Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and the party’s leadership revived his political career.
Obaseki stated this in Abuja on Saturday after receiving his Certificate of Return at the PDP national secretariat, Abuja.
Obaseki, who was accompanied to the party headquarters by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, two of the aspirants, who later stepped down for him, Kenneth Imasuagbon and Gideon Ikhine, and other stakeholders, said he had no doubt that he would win the governorship election scheduled for September 19, 2020.
He said: “What all these occurrences in the last fortnight tell me is that there is a hand of God that orders things. I want to commit to you that in line with the ideal and motto of this party, my deputy, by the grace of God, is going to be my running mate for the September 19 election, because, you do not change a winning team.
“I want to commit to you that we shall promote the ideals of this great party and you can always count on us. Whenever the National Working Committee calls on us, we will be there.
“We have no choice because from what I have seen from my brother governors in this party, what they have done and what they did for us in the party revived my political career. I have never seen that level of commitment.”
Speaking further, Obaseki said, “I and my deputy are very grateful to this great party. Like I said, you will never know what God has destined for you.
“In our hours of tribulation, when we were pushed out in the rains and storm from our political party, you came out with that huge umbrella to give us cover and shelter. It was only when we entered the house that we then realised that this was the house we should have been in the first instance.
“Because we now saw that the values in the house are the values we cherish and the values we live for; values of justice, values of law and order, values of care for our people, putting the people first.
“These are the values we have always been in pursuit of, which we found in this new house in which we have been graciously accommodated.
READ ALSO: Edo: Atiku Orders Activation Of 150 Support Groups For Obaseki
“We want to tell you that we are very grateful and to assure you that the Edo people told us that ‘Where ever you go, we will go’. On further consultation, they told us that there was a party where most of us came from. Go and explore the possibility of us going back there.
“So, by the grace of God, we have no doubt that victory is going to be ours on September 19.”
Presenting the Certificate of Return, the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, explained why the PDP received Obaseki into its fold.
He said: “When God intervenes in any situation, no one can query God. It was not planned. This was an act of God. And from that day, all the processes that needed to be followed were followed.
“Everybody believed that it was a miracle and we are going to have a miracle governor who will win elections for us because you can see clearly the hand of God on this governor and his deputy.
“With what happened to them in their former party, they decided that it will not be a war. When you desire something that is good and you have the support of your people, war is no alternative.
“They abandoned war in their former party in pursuit of good governance, justice and equity and fair play. They came to our party and we received them because we believe that they have performed.”
Earlier, while presenting the report of the Primary Election Committee, chairman of the committee and Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, said Edo State was ready for capture by PDP.
“I’m happy to report that all the governor’s that we went there with really worked tirelessly to make sure that all our differences and challenges were resolved and we observe that at the end of the day, we are ready and Edo is ready for capture, to be won by this very important party, the PDP.
“I’m very sure and confidently sure that Edo is going to fall in line within the realm of good governance of the PDP and I hereby submit the report with all the details and attachments,” he said.
