Reactions have continued to trail the just concluded engagements with Edo Diaspora in Europe by Dr Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

Stakeholders and party chieftains and other members of the public spoke glowingly about how successful the Diaspora tour in their reviews. They declared that it clearly showed Ighodalo as the candidate who came prepared and fit for purpose. Some jokingly said “Ighodalo clearly knows the difference between a Museum and a Zoo.”

The Diaspora tour took Ighodalo to five cities in three countries of Europe from Monday to Saturday last week where he met with sundry groups and organisations of Edo State extraction with venues always packed full.

Reacting to the warm and open handed reception and the positive declaration of support for Ighodalo by Edos in Europe, the Majority Leader in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Charity Iguodala Aiguobarueghian, representing Ovia North-East 1 Constituency, said he was not surprised by the success that attended the tour. He opined that Ighodalo’s candidacy is a divine arrangement.

“The choice of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) last February was divinely ordained. Since then, he and his team have shown grit and unusual competence.

“His auspicious tour of some European countries in view of the pivotal role of our Diaspora connect in the body politics is highly commendable. We are very excited at the work rate of the governorship candidate and his deputy assuring of victory long before the election,” Hon Charity declared.

Also speaking on the Diaspora tour, Daniel A. Noah Osa-Ogbegie, Esq, a Benin based legal practitioner and Apostle of Edo renaissance, said the Diaspora engagement was a pointer to what is to be expected in terms of a cordial relationship between Ighodalo’s administration and the Edo Diaspora communities .

“Asue Ighodalo’s successful engagements of sections of Edos living and doing business in Europe across European cities of London, Milan, Manchester and Hamburg, underscore his plan to engage all sectors of Edo people in his bold agenda to make Edo a first world sub-national entity that would be a destination hub for business, tourism and agriculture.

“Envisaging his government and the potentials for Edo to become truly great again excites me and should excite other Edos,” Ogbegie declared.

In his submission, Hon Daniel Asekhame, the founder and coordinator of Asue Ighodalo Movement (AIM), a vibrant support group of the candidate, said, “I must honestly say that the visit of Asue Ighodalo to the Diaspora has been highly successful as feedback from the exercise has been of great importance and has impacted greatly on our people in the Diaspora.

“They had the opportunity to hear directly from Asue and hear what he has in mind to do for Edo people. It was indeed a great development,” the AIM Coordinator said.

Yet another party chieftain, Bobby Eghosa Obayuwana, has the following to say.

“The AsueOgie2024 Diaspora Tour not only provided the right platform for Edolites in Italy, United Kingdom and Germany to interact with the democratic wave of the moment, it also gave positive insights for cross fertilization of ideas that would help improve economic welfare of Edo People through improved partnerships, tourism, and effective communication mechanisms that would help upscale our collective economic matrix that would help make Edo greater, better and a First Class Economic Hub not just in Nigeria but in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

A pharmacist along Mission Road, who however declined to give his name and insisted that his identity be shielded, said, “Edo people must not make the mistake of being deceived by opposition parties. The ruling party has the best candidate. What I saw last week showed clearly that Mr Ighodalo is far ahead of others in terms of preparation and readiness for the job. He came prepared. He is fit for purpose. He knows what he wants for Edo and how to get it. He’s the best. At least, he knows the difference between a Museum and a Zoo,” he said amidst laughter.

The Diaspora meeting saw Ighodalo engaging with Edo people in Reggio Emilia, Italy; Manchester and London, both in the United Kingdom and then Hamburg and Nuremberg, both in Germany.

During the week-long engagements, Ighodalo carefully and masterfully explained his vision, mission and manifesto titled “The Pathway to Prosperity for All” to those who attended. Each presentation which usually ended with a question and answer session, recorded intermittently applause and approval by those in attendance in all the venues where the meetings were held.