Oshiomhole Accepts Pdp Thugs

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday in Benin City, lamented the state of roads and other infrastructures in the country and attributed it to the failure of one-time Minister of Works and Housing, Chief Tony Anenih.
Speaking at a rally to receive defecting former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Congress (AC) at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Oshiomhole said: “In a democracy there is no godfather, we only have God people.”
Apparently referring to statements made by Anenih at an earlier rally held at the same venue last weekend by the Edo State branch of PDP, the governor said: “I saw a dying godfather desperately running his mouth. Who was speaking? The man, who once had opportunity of being a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a mandate to fix our roads. They call him Mr. Fix-it but he could not fix Lagos-Benin road. They call him Mr. Fix-it, he could not fix Uromi roads where he comes from, he could not fix water for his people, the dual carriage way terminates in Kogi State, and he could not extend it to his own state. He could not fix his family in PDP.”
He assured those who renounced their membership of the PDP that he would, together with them, preside over the political funeral of the godfather. “His time is up. Any father who refuses to accept that his children have grown up is not a good father. Any leader who does not want to retire, if he cannot see the political exit gate, we have a responsibility to take him to the exit gate,” Oshiomhole said.
The governor also said:  “As we are celebrating the end of god-fatherism, we are celebrating the birth of genuine democracy. There is some comfort as we are ready to transfer to Anambra State godfathers who have found Edo State too hot for them to stay. They shall go to Anambra State where they do their imposition. In Edo State, their days are over,” he stated.
 Welcoming the defectors, Oshiomhole said internal democracy was the key to the answer for genuine democracy to thrive in Nigeria.
Leading the defecting PDP members were six council chairmen, who led their supporters to accept the AC’s symbolic broom and flag in a well attended ceremony tagged “Political Earthquake”.
[size=12pt]The council chairmen were Mrs. Itohan Osahon of Ikpoba Okha Local Government; Mr,  John Obazee of Uhunmwode Local Government Area; Mr. Crosby Eribo of Egor Local Government Area; Mr. Faustain Ovienrioba of Ovia North East Local Government Area; Mr. Omorogieva Gbajumo, acting Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area and Mr. Stanley Odidi of Estako East Local Government Area.
Also, over 50 councilors and top PDP leaders across the 18 Local Government Areas in the state among whom were Mr. Akin Agboja, the vice-chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Chief Evelyn Igbafe, Prince Greg Ogiogwa, Mr. John Alimikhena, two popular transporters: Chief Osamede Adun, popularly called Bob Izua and Mr. Godwin Edosa, Hon. Sanni Collins, Hon. Sunny Odiase, Hon Sam Ogie and Mr. Sibs Ogbasoyen.
Former Secretary to Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu[/size] in his welcome address said the rally was to put an end to one-man dictatorship in Edo State .
In her brief remark, the Yeye-Ologbosere of Lagos, Chief Evelyn Igbafe, who led her supporters to defect to AC said they have watched with patience and forbearance of the party politics of one-man-rule in the state.
“According to her, the politics of imposition of “leaders” at all levels, the politics of selection instead of election. What went by the name Peoples Democratic Party was transformed into Peoples Undemocratic party by a single man. Protest from affected party men who found themselves robbed of their genuinely controlled areas was ignored. Favoritism with the leader became the passport to political ascendency.”
While Faustain Ovienrioba said he wore black to the rally to mourn the death of PDP and godfatherism in the state, Stanley Odidi said he decided to come into AC because of the developmental strides recorded so far.
 Party leaders present at the rally included Chief Tom Ikimi, Senator Ben Obi who represented the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and state party leaders.