APC Members in Edo Demand Stomach Infrastructure from Obaseki

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, have called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to fulfill the “stomach infrastructure” promises he made during his electioneering campaign
The Oredo Local Government Area chairman of the party, Godwin Alabi, , made the call in his welcome address at Urhokpota Hall, Benin City during the “thank you” visit by the governor to the local government which he incidentally comes from to mark his one year in office.

“I want to thank the governor for all that he has been doing in the state. But one thing I will not forget to talk about is stomach infrastructure for members. This is part of your electioneering promises to the members of the party in the state. I know with your able lieutenants and advisers that will be a thing of the past. Sir, I only tell you as a reminder”, he said.

Coincidentally, the state governor hails from Oredo local government area.
During a similar visit of the governor to Edo Central senatorial district, party faithful also expressed anger over alleged marginalisation of the area.

The aggrieved youths branded placards and T-shirts denouncing the APC and its government in the state for paying lip service to their welfare.
They also lamented bad roads, lack of public utilities in the locality and blamed the party for orchestrating a political and economic ostracism of the Esan people, with particular reference to their communities.

The State Chairman of the party, Anselm Ojezua, and the deputy speaker of the State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror, are from the local government.
Agitation for “stomach infrastructure” was also said to have dominated the governor’s visit to Esan South-east local government area of the state.
In his remark, Ojezua noted that labourer is entitled to his wages.
Ojezua who called it political patronage, added that stomach infrastructure was much more obvious in politics than in any other venture.

“I also want to assure you that a labourer is entitled to his wages. Everybody knows that , and it is clear much more in politics than anything else. We have been patience for about one year and I can assure you that going into the next year you will begin to see and feel many things”, he added.
Responding, Obaseki assured the party members that he will fulfill all the promises made during his campaign
He added that no party member would benefit from political patronage if he failed to actively participate in unit and ward activities.

According to him, “I promised that every ward will have political appointee. So, everything I will do in government, I will do through the party. If you do not attend unit meetings, if you did not participate at the unit level or ward level, and if I want to give contract I will not give you.
“Everything I will do I will do through the party structure. You cannot be local government chairman or ward councilor if you don’t attend unit meetings. The party must be strong so that I can use the party to govern because without the party I am nothing.

“We are going to be giving a lot of patronage from now on but I will only do it through the wards. I want us to strengthen the party. Every month each organ of the party must meet and we are going to start registration of members later this month. We want to make sure that each unit has to bring in new members into the party.

“I am also here to assure you that every promise I made during the election I will fulfill them by the grace of God. Also to let you know that I have not forgotten you. Now that things are getting better, I want to assure you that I will support those who supported me to get to office. I will give that support through the party structure”, he stated.