By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—Former governor of old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, will on July 4, commence the search for a successor to Edo State governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, with the launch of Edo Mass Movement.

Meanwhile, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, former governor of the state, has said that the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state will present a candidate that will enjoy the acceptability of the generality of the people of the state and capable of retreiving power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ogbemudia, in an interview, had told Vanguard that Oshiomhole has made tremendous strides in the development of infrastructures in the state, adding that Edo people, therefore, need a successor that will not destroy the achievements made by Oshiomhole.

He said: “We in Edo State, want to ensure that the state is developed and because of that I am going to proclaim Edo Mass Movement, irrespective of party affiliations, and we will support any political party that gives us indication that it wants Edo State to succeed.”

Oshiomhole had last Friday, visited the elder statesman at his New Lagos Road residence in company of his wife, Lara, where they held a closed door meeting for about 30 minutes.

A statement by EMM said that the launch of the Movement entails the mobilisation of people across the three senatorial districts of the state to sensitise them on the need to collaborate in the search for a credible candidate that believes in good governance so as not to destroy the progress made so far by the Oshiomhole administration.

Meantime, the leadership of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the state, led by Alhaji Usman Shagadi, has expressed its desire to cooperate with Dr Ogbemudia in the search for Oshiomhole’s successor, saying that Dr Ogbemudia’s move will be beneficial to the people of the state in the near future.

They should field Patrick Obahiagbon