Ahead of the 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the Esan Leaders of Thought and the Esan Okpa Initiative(EOI) as well as the governorship aspirants of the political parties have agreed to work for a peaceful and harmonious conduct during the election.
This was the outcome of a joint meeting from the consultation which the Esan traditional rulers held with the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Okpolopkolo, Oba Ewuare II, and the traditional leaders of Edo North, respectively.
According to a statement issued by the president of EOI, Matthew Egbadon and the public relations officer (PRO) Tony Iyare, the joint meeting also received a report of consultations held so far by the leadership of the EOI with political and opinion leaders across Edo State.
After an exhaustive deliberation, the leaders of thought agreed that, “it is important for all the governorship aspirants to commit to conduct themselves peaceably and work for the harmony and progress of all the people of Edo State.”
They also agreed that “ it is essential for Esan people to put their best foot forward in the impending governorship race.” The leaders noted that “ it is obligatory for the governorship aspirants of Esan extraction to consider the need for unity of purpose and ensure that all actions they undertake are devoid of acrimony, aspersions and bad blood.”
They also agreed that “in all circumstances, the overriding and collective good of Edo State will define their actions.”
The joint meeting therefore called on the governorship aspirants to interface among themselves and settle on a shorter list of persons to seek the ticket of their individual political parties. The aspirants were also advised to strategically and voluntarily engage with the defined criteria of moral uprightness, integrity and passion for Edo State socio-political and economic development.
The governorship aspirants were then asked to seek viable political platforms in the forthcoming governorship race.
According to the statement the joint meeting will reconvene to receive and consider the consensus list prepared by the governorship aspirants themselves within their respective political parties, and revert to the Esan stakeholders in order to “unstintingly mobilise for the necessary support and buy – in of the generality of Edo people in the spirit of fairness, justice, equity and brotherly relations among Edo people.”
