Edo 2024: Ex-Perm Sec Umakhihi Submits Nomination Forms, Vows To Fight Corruption In Civil Service

A former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, has pledged to rid the Edo State civil service of corruption if elected governor.

Umakhihe, the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this on Tuesday after submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms to the All Progressives Congress (APC),

The aspirant outlined his strategies to combat corruption, saying he has clean track record as a retired permanent secretary.

Addressing newsmen, Umakhihe said, “If I was corrupt as permanent secretary I would have left the public space for now, you wouldn’t have been seeing me. But I’m coming out because I’m clean.

“I know what it takes to have a civil service that is corruption free and I will implement those strategies to ensure that the state is without blemish of corruption.

“My resolve to govern Edo State is borne out of the need and desire of my people to experience real governance that will touch every edolite.

“I am one who has served at the top echelon of the Federal Civil Service, I have served as a Director in several ministries from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to the National Sports Commission, Federal Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I have had extensive diplomatic interaction because my oversight then covered over 116 diplomatic missions as at the time I was serving there.

“So having retired from service, now is the time for me to concentrate solely on Edo state and my slogan has always been if I could do it without making any electoral promise, now I want to make one which I must fulfill.

“But I want to tell you that as it stands, I am the best man for this job”, he said.

On if he has the necessary support to win the election, Umakhihe declared himself the anointed candidate of God.

“I will say I am the anointed candidate of God and everybody will follow God’s will and design,” he said

He added, “I am a taxation expert and l’m a fellow of the institute of taxation of Nigeria and on taxation we are talking about revenue generation when you drive and getting the appropriate revenue to run a state.

“Taxation we are talking about revenue derivation and will follow through with my experience it has a lot to do with revenue collection”.