receiving the defectors the State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe and the deputy governorship Candidate of the party, Dennis Idahosa, assured the new members that they would enjoy the same privileges as old members of PDP.

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