Asue Ighodalo, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, says only the people of the state will decide who becomes the next governor.
In an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Ighodalo said Nysesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), told him that he will “mind his business” during the Edo governorship election.
Last week, Wike said Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, brought Ighodalo to him to seek his support for Saturday’s election in the state.
The FCT minister said he told Obaseki and Ighodalo that he would not support them or any candidate during the election.
During the interview, Ighodalo was asked if he was concerned that the political structure of the PDP and Obaseki is dwindling considering the recent comment made by Wike.
The PDP candidate said Wike did not say he would not support the party for the Edo election, adding that events may have made the FCT minister change his mind.
“It’s not correct that Governor Wike said he wasn’t going to support us; that’s not correct. But events may have overtaken his decision at that point, and he’s free to change his mind. I believe as a gentleman that he would adhere to the word he gave me. But if he has changed his mind, so be it.
“When he and I spoke, we spoke on issues around governance, Nigeria, and how we can create a better country. We spoke about Edo state, and at the end of the day, we ended the conversations at a point where he said he will mind his business and Edo state is not part of his business.
“But again, if he’s decided to change his mind, that’s fine. But the decision as to who becomes the next governor of Edo state is the decision of the Edo state people. It is not the decision of anybody else, whether you’ve been governor or you’re a minister.
“It’s only Edo state citizens and people that reside in Edo, who carry PVCs that will take that decision with the support of God Almighty and that’s the way I see it. I fear no man I only fear God,” he said.
