A former Special Adviser to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Political Matters and now a chieftain of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Hon. Charles Idahosa, Tuesday, rejected the agitation for the zoning of the State’s governorship position to a particular senatorial district based on tribe or religious considerations.
He said those making such agitation that it was their turn to produce the next governor to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki come 2024 were lazy lots. Rather, he urged all Edo people interested to come out irrespective of tribe or any other primordial sentiment.
The former Commissioner of Information and Orientation under the then Governor Lucky Igbinedion administration, said whoever is seeking to occupy the number one seat of the State must put the interest of Edo first and must be someone with the competence and capacity to unite the people.
Idahosa stated this at a press conference in Benin City, the Edo State capital. He spoke on the heels of mounting pressure by the people of Edo Central senatorial district to produce the next governor come 2024.
He said, “Edo State belongs to all of us and the beauty of Edo State is that no ethnic group or tribe in Edo State cannot trace their origin from Benin and it is a statement of fact. We don’t want a situation where a politician will use ethnicity, religion to divide us. We need a true Edolite this time in our quest for a better Edo.
“We want a proper Edo person, not Benin, Esan or Afemai, every Edo person is eminently qualified to run for the governorship of Edo State and we are now left to look at their profile and make a choice.
“Reducing our choice to an area will not be accepted. There was no time when elections were conducted in Edo state that it was tied to a particular ethnic group or senatorial district. And of recent is that of governor Obaseki when Obaseki contested no time it was left for the Benins alone; every other tribe in Edo partook in that election and the best person won .
“So the issue of somebody or any group of person saying it is this tribe’s turn is totally unacceptable to me and my group. What Edo need now is person who has the capacity to unite every.
“If we want to start breaking it down you will discover that each senatorial districts can give reasons why it should be their turn because there are so many advantages some area have had above others.
“For example, like the Benin’s, we can say we want to hold on to the governorship because we haven’t produce the Vice President of this country, Late Admiral Aikhomu was Vice President, Akhigbe was Vice President and we the Benins have never done it or have that privilege, there was a time two Esan men chairman of a National chairman of Political Parties, Tom Ikimi and Late Tony Anenih.
“Let us leave all this sentiment and look for any aspirants that can be governor to all,” Idahosa stated.
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