..says refinery will solve instability in fuel pricing
As the country grapples with incessant fuel price hikes, the Labour Party has applauded the Edo State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for the ongoing construction of a 5500bpd Edo Modular Refinery in Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state.
Governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Isaiah Osifo, Ph.D, JP., who spoke to journalists in Benin City, linked the incessant increase of petrol pump-price in Nigeria to the importation of the product.
He urged the electorate to vote for a candidate that is concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of Edo people, as the refinery on completion, will have a direct effect on the stabilisation and reduction of the prices of petroleum products.
According to Osifo, “The modular refinery no doubt will attract enormous economic benefits to the people of Edo State. The incessant increase of petrol pump-price in Nigeria is due to the importation of the product. The construction of a modular refinery in Edo State will have a direct effect on the stabilisation and reduction in the prices of petroleum products.
“All reasonable people of Edo State should commend Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his economic foresight and bold step towards the provision of employment and other economic benefits for the people of Edo State in particular, and Nigerians in general.”
The guber candidate added: “Labour Party and its governorship candidate believe that APC and its governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu are attacking the achievements of Governor Godwin Obaseki without any reference to the antecedents and achievements of the APC candidate in his previous opportunities to serve in Edo State public service.
“The desperate efforts of the APC and its governorship candidate to dissociate Edo State governor from the success story of the Modular Refinery in Ologbo, Benin, is one of the numerous examples of APC’s ridiculous attacks against the achievements of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“Even if the contribution of the Edo State government is one per cent, no reasonable person or a political party will denounce the inevitable link of the governor with the success story of the modular refinery.
“No investor, local or foreign will commit billions of naira into such a huge economic project in a state without trusting the character of the governor, the investment and stakes of the state government, the efficiency and credibility of the state government.”
On his part, National Secretary of Labour Party, Barrister Abure Julius, commended the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, over his recent peace meeting with politicians in the state towards ensuring the conduct of a violence-free election in the state.
He noted: “The Labour Party sincerely thanks His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, for his intervention through the peace meeting he initiated to ensure a peaceful election in the state. We expect all political parties and the governorship candidates to respect and abide by the request of His Royal Majesty for a peaceful conduct of the Edo State governorship election. We commend the consistency of the Oba of Benin for his support for peaceful, free and fair elections in Nigeria.”
Noting that the people will resist ploy by the APC to rig the forthcoming election, the Labour Party said: “The people of Edo State will be the winners of Edo State 2020 governorship election if the conduct of the election is peaceful, free and fair.
“The interest of the people and the overall wellbeing of the citizens is the essence of Democracy. Free and fair periodic election is a recipe for development. Any political party or a gubernatorial candidate that is interested in the victory of Edo people should be committed and support the conduct of a peaceful, free and fair Edo State 2020 governorship election.
“The ultimate desire of the Labour Party is that the people of Edo State should be the winners of the Edo State 2020 governorship election. If the election is peaceful, free and fair, the people will be the winners of the election. Let it be made abundantly clear to all that the foundational programme of the Labour Party is the collective victory of the people of Edo State.
“Let us not pretend over an obvious fact that there is a political party and a governorship candidate working against the conduct of a peaceful, free and fair governorship election in Edo State. This political party and its governorship candidate do not want the people of Edo State to be the winners of the Edo State 2020 governorship election. They want the electoral victory solely for the advancement of their personal interest, not the collective interest of the people of Edo State. This political party and the governorship candidate can only succeed if they have the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and INEC. The Labour party has repeatedly called on President Buhari and INEC not to yield to the obnoxious desire of these anti-people elements.”
