SMARTING from the debilitating defeat inflicted on Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State during the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, reports of fresh arrangements for vote-buying through food palliatives may have commenced.
It was learnt that several trucks laden with food supplies and other yet-to-be identified items ordered by Governor Godwin Obaseki are now arriving Edo State Government House ostensibly for vote-buying in the next round of election.
The Governor, his cabinet members and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were reported to have suffered defeat at the Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections conducted on the 25th of February 2023 and in preparation for the House of Assembly elections scheduled to hold in two weeks, arrangements for vote-buying through massive food supplies across the 18 local government areas may have commenced.
According to Hobnob News reports , “these consignments arrived the state capital to influence voters during the presidential and National Assembly elections but the logistical arrangement for distribution flopped – some of the vehicles conveying the goods got broken down and before they could fix the trucks, it was late”.
Our source who supplied the pictures and video of the trucks being conveyed to Government House said, “the Governor is not happy over the poor performance of his party during the elections and he’s prepared to fight the battle of his political life in the next elections.
“The trucks supplying the food items are seven in number as we speak. I understand others are yet to arrive. The idea is to pretend that the program is part of government’s effort to alleviate the suffering of the people due to the scarcity of cash.
“Each local government is expected to benefit from the sharing through the political platforms loyal to the Governor, the House of Assembly candidates, local government party chairmen, the various party leaders and the recently appointed local government liaison officers.
“In addition, the account numbers of some selected party leaders across the local government areas have been collated. They are expected to receive alert for onward disbursement to each ward leader. Don’t forget that the Governor cannot joke with the House of Assembly election because this is the arm of government that acts as checks and balance on the executive.
“As we speak, the silence in Government House is more than that of the graveyard. People are now walking on eggshells. The over-confidence and braggadocio you see before has simmered down. Reality is now dawn on the Governor. When he drove round the various polling units to inspect how the voting was going, he saw the anger in the faces of the people and immediately he leaves any of the unit visited, armed thugs invade the venue and disrupt the voting process or collation, as the case may be.
“And so, moving forward, you will begin to see the movement of food supplies across the state as part of government’s measure to cushion the effects of their suffering but the idea is simply for vote-buying. The trucks are parked right here in government house and more is being expected”, the source hinted.
