The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday, joined market women in Edo-South Senatorial District to celebrate the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 House of Assembly elections, hailing the traders for coming out in their numbers to vote massively for the party during the polls.
Obaseki who was hosted by the market women at the Upper Sakponba axis of Benin City, reassured that his government will sustain ongoing reforms and programmes to improve the livelihoods of the people and ensure economic prosperity for the state.
The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, commended the market women for their unflinching support for his administration in the past six years, assuring better collaboration with the traders.
He said, “The governor asked me to thank you all for your support in the election which led to the victory of the PDP in the election. We will continue to work with you and make you people happy. We will ensure we do all you asked for, regarding the development of your markets.
“I am here to represent the governor and celebrate the victory of the PDP. This victory is for the market women who called the governor to come to join them to celebrate today. These women have been standing with this administration right from its inception.
“These women came out in their thousands to vote PDP and we will work with them to develop the market. This government is a government of the people and we will continue to listen to our people.”
The governor continued: “The women said they don’t want godfatherism and they came out to prove that by voting PDP to silence the godfather in Edo. They voted for development because they want Edo to continue to develop; they want the government to continue to make life better for the people.
“There are things they asked us to do that have been in the pipeline like the Oba and Ekiosa Markets, as well as securing other markets in the State. The governor will bring that to pass as he doesn’t promise what he can’t do.”
In her response, the leader of the market women Association in Edo State, Madam Blacky Ogiamien, said the market women will continue to support the Obaseki-led administration.
She noted, “We appeal to you to revive the environmental sanitation across the 18 local government areas of Edo State and clean up markets across the State. We want you to set up a committee in every local government area of the State to head their local government and ensure it’s clean.”
