The Edo South leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has assured governorship aspirants of the party that it would provide a level playing field at its forthcoming primaries.
The party’s senatorial leaders gave the assurance when Chief Solomon Edebiri, one of the party’s governorship aspirants, hosted them at the
Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre in Benin, to intimate the leaders of his aspiration.
The party’s senatorial chairman, Dr Nosa Ehima, said that because the party was desirous of clinching the governorship victory, “we will ensure that the party fields its best material.
“We will ensure that the party provides a clear field at the primary for delegates to make their informed choices because we want to win the governorship election’’.
On Edebiri’s manefesto, he said “for me, I am excited every time I meet with you because one is bound to learn some new things just listening to you.
“We have heard you, we will go home and think over your submission because we all want a better Edo State. We will have to unite and finish the job,’’ he said.
In his comment, Dr Oni Edigin, the party leader in Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local
Government constituency, assured Edebiri and the Edo people that the party and its members would continue to exhibit elements of peaceful coexistence.
Earlier, Edebiri, who formally declared his intention to contest the governorship seat, appealed to the hearts of the leaders “to leave out sentiment, conspiracy and greed” in deciding who emerged as the party’s flag bearer.
“If you leaders are going to leave out sentiments, element of conspiracy and greed and do the needful for the assured future of our children, it will be better for the state.
“My leaders, our party can be victorious at the September election but it depends on whose hands the party puts the ticket.
“I urge you to consider Edebiri because I enjoy the goodwill of Edo people even across the political divide”, Edebiri said.
According to him “as a loyal party man, I want to say that the best structure that will deliver the ticket for me on Sept. 10 is the party structure because it is now formidable than ever before”, he said.
Chiefs on fire over comment on Odubu, Obaseki
More reactions yesterday trailed the statement credited to a group, Otu Odolevbo – Osioba calling for the ban on the Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu and Mr. Godwin Obaseki from contesting the All Progressives Congress (APC) party primary . A group, Otu Odolevbo- Osioba had in a statement in Benin called on the national body of the APC to as a matter of urgency ban the deputy governor and Mr. Godwin Obaseki from contesting the party’s governorship primary in order to save the interest and image of the party.
But reacting to the statement yesterday, a Palace Chief, Dr. Godwin Ekhorutomwen, condemned it, saying that its authors were not palace chiefs.
Meanwhile, Chief Jolly Ogbeifun, the Enobore Ugboko who was said to have allegedly signed the statement by Otu Odolevbo- Osioba along with Chief Jackson Igbinovia, the Osagiobariase of Benin, has denied ever signing the document.
Ogbeifun said: “I wish to state categorically that there have been no time or place where I issued any statement on the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries of the APC. The publication came as a rude shock to me when my attention was drawn to it in my sick bed”. He called on those who had maliciously used his name in their campaign to desist from doing so. But Dr. Godwin Ekhoruiomwen in his reaction, said those who signed the document for the Otu Odolevbo- Osioba were not Palace Chiefs but were Enigie and Chiefs in Benin villages, alleging that they were being sponsored by some desperate governorship aspirants who know very well that they cannot win the APC governorship primary.
“They are not Palace Chiefs and they are not recognized. They are being sponsored by some governorship aspirants who know that they cannot win the primary but instead they are using people to discredit and malign other opponents”, he said.
Another group, N’Edo gheria had earlier in a statement in Benin described the statement credited to Otu Odeolevbo- Osioba as not only mischievous and myopic, but stands a chance of causing acrimony within the rank and file of the party.
It urged the national leadership of the APC to disregard the comment by the faceless Bini chiefs, saying that in a democracy, issues such as contestation and lobbying were bound to happen.
Ex-lawmaker berates Osarodion Ogie
A former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Lukeman Mohammed has described a statement credited to Commissioner for Works, Barrister Osarodion Ogie as unfortunate. He regretted that such a statement was coming from a man of his caliber.
Mr Lukeman Mohammed who represented Estako West 1 State Constituency between 1999 to 2007 said for the party to pick a candidate that would represent it in the governorship election is not the work of one man family but the entire APC.
“It is surprising that some of them are going round one person, but for us we are going round the delegates, because they are the ones to decide the faith of the aspirant who becomes the flag bearer of APC; to that extent, I think it is the political family of APC that matters not that of an individual.
“The governor has made it very clear that he has not endorsed any person; it is left for the people to learn from there, because even if you endorse an individual, it does not translate to victory or the flag bearer of the party. “I think it is very important for the aspirants to know that they have to talk to the people instead of relying on endorsement by one person or one group”.
According to the former lawmaker, “APC represents one family and it is that family that will decide who represents them. Bye and large, I think the principle of one man, one vote is part of democracy and I believe it is still in APC; expect that you can challenge some persons who have fallen short of it. Even though some persons may have said that they are advocate of it, they may have deviated from it”.
He said the governor cannot write the rules for who becomes the governor, adding that his opinion is subordinated to the rules of the party.
“The governor has no say in this matter; he has a vote, he can canvass, the delegates will vote and it is their vote that will determine who becomes candidate. As an individual, I am convinced that the next person that will succeed Oshiomhole is the present deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu. He has all it takes to succeed the governor.
“Even those who pretend to be doing the will of their master have conferred with us that as far as it is going to be secret ballot, their preference is Odubu.
He is the only way out for our party to win the battle for the soul of Edo State. Any person apart from Odubu may spell doom for the party APC”, Mohammed said.
I’m prepared for good governance –Odubu
The deputy governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, has restated his preparedness to deliver good governance to the great people of Edo State if elected.
The deputy governor stated this during his meet the party delegates tour of all the Local Government Areas of Edo State recently.
He said having been elected twice into the House of Representatives and twice as deputy governor of the state, no other person possesses the credentials that he now has in terms of experience and understanding of the issues of development of the state.
He said as governor, he will encourage huge investment in agriculture through multi faceted approach of both domestic and foreign investment components in order “to create wealth and employment for our people”.
He also promised that industrialisation particularly through small and medium scale businesses will receive a boost in order to drive the economy of the state towards self sustainability and job creation.
“In turn, this will create employers of labour rather than job seekers”, he said.
According to him, rural communities will receive attention in terms of social infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals and drugs, pipe borne water, electrification etc in order to improve rural economy and reduce rural-urban drift.
Dr. Odubu stated that given the level of development that has taken place in Edo State under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, only a deputy who has painstakingly participated in the conceptualisation, planning and execution of development projects can hit the ground running upon assumption of office.
He urged delegates to vote for him at the APC primaries and assured them that the party of which they are members of executives will receive adequate attention through appointments and job execution, subject however to the observance of due processes.
Focus on issues not Obaseki, group replies Esan youth/Bini chiefs
The All Progressives Congress Core
Group has expressed anger and dissatisfaction over the manner respected chiefs of Benin kingdom are now dragging their foot into politics.
It said such moves will reduce the honor and regard that is given to the revered culture and tradition of the people.
Arising from an emergency meeting that took place in Urhoputa hall in Benin yesterday, the group condemned the action of any individual or group who want to instigate crisis in the state through their unguided utterances.
According to a statement issued by the president of the group, this is a democracy and it would be wrong for any individual to infringe on the fundamental human rights of Godwin Obaseki or Odubu from participating in the fourth coming governorship election in the state.
Philip Alimikhena who said the collective decision was reached by the group said ‘those who are calling for the disqualification of Obaseki are political merchants who are commissioned by the PDP to act their script. We are not joining issues with you because you are on commission to instigate political violence as wolves hiding in sheep clothing.