Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city
Leaders in Edo South senatorial district yesterday expressed dissatisfaction with political appointments made so far by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, which they said did not favour them.
The leaders, who met at the GRA, Benin-city residence of the former Governor of Edo State and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Odigie Oyegun, said their goal is to forge a common front for the interest of the zone in the state and Nigeria in general.
The meeting has in attendance political leaders across party lines, businessmen, intellectuals and representatives of the traditional institutions, include the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; former Governors, Chief Odigie-Oyegun and Chief Lucky Igbinedion respectively.
Others are the Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie; Labour Party (LP) governorship aspirant, Olumide Akpata; former Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), University of Benin, Prof Gregory Akenzua, among others.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Odigie-Oyegun said the meeting was called to consider Edo South interest in the Nigerian environment, which involves political appointments among others.
According to him, “We are comparing notes; we are looking at the level of appointments, we are looking at the Edo State unfolding political equation, and at the end of the day, we ask ourselves what is indeed for Edo South?
“Basically, at the end of the day, we can say that we are not happy with the appointments that have been made so far. From the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), the National Population Commission and others.”
On politics in Edo State, he said the zone has the current governor (Obaseki) and that they are not complaining, but that the zone cannot afford to live in the past as the governor’s tenure will end next year.
The APC former chairman said: “We have the governor who will concluded his tenure next year, but nobody lives in the past. Nobody goes to bed and says the present is good, and therefore, he will not care about tomorrow.
“We can’t be that stupid. We are looking at the immediate future and what we are seeing is not very interesting. So we are looking at how we can make amends to be sure that we are not left behind in the scheme of things.”
On which zone gets the nod for the state 2024 governorship, Odigie-Oyegun said the state considers every block that make up the state.
“Edo is noted for considering every zone, and that is why we are the heartbeat of Nigeria. We will continue to show good example, and we pray that other parts of the country will learn from it. But that does not mean that we will not be realistic and assert our positions and our expectations.
“Constitutionally, the door is open for everybody to contest for the position of the governor, neither me nor the governor can foreclose what will happen or decide on the interest of others. The issue of zoning is the problem of political parties and not ours.”
