Umakhihe Vows To Revisit Benin Storm Water Project
By Simeon OSAJIE
Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, the retired federal Permanent Secretary who is highly tipped to make the surprise at the Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) primary has vowed to revisit the Benin storm water project initiated by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole administration.
Umakhihe made the promise in Oredo local government headquarters while addressing the hundreds of APC members who gathered to receive him and his entourage during his tour of local governments in the Edo South district.
The APC governorship primary is slated for February 17, 2024.
The Benin storm water project which is one of the legacy projects of the Comrade Adams Oshiomole administration was initiated to solve the age-long Benin City flooding and other environmental challenges.
Dr. Umakhihe poured encomium on the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the initiative which he said remains the best option in solving the perennial flood problem in Benin, the state capital.
The project seems to have practically come to a halt under the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration. Work on it has since stopped.
Earlier in the day, the Umakhihe-led campaign team visited the Orhionmwon and the Ikpoba Okha local government en route to Oredo, on the second day of his tour of the LGAs to woo party leaders and delegates ahead of the party primary.
At Abudu and Idogbo, the headquarters of Orhionmwon and Ikpoba Okha local government respectively, Umakhihe urged party members to intensify their efforts to ensure the success of the APC in the forthcoming Guber election.
He further stressed that retrieving the governorship position lost to the PDP in 2020 is uppermost in the mind of every right-thinking APC member, adding all hands must be on deck to ensure the best candidate is put forward for the election.
Umakhihe was warmly welcomed in all three local government areas he visited. Party leaders also spoke highly about him and his progressive ideas.
The leader of the Orhionmwon LGA, Hon. Patrick Asowere, also a former national assembly lawmaker, hailed the visit as a “good omen” and appealed to Umakhihe not to forget his promises to the people if elected.
The tour continued with the Visit to Uhumwode, Esan west and Esan central LGAs.
