BENIN (Sundiata Post) – Parts of Benin City, the Edo State capital, literally shut down Tuesday following a solidarity rally by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) support groups and members of Asue/Ogie Campaign Council.
The rally, which was apparently motivated by the recent Abuja Federal High Court judgment, led to heavy gridlock in adjoining streets to the centre including the Government Reservation Area (GRA) for several hours.
The organizers described the court ruling on the primary election of the party as a kangaroo ruling that would not stand and called on the people of the state to remain committed and vote for the PDP and Ighodalo on September 21.
In his speech, one of the leaders of the support groups, Austin Osakue, said “Don’t be distracted, we will not surrender, we will not retreat, we will not be dissuaded by their lies.
Asue IghodaloAsue Ighodalo
“My message is that to win an election, you must cast votes, as we know Asue that is how we know Osarodion Ogie, a man of humility. When a man is humble, even God will fetch firewood for him. This election, nobody must intimidate, if they like let them be carrying court ruling around, you have all heard that there is nothing in that court ruling, instead of them to be campaigning, they are celebrating, but they can’t even campaign because their candidate is a liability, with our voters card, we will punish them”.
Asue Ighodalo accompanied by his running mate and others in his speech, said “The time has come for our happiness to continue, the time has come for us to have more work, the time has come for us to have more money in our pockets and by the grace of God by September when you people would have voted for me and Ogie, more upward movement will come.
“I want you to remain strong, I want you to remain happy, don’t be afraid of anything, God is in control. Everybody should get their PVCs ready so that by September 21, we will vote for PDP to ensure that the votes are counted and we will follow it to the collation centre until we are announced the winner and the state will continue to prosper, don’t be afraid”.
Among dignitaries who marched through the city centre in solidarity with Ighodalo and his running mate were the Director General of his Campaign Organization, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, John Yakubu, its Deputy Director, Media and Publicity, Rev. Olu Martins, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Blessing Agbebaku.
