A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Prince Emmanuel Odigie, who is opposed to the candidature of Senator Monday Okpebholo has doubled down on his campaign against him, asserting that Okpebholo lacks the intellectual capacity and wherewithal to play on a global stage as governor of a state.

Okpebholo is the APC governorship candidate for the September 21 election in the state. Prince Emmanuel is a well known APC Chieftain in the state that is vehemently opposed to Okpebholo’s candidacy.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, on Tuesday monitored in Benin City, Prince Odigie said he has nothing personal against Okpebholo but expressed worry that he is being backed to become the governor of the state when it’s glaring that he doesn’t have the intellectual capacity to be a governor.

“I have nothing personal against him, the truth is that he doesn’t have the mental depth and the intellectual capacity to play on the global stage. You will agree with me that for you to be a governor, you must have what it takes to play on the global stage,” he said.

He dismissed the talk of Okpebholo starting a company that partnered with an unnamed Israeli firm in 2009 to develop a sophisticated IT solution.

” It has been said that in 2009, Monday Okpebholo helped an Israeli company to create an IT solution when there are evidences that even in 2008, Monday Okpebholo was struggling to pass his WAEC. And I am shocked that people will come on national television and lie to Nigerians,” he said.

He offered to pay all the expenses that will bring Okpebholo to Arise TV to come and speak to Nigerians.

“I will pay all expenses to charter a private jet to bring Okpebholo to your Arise Studio from Benin City, to come and speak to Nigerians via your station,” Prince Odigie offered.

Odigie added, “If you look at those who are speaking for the APC candidates today, the three of them, you’d be shocked that the three major players, young dynamic Edo men who rejected the job even with a fat pay, joined Mayaki. He was the chairman and the director general of the publicity and media committee of the 2020 Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s gubernatorial election campaign council. Even the just concluded election while I was deputy DG (Director General), he was also chairman of media and publicity. The man resigned from the job after interviewing Monday Okpebholo. He said to me, ‘leader, I cannot lie to Edo people no matter how much they want to pay me. I interviewed this man. In 10 minutes, I discovered his gross incompetence and I said to myself, John Mayaki, how will I face Edo people and lie to them blatantly? How will my family see me? How will my people in Akoko-edo and Edo north see me?’ He resigned. He said this man does not even know the difference between governance and government. When they even asked him about e-commerce, he said ‘what is e-commerce?’ He doesn’t know what e-commerce is in the twenty-first century. A gubernatorial candidate? The man does not even understand the effect of global warming. I will tell you that the three major people who are loyal to APC spokespeople, they resigned as his spokespersons.”

Odigie however, made it clear that for Edo state’s 2024 gubernatorial race, he has chosen to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Asue Ighodalo, because he believes that Ighodalo is not only experienced, he also has “a clear vision” for the people of Edo state as well as their support.

“From Ighodalo’s antecedents, from his manifesto, the pathway to prosperity for all, if you go through that document, you will see that Ighodalo has a clear vision for Edo people. He understands the terrain, he has been playing an advisory role since the days of Oshiomole’s first year in office, till date, for sixteen years. He has played an advisory role to the Edo state government for free and the man understands the workings. He’s experienced. A man who grew his law firm to be the biggest in Africa with over a 100+ lawyers and several partners. A man so trusted by the international community that he is chairman of so many multinational companies. A man raised by an accountant, the first female Perm Sec (Permanent Secretary) in Nigeria. A happily married man, a man with no blemish, a man of passion, a man who loves his people, who believes in excellence. To Asue Ighodalo, the best is not even good enough. You can see the enthusiasm of Edo people, the love, the acceptability.

“Even his deputy, Osarodion Ogie, a lawyer, a resound administrator who has been in government, who understands the nitty-gritty of governance, who understands the lapses, what Oshiomole could not do. He has been commissioner, he has been chief of staff, he’s been secretary to the government for eight years. A man whose doors open. He even has more friends in APC than in PDP. I’ve not come across one leader in APC that has not said to me in private ‘for Osarodion Ogie, with the competence of Asue Ighodalo, they have my vote.’ The fear of Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie is the beginning of wisdom.

“The APC few godfathers who are trying to market a rotten tomato to Edo people, they know the truth. Majority of the leadership of APC are supporting Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie,” he declared.