A Socio-Cultural group under the aegis of Akoko-Edo and Owan Alliance has lampooned some alleged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State over the appointment of Mrs Mailmary Aipoh as board member of the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The group said that the unwarranted attack on her appointment by president Muhammadu Buhari by the persons is borne out of mischief and ignorance.

This is contained in a communique signed by Mr Sunny Ifijen and Ogumah Umeiza, convener and secretary respectively, and made available to newsmen in Benin on Monday.

While commending the President for finding her worthy to be appointed into the NEDC board, the group described the "naysayers" as those planning to cause division between the two council areas that have co-existed without any form of trouble over the years.

It further stated that the people behind the statement are feigning ignorant on how federal appointments are made in order to sway unsuspecting public to their mischief ploy to cause crisis in the polity of Owan federal constituency.

The group however noted that the essence of the communique was to correct the false narrative that the beneciary, though an Owan West Local Government Area by birth, is and remained a member of the APC in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It noted that her appointment was a welcome development to the people of Owan West and by extension Owan East and Akoko-Edo that have been marginalised over the years when it comes to federal appointments.

According to the statement, "First of all, we wish to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment which was long in coming.

"We are indeed proud of the appointee. She has a humble political pedigree, sagacity, and versatile in all field of human endervour. She will be a golden anchor for Afemai, Edo and South-South region.

"We outrightly condemn the sponsors and signatories of a petition letter dated May 7th 2023, by a non-existent APC Equity Group, where they demanded for the withdrawal and replacement of Mrs Aipoh with someone from Owan East council area.

"We are sad that these petitioners did not see anything good in this appointment to congratulate the beneciary, buy chose to malign and cast aspersions on her well deserved appointment.

"Consequently, we urge relevant authorities to ignore all forms of unholy antagonism against a gender-sensitive appointment of Mrs Aipoh."

The alliance called on the leadership of the party and the State unravel this faceless group that is tyring to sow a seed of discord in the party and Owan federal constituency in particular.

The group concluded that it woukd continue to support any individual or cause that would bring development and unity to the people irrespective of party affiliation.