The Edo State Government has taken a firm stance against the deceptive tactics employed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their desperate attempts to mislead the electorate prior to the forthcoming governorship election on September 21.
During a press conference held in Benin City, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, highlighted the insensitivity of the APC towards the hardships faced by the people due to the removal of petrol subsidies.
Nehikhare expressed the crucial need for the State Government to draw attention to the plight of the Edo people and, by extension, the Nigerian people.
Despite the State Government’s tireless efforts to alleviate the suffering, such as increasing the minimum wage, providing free WiFi in various areas, implementing a free transport scheme benefiting over six million Edo residents
Since its launch in September 2023, distributing food palliatives to millions of Edo people, and offering free registration for pensioners into the State’s Health Insurance Scheme, the people continue to endure immense hardship. This dire situation can be attributed to the mismanagement of the economy by the APC government over the past nine years.
The sudden withdrawal of subsidies by the APC government on May 29, 2023, caused economic chaos and pushed the people to the brink of starvation. Additionally, the ill-conceived policy to unify the exchange rate severely devalued the currency, fueling inflation and negatively impacting the overall economic landscape.
Furthermore, the APC government has stifled business growth by burdening small businesses with increased taxes, leading the nation towards a regressive path with the resurgence of terrorism and incidents of suicide bombings.
Despite the devastating consequences caused by the APC government, the party in Edo State appears to be oblivious to the dire situation.
Instead of acknowledging the truth, they have chosen to bury their heads in the sand like an ostrich, propagating lies and falsehoods in an attempt to deceive the people and undermine their desire for liberation from the chains that the APC has imposed upon them for the past nine years.
It is truly disgraceful to witness the APC in Edo State present meaningless documents to the press as evidence of non-existent fraud allegations against a State Government that has prioritized transparency and accountability in the management of its resources.
Just as their foundation was built on a web of lies and deceit, they have manufactured baseless court papers to misinform and mislead the Edo people regarding the candidacy of the PDP candidate.
They have even orchestrated a crisis with the palace, all in a desperate effort to deceive the people and revive their completely stagnant party in Edo State.
The Edo State Government remains resolute in its commitment to exposing the truth and ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.
The people of Edo deserve honesty, integrity, and a government that prioritizes their welfare above all else. It is high time for the APC to abandon their deceitful tactics and engage in constructive dialogue for the betterment of the state and its citizens.
