Edo North Stakeholders Tackle Benin Group Over Attack On Minister

A group of politicians from Edo North senatorial district of Edo State have described as baseless and unfounded, allegations made by the Benin National Congress (BNC) against the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Abubakar Momoh.

The BNC had insinuated that the Edo South senatorial district is being sidelined or discriminated against in terms of political appointment and projects allocation in favour of the North because the minister and the state leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Adams Oshiomhole are both from the same zone.

However, in a press statement signed by some of the stakeholders comprising Hon. Godwin Eshieshi, Alhaji Musa Suleiman and the APC governorship aspirant, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere, insisted that the minister is a fair and just leader, adding that the allegations against him were false as Momoh had not made any appointments since his assumption of office.

They said, “Ordinarily, one would have turned a blind eye to these allegations, but as a result of the respect we have for the Royal father and the good people of Edo South, it is pertinent to set the records straight. Since the Honorable Minister of Niger Delta assumed office, no appointment has been made in the ministry. The Honorable Minister toured the region with a view to consulting with the stakeholders of the region, inspection of projects and also to have first-hand knowledge of abandoned, ongoing and completed projects.

“The tour of the region has availed the Honorable minister the opportunity to interact with the critical stakeholders of the region and also carry out the needs assessment of the region which has enabled him to present his budget to the National Assembly.

On the national scene, the Benin National Congress, BNC, need not be reminded that political appointments are based on the performance or patronage of the political party in each region.

“We are aware of the shenanigan and the anti-party activities that played out in the last general elections which resulted in the senatorial district losing the senatorial seat and the presidential election to another political party in the state. It’s never heard that failure is rewarded. Therefore, expecting to get the same or more political appointments like Edo North which in any case is not true, will amount to reaping where one did not sow.”

The statement warned that the accusations of playing ethnic card levelled against the minister, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole are akin to giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.