Comrade Kennedy Iyere, the Accord Party's candidate for governor of Edo State, has dropped out of the race.
This is coming barely hours before the gubernatorial election. Iyere clarified that he is stepping down because he wants to help address the larger social and economic problems the nation is facing, particularly the growing rates of food insecurity and economic misery that many Nigerians are experiencing.
Iyere encountered difficulties throughout his campaign when Bright Enabulele, his running mate, and other party members made an effort to discredit him.
Enabulele has been misrepresenting himself as the party's nominee for governor, even though records from the government indicate otherwise.
On Saturday, September 21, Edo State voters who meet the eligibility requirements will choose the person who will succeed current governor Godwin Obaseki, who will finish his eight-year term on November 12, 2024.
Asue Ighodalo of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party are a few of the leading candidates.
In his statement, Iyere revealed that his focus is no longer on the governorship. Instead, he aims to assist the federal government in addressing key national issues such as unemployment and economic development.
He called on Edo State voters to support a candidate from Edo Central Senatorial District, advocating for a fair rotation of power after 24 years of waiting.
Iyere reiterated that his current efforts at the federal level are motivated by a selfless desire to help the country overcome its present social and economic challenges.
He said,
"My focus is no longer on the governorship seat but on a higher and bigger portfolio than a Governor. I want to serve Nigerians at large and not just Edo indigenes. I want to help rebuild Nigeria's lost economic greatness.
"Serving as a Governor will actually place limitations on me. So, when I saw the plots displayed by Enabulele and some leaders of Accord Party at the State Level, then I knew it was time for me to embrace a higher calling, which was to step up my game to the federal level where I am presently hugely contributing my efforts towards national development.
"I am assisting the federal government to devise a road map for the economic inclusion, engagement, self-emancipation and deradicalisation of youths by designing and driving social intervention programmes that aim to mitigate unemployment and enhance youth and women entrepreneurial opportunities for mass self-employment, wealth creation and poverty alleviation.
"These programmes will fully kick-start in the month of October 2024 and Nigeria will be placed yet again on the pathway of rapid economic recovery. Our intervention programmes will enhance opportunities for youth entrepreneurship engagement in multiple sectors, especially agriculture, food and beverage, technology, entertainment, innovation and creativity.
"More than six million youth and women entrepreneurs (as MSME owners and operators) shall be created or produced within the first one year of the official kick-off of this entrepreneurship programme. Nigerian youths and women lack access to the business capital required as entrepreneurs to either start up a new business or operate an existing business. This programme will squarely address that essential need."
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