21st April, 2016
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Ahead of the September 10 governorship election in Edo State, a former National President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele on Thursday said he has solutions to the problems facing the development of the state.
Esele who is aspiring to be governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), explained that the driving force behind his ambition to run for the governorship are his qualification, experience and skill.
He listed education, agriculture, culture and tourism as his main cardinal area of focus, if elected governor, adding that, he will pay special attention to children between ages five and 12, to prepare them for the future.
“I was brought up to depend on myself, selling water and knowing that there is God. The moment is not what I am just walking into, it’s a moment I prepared for,” he said.
The former labour leader who noted that society thrives on competition and ideas, said he would create an avenue for universities in Edo State to be competitive in research by setting aside the sum of N100 million for that purpose, just as he promised to set up a secondary school for best students across the state.
On agriculture, Esele promised to create natural environment that will create a longing for farming, even as he also promised to encourage processing of products for export in order to add value and enable farmers earn more money.
Speaking on culture, Comrade Esele called for the re-awakening of the values that made our forefathers to think and made their society crime-free.
“A good leader looks out for opportunities. Nigerians need to change the mindset that says everything about Western culture is good and everything about African and Nigerian culture is bad.
“My story is my environment. The way we are created, God gave us what will make us survive. I am in the race because I love it,” he said.
The APC governorship aspirant promised to reorganise sports and bring back Principal’s Cup football competition through which he said many football talents were discovered in the past.