Crusaderhotnews
Says it is either Obaseki or no election in Edo Central Senatorial District.
It will interest you to know that the Powerful 5 Local Government Chairmen in Esanland, otherwise known as the Edo Central Senatorial District hosted the State Leadership of the foremost pro-good governance group, *Obaseki Shaibu Movement(OSM)* in Esan North East Local Government Area today. And all the Five Local Government Chairmen who refused to be represented by anybody, but made themselves available in Uromi as at the early hours of today to strategize on how to deliver Obaseki and of course also took out time to encourage the leadership of OSM in the state led by the hard-working and highly committed *Coordinator, Engr Egbe Osezele Samuel* to keep up the good work while they appreciate them for the work already done thus far.
Also in attendance were some leaders in the 5 Local Government such as *Hon. H.O Okeror, Leader Bature from Ward 2, Hon. Peter from Esan Central, Hon Andrew Young from Esan South East, Hon Iredia from Igueben, Hon Vincent Udaze from Esan West and of course the very Smart and Intelligent Senatorial Coordinator, Hon. Henry Okpamen.*
While very important dignitaries were present, some leaders who could not come in order not to go above the acceptable numbers as a result of the regulation recently released by the State Government, sent in their Solidarity messages and reassured the house that as far this Election is a concern, Esanland shall speak in one voice and the content of that Voice is Obaseki 4+4, while the product of such will remain the Victory that will emanate from that Voice from a unanimous agreement. The Councilors who also unanimously sent delegates to Represent their decision in order not to go against the State regulation on numbers of persons acceptable in a public gathering, said they are all ready for the Primary election for they do not need to be told to vote and return a great man who has brought Esanland out of the darkness planted in it through the gross marginalization by the same man heading the other camp today.
According to the Councilors in Esanland, “we are waiting for the Primary election and we are waiting to see what they will convince us with, that it was Obaseki who marginalized Esanland for 8 years or that it was Obaseki that gave less than 10% appointment to a whole Senatorial District while he was Governor for 8 years. We are Esan people, we are not mad, we are not stupid, we are not just said to be very wise and intelligent, we are very wise, smart and intelligent people, this is not just a fact, but it is a reality, so, when we see our enemies, we do not need to be told and when we behold a friend, we know we have a friend and in Governor Godwin Obaseki, we have seen a friend, a brother and a great Administrator who means well not just for the people living now, but the generations yet unborn. So, when we say it is and must be Obaseki, we know exactly what we are saying for, with Obaseki, the future of our children’s children is safe.
According to the Local Government Chairmen, “we do not really know about others very well, though the news we are getting from our colleagues in the other two Senatorial Districts is more than pleasant right now for it is 4+4, as for this Esanland of ours, as far we are concerned, it is either Obaseki or Obaseki or better still, no election in Edo central, for Obaseki is not just the Choice of the Local Government Chairmen but the Choice of the people of Esanland which we have vowed to follow”.
On a final note, the Senatorial Coordinator of OSM and the State Coordinator took out time to respectively thank the 5 Local Government Chairmen, the Leaders of the Local Government, the LGA Party Chairmen and of course the Councilors for their Stand and for the courage to publicly declare that Stand without fear or favor as it shows their level of commitment and dedication to the re-election
Fears are ripe that the coming primary election of the ruling party in Edo State will witness crisis due to the many signals that are already obvious when one considers the events that have been playing out in the run up to the contest.
Governor Godwin Obaseki has been having a running clash with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The clash has defied all efforts to sue for peace between the two powerful politicians in the state as their polarized loyalists have continued to clash as well. The clash led to the emergence of two factions of in Edo APC. One faction is loyal to Obaseki while the other one is loyal to Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole is not backing Obaseki and is supporting another aspirant to beat the current Governor who he is having a superiority clash with.
But, Obaseki is insistent on fighting off Oshiomhole and his camp to emerge victorious. If not for anything, to prove that no one can play god to him as long as he has the support of the people and is still the incumbent Governor of the state. Obaseki believes he would win and is ready to go all out to fight his way through since Oshiomhole may be using his privileged position and loyalists to get at him. As the National Chairman of the APC, Oshiomhole can do things that can affect Obaseki's chances of victory. Again, Oshiomhole is reportedly backing Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the race. So, he and his loyalists are seriously working to make that aspirant to win.
The situation painted above has told a discerning mind that the APC primary election will be a serious battle among the powerful gladiators that will deploy all they could to fight for victory. It will be a day when Obaseki and Oshiomhole's camps will fight it out to prove who is in charge. Each of the two factions will prove it is in charge by winning the contest and that will also determine who will be in charge for the next four years and even beyond. This is because, whoever wins the APC governorship ticket is reasonably sure of winning the main election. That means, the camp that wins the main election will be in charge for the next four years and will be in position to produce the next Governor in 2024 election.
The fear that crisis will rock the Edo APC primary was supported by the disclosure made the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, when it expressed fears over the possibility of crisis affecting party primaries ahead of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed these observations in Abuja on Friday while having the first virtual consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security. He called on the security agencies to be proactive and to work out modalities to contain the threats that could affect the primaries. He added that the situation is more challenging in view of the fact that the primaries and the elections would take place even as the corona virus pandemic rages.
Everyone knows that Edo's case is more heated than Ondo. Moreover, Edo's APC primary and main election will come first. Also, a sitting Governor of Edo is having a serious clash with the immediate past Governor of the state who is now the National Chairman of the APC with much power to do things. The situation is not the same in Ondo. In fact, the same APC National Chairman still has a strong support base in Edo and in various states in Nigeria. Above all, Oshiomhole is backing another strong aspirant to unseat Obaseki. The APC National Working Committee (NWC) has already approved direct primary and has notified INEC of that decision. Obaseki and his supporters initially kicked against it and insisted on indirect primary. But, they have seen that the party is not going back on the choice of direct primary. So, Obaseki and his loyalists may have no other option than to accept it.
Adding to the fear of crisis rocking the Edo APC primary are two incidents that happened in Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu's camp recently. The two incidents are: the consensus arrangem
A collection of interest groups, comprising market women, pensioners and members of labor groups under the aegis of the Concerned Citizens of Edo, have added their voices in support of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s governance model in the state, characterized by massive infrastructural projects, prompt payment of workers’ salaries, respect for the rule of law, insistence on the order in public places and his tough stance against thuggery.
The peaceful solidarity rally took off at the Museum Ground on Friday, moving through Kings Square, Airport Road, Ezoti, Reservation Road, to Government House in Benin City, the state capital, with protesters calling on the governor to contest and run for another term of office.
They assured the governor that they are fully in support of his administration and his people-centered policies, urging him to ignore attacks by a handful of those they described as greedy politicians, over his refusal to give them access to the state’s treasury.
Addressing the protesters at Government House, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu expressed appreciation to the groups for conducting a peaceful rally to support the governor’s administration.
Ohonbamu said “I thank you for standing for the truth and for standing for Governor Godwin Obaseki. The governor’s style of leadership is innovative and some people are not happy with this positive change. This fight is not Obaseki’s but your fight as Edo citizens. Never again will the food of the children be given to dogs.”
He assured that Governor Obaseki would not be distracted by laggers rather he would continue to deliver the dividend of good governance to Edo people.
Speaking on behalf of members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr. Pullen Noruwa, said “Edo pensioners have never had it so good; we receive our monthly pensions as and when due. Outstanding arrears are being paid. We are happy and support a second term for Governor Obaseki.”
At the Edo State House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Justin Okonoboh commended them for identifying with the Governor Obaseki-led government and assured that the Assembly will do everything possible to ensure the success of the governor.
State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Odion Olaye, said the solidarity rally and visit to the Edo State Government House were organized to commend Governor Obaseki who “is working and we are here to commend him especially in the area of road construction and renovation because we as road users are direct beneficiaries of his road projects, and we want him to continue the good work.”
At the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) Secretariat, the union’s Chairman, Sir Roland Osakue, said his members are pleased with the Obaseki-led administration and assured of the union’s continued support towards projecting the governor’s giant strides.
Some other groups who joined the rally included beneficiaries of Governor Obaseki’s jobs and skills creation initiatives, road sweepers, and concerned clergymen bearing placards. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, ‘No more sharing of our commonwealth’ and ‘We say no to godfatherism.’
0 Comments