A group, Ikpoba Okha Grassroots Mobilisation Network (IGMN), has cautioned Governor Adams Oshiomhole against imposing any candidate on the people ahead of this year’s governorship election.
The group noted that such move could cause confusion and derail the electoral process.
IGMN was reacting to speculation that the governor was planning to endorse the Chairman of Edo State Economic Team, Chief Godwin Obaseki.
The group urged All Progressive Congress (APC) national leadership to ensure a free, fair and credible conduct of primaries in Edo State to choose its candidate.
In a statement at the weekend in Benin, the state capital, by its Coordinator, Osakpamwan Osa-Uto, IGMN
said it was imperative for it to speak on the election to avoid a crisis within APC.
The statement reads: “We strongly condemn this attitude of the Comrade Governor and we are using this medium to advise him to desist from such behaviour. We can still recall when Comrade Oshiomhole was coming to power and his slogan was: ‘No godfatherism and let the people lead’. But the reverse is the case as the Comrade governor has put himself as the godfather of APC politics in Edo State…”
Also, a social-political group, Edo Accord Initiative (EAI), has pledged to support a competent and credible candidate as Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s successor.
EAI’s President Dennis Idahosa, who spoke after receiving an award as the Grassroots Mobiliser of the Year from the Edo Football Association, noted that the residents would continue to benefit from the political process, only if the right person was voted into power.
He said: “If there is a projected candidate for the governorship election, we would sit down and discuss it within our organisation and see if the person is competent, if the person has the interest of the people of Edo State at heart. After all the deliberation, we will be able to know if the person is a suitable candidate for the people of Edo State. Then, we will support him aggressively.
“So, we will look at the competence of that person, and if the person is well established to make sure his work is being felt among the people, then we will support him. This is because Edo Accord is a bridge between the people and the government.”
Idahosa, a former Commissioner for Foreign Investment, said ‘Edo Accord’ was a God-driven pressure group which stood for the right things.
He said: “All we are after is a competent candidate who will deliver dividends of democracy.”
