COMRADE OSHIOMHOLE, LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK…


The climate of uncertainty with regards to the conduct of elections into the Local Government Councils of Edo State was laid to rest recently with the reinuaguration of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) as well as the lifting of ban on electionary campaigns towards LG polls.

It is now obvious that the powers that be in the State will conduct elections that will in turn give birth to popularly elected persons into the executive and legislative in the LG Councils. However, the present fears and anxiety mounting over the interference by the People’s Governor in the process of the emergence of Chairmanship candidates in some LG Council Areas is not only disturbing and worrisome: but call for caution and concern. ‘There is wide spread tongue wagging and finger pointing’ in some LGA in general and the three LGAs of Etsako.

Notable among these are Hon Godwin Eshieshi in Etsako East, Barr. Hassan Kadiri in Etsako West and Hon. Joseph Ughoke in Etsako Central. This notion is corroborated by the peaceful stakeholders meeting involving the political leaders of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) party of Etsako East at the office of the People’s Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole recently. Those present at the meeting from informed sources include:

PRINCE MALIK AFEGBUA
CHIEF TONY USMAN
GENERAL IREKPITA
JOHN OSHIOMAH
ODIDI STANLEY OKPO
MAJOR ALIMIKHENA
EDWARD SADO
HON. PETER ALIU
HON. ABUBAKAR MOMOH

Among others.

At the meeting Prince Malik Afegbua was quoted to have accused the Comrade Governor of both overt and covert partisanship in the projection of Hon. Godwin Eshieshi towards becoming the next executive Chairman of Etsako East LG. He was further quoted to have said that the present posture of imposition by the people’s Governor is what informed Hon. Eshieshi to arrogantly and impudently insult his esteemed person at the residence of the Comrade Governor at Iyamho; and vowed to resist this move to the letter. In the same vain, Prince Kassim Afegbua was also quoted to have vowed to abdicate office if the Comrade Governor’s backing for Hon. Godwin Eshieshi is substantiated. The Comrade Governor was quoted to have denied any involvement in favour of Hon. Godwin Eshieshi.

The same scenario in Etsako East is most dominantly replayed in Etsako West with the Comrade Governor’s choice of Barr. Hassan Kadiri much against popular opinion as the anointed candidate for Chairmanship at the next LG polls. This disturbing trend even against the back drop of acceptance to the zoning in favour of Auchi community by other sections of LGA is most unacceptable to the people who dominantly opine that the emergence of a candidate should be by popular choice of the people and not the exclusive preserve of the Comrade Governor. This move to the large majority of Auchi community is undemocratic, unfair, unjust, and tantamount to insult and disregard of the will of the Auchi people and will be resisted. It is also being rumored that Hon. Joseph Ughoke is the Comrade Governor’s preferred favourite in Etsako Central…

Is it not most ironical that the people’s Governor whose ascendancy to office was by popular choice and not by imposition; is now being accused of godfatherism? Although he is now being acknowledged as the Apostle of one man one vote in the politics of Nigeria, the truce meeting at his office involving political leaders of ACN Etsako East chapter lend credence to his involvement. The people’s Governor is therefore advised to retrace his steps in order to retain his image. If he unwittily continues with this unpopular action, he will be required to justify his accusation of Chief Tony Anenih as a political godfather.

Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole is hereby advised to come out and publicly make his stand known as well as avoid any hideous involvement in the candidacy of Chairmanship candidates at the forth coming LG polls.