Amid growing protests over the just-concluded governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, some Christian leaders in the Niger Delta have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling party not to allow politicians plunge the state into anarchy because of their selfish interests.
The chairman of the Niger Delta Christian Elders’ Forum, Bishop Agbazika Andersen, who issued a statement after a press conference in Abuja yesterday, applauded Tinubu for not jumping to congratulate the candidate of the “Adams Oshiomhole-led group,” saying such action could lead the state into anarchy.
Bishop Andersen said he came to Abuja with some Christian leaders to discuss with key politicians “because of the cries of the people over the APC primaries in Edo State last weekend.”
In his words, “the outrage in Edo State now has propensity to put the state on fire.”
According to him, “Niger Delta region is blessed with material and human resources, but the people are suffering because of bad leadership.
“Bad leadership is always a result of imposition of candidates. We as Christian leaders are worried because our people of Niger Delta are worried. What transpired last weekend in Benin will not help the people to trust their leaders anymore.”
“Edo people have been very passionate about the zoning arrangement since 1999.
“You saw how the Bini speaking people of Edo South rallied around the aspirant from Edo central. That is enough handwriting for our political leaders to do the bidding of the people rather than put the people against themselves.
“We are here in Abuja at the instance of the people of Edo State to discuss with political leaders, including President Tinubu. We want reason to prevail before it gets out of hand.
“Somebody should be able to talk to our son, Adams Oshiomhole, to remember how God has favoured him in his political journey. God is favouring him so that he can help lead his people to happiness.
“God did not give him such a measure of power for the wrong reason. Enough is enough for the wise,” Andersen stated.
Last week, primaries in APC to produce the governorship candidate of the party ahead of the September governorship election in the state ended in fiasco with three aspirants emerging as candidates.
Former Governor Oshiomhole’s candidate, Hon Dennis Idahosa, was announced as winner while the returning officer of the party declared Senator Okpebholo as winner of the primaries.
Also, another member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, has declared himself the winner of the primaries.
Party faithful were, however, shocked by the primaries, which have now produced three candidates, one from each senatorial district, which critics believe was as a result of the zoning, which was disregarded prior to the primaries.
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