TELL Magazine

As political campaigns go full throttle ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, prominent Edo-born billionaire businessman, Idahosa Wells Okunbo, fondly called Capt. Hosa, has advised politicians in the State to take a cue from the statement by Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan that “my ambition is not worth the blood of any citizen.”

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The elder statesman gave this admonition on Sunday in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin as Edo people prepare to go to the polls to elect a governor who will govern the state for another four years from November 12, 2020.

Disturbed by the current political violence in the state ahead of the poll, Okunbo submitted that while the state would remain for all, politicians would however come and go.

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While appealing to parents to guide their wards from being used for violence, he also called on the youths to guard against being used as thugs for the election.

He noted that violence creates an atmosphere of instability and as such, hinders development.

According to him, “Election will come and go but the state will remain. Nothing thrives in violence. Our state can only move forward when we have a peaceful environment. We must begin to redirect our youths from negativity to positivity.

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“I want to take a cue from my great friend and brother, former President Goodluck Jonathan who said his ambition is not worth the blood of any citizen.

“He stated this when he addressed the nation before the 2015 elections. He did not only say it, but stood by it as well; and it has earned him great global respect.

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“Today, as I address you as a stakeholder, I want to appeal and pray for a more prosperous Edo State. Politicians, like I said, will come and go but this is the only house that we have and the only one we can identify with. The future of our children is pregnant, so we must be careful.”

Okunbo urged the citizens to identify any stranger in their midst and report same to the security agencies in the State.

According to him, “As they intend to import thugs into our midst, we must prepare to identify such strange persons and report same” .

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