From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Ahead of the Edo State gubernatorial election scheduled for September next year, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Hon. Charles Idahosa, yesterday, reiterated his earlier call for a ‘homeboy’ who knows the nooks and cranies of the state and the pain of the people, to be elected the next governor of the state.
Speaking to journalists during an interactive session in Benin City, Idahosa, a former Political Adviser to ex-Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said in all spheres Edo State has had ‘homeboys’ who have achieved without moving out of the state.
“What we are saying is that we can do it in politics. When it comes to politics, we need somebody that understands the terrain and who is part and parcel of the people. You don’t go and bring somebody who doesn’t know us. This time, we need somebody who is part and parcel of us”, Idahosa stressed.
He clarified his reference to ‘mama put’ in his earlier interaction with journalists which he said some critics have taken out of context, saying that it was to explain what a candidate did after winning election by paying money to operators of some eateries in Benin to provide food for his number supporters in appreciation of their support for him.
Commenting on the recent face-off between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Idahosa described it as unfortunate, pointing out that the governor has no right to tell the deputy governor the limit of his political ambition.
“The major problem we have is weak leadership. What we see here is that people are afraid of telling truth to power. The quarrel was unfortunate. I was very disappointed at some comments of our leaders.
“The governor has no right to tell the deputy governor the limit of his political ambition. Obaseki didn’t need to fight Shaibu, the fight was totally uncalled for”, Idahosa stated.
He described the recent celebration of Midwest State at 60 in Benin, as a bazaar and uncalled for, because there was no basis for celebrating a state that has defunct.
He said the organiszers of the event, rather than celebrating Midwest at 60, should have been worried that Benin City which was capital of Midwest Region when Nigeria had four regions, is now under Port-Hacourt which was formerly under South-East Region with Enugu as capital.
Idahosa also spoke on the division within the ranks of members of the PDP ahead the state governorship election and acknowledged that there is a problem in the party, saying “I just pray the PDP puts its house in order before the election”.