I’ve capacity to beat PDP in Edo guber poll, says Retired general

Retired Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for Edo governorship poll, says he has capacity to beat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Sept. 21 poll.

Airhiavbere said this on Tuesday, when he spoke with newsmen shortly after submitting his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the party secretariat in Abuja.

He promised to address the prevailing security challenge in the state, if given the mandate.

Airhiavbere, also a former Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said he plans to adopt the use of modern technology such as drones to address the challenge.

“We will make Edo safe and peaceful for the people, using security apparatus including modern technology such as drones and artificial intelligence.

“All the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state will feel the impact of my government, and we will harness the state’s human capital resources to bring about more development.

“The people of the state will begin to feel the impact of my administration from my very first day in office,” he said.

Airhiavbere also promised to set up an Infrastructure Development Commission for the state to drive development in collaboration with international and local partners.

He advised the party leadership to ensure a level playing field for aspirants in the Feb.17 governorship primaries.

“Unless the man with the capacity, integrity and popularity is picked as APC candidate, it might be difficult for us to wrestle power from the PDP in the state.

“I have the capacity to collapse structures in PDP and Labour Party(LP) and bring same into APC’s fold to ensure its electoral victory in the election,” Airhiavbere said.

It was reported that 12 aspirants had so far purchased the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the cost of N50million for the Feb. 17 governorship primaries.

Some of the aspirants included Sen. Oserheimen Osunbor, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, David Imuse, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, Gideon Ikhine, and Blessing Agbomhere.