TELL Magazine

Full speech by the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki at the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as he formally joined the party on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Mr. Chairman, members of the state committee of PDP, teeming supporters and members of PDP, I am here this afternoon to inform you that upon my resignation from the All Progressives Congress, I have now decided having consulted very widely within the state and across the country to become a member of PDP. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in my view has demonstrated and has shown that it is a party that is rooted in democratic practices; a party that believes in justice and fairness, a party that respects its members. Today is not a day I will make a speech; you will hear from me soon. Today, I’m here to go through the formalities of registering as a member of this great party. I know, I understand fully well the implications of this decision. I know that upon taking up membership of this party, I automatically become the leader of this party in the state. That is the constitution; I read it thoroughly last night and I want to assure all of you that I am prepared to provide leadership. I am prepared to provide leadership that will lead this party to victory, and I’m provide leadership that will not only put PDP in office in Edo State, but as the ruling party in Edo State, we will make sure that the level of progress, the level of growth and the level of participation in the political system by our people is unrivaled in this country. I am very, very happy to be here. The reception I have received since I drove in here has been ecstatic. The energy I see in this party is the kind of energy I require to take Edo to the level we should go to next.

If you think we have done anything in the last four years, you haven’t seen anything yet because with the quality of people I am seeing here, the quality of people who are running this party, the energy of the youths I see by the grace of God who made today possible, I am committing to you that I will not only lead this party to victory in Edo State, but will now make sure that this party establishes an example for how states will be run in Africa. So, today, it is with great pleasure Mr. Chairman that I have come to formally take on my membership of this great party.