Governor Adams Oshiomhole has called on civil society groups to be vigilant, because the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has perfecting plans to rig the 2012 guber election.
Speaking at a reception organised for him in Benin City by the Civil Society Organisations in the State on the conferment of the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Goodluck Jonathan, Oshiomhole said, “The favour I need from the Civil Society is not to trust that these people believe in the principle of ‘One Man, One Vote,’ because, as we speak, they are printing fake result sheets to announce fake results even while people are still voting on the fields.
“The Civil Society Organisations must be vigilant to ensure that the rigging machine of godfatherism which we have dismantled, but which they are struggling to rebuild, does not rear its ugly head.
“When I got involved in this project, the godfather in the state arrogantly dismissed me, not only on account of my size, but that they would show me that ‘we no go gree’ is not the same thing as politics. But few years down the road, we have humbled them and reduced them to political vegetables. I ask the question, who is now teaching who politics?”
The governor admitted that the government has not solved all the problems of the state, saying, “It is impossible to do so. We have only made a statement, that Edo State can work and it is working and if Edo State can work, then Nigeria can work one day.
“We must never be tempted to give up on the country. For me, Nigeria remains the best country on the planet, and one day, Nigeria will achieve its potentials and deliver to its citizens.”
He thanked the civil society organisations for the reception in his honour, and said, “I consider this very important because this is my own constituency.”
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Justice (ANEEJ), Rev David Ugolor, who spoke on behalf of the groups, thanked President Jonathan for bestowing the honour on Comrade Oshiomhole, in spite of their different political party affiliations.