Stories from Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday reacted to the comment of the State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, that APC governorship ticket after Oshiomhole was poisoned chalice.
The APC through its State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Godwin Erhahon said Orbih “is trying to wear APC the toga that belongs to the PDP.
“It is the PDP ticket that would remain cheaper than the Zimbabwean dollar”, Erhahon said.
He said the PDP believing that the Edo people have forgotten the bad performance of its past administration in the state, is nursing false hope that the people will vote it into power again.
He alleged that Chief Orbih’s predicament started between 1999 and 2003 when he was defeated twice in his attempt to contest for the state governorship seat on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party.
According to the APC’s spokesman, Orbih who was one of the most vociferous critics of the PDP later dumped the ANPP for the same PDP that he was criticising.
Comrade Erhahon, therefore predicted that before 2019, Chief Orbih would defect to the APC.
APC ticket after Oshiomhole, poisoned chalice- PDP
Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State after Adams Oshiomhole’s administration as a poisoned chalice.
The chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih stated this when a governorship aspirant of his party, Chief Solomon Edebiri visited the State Working Committee of the PDP to intimate them of his intention to vie for the governorship seat as well as to begin a tour of the local government areas of the state.
Chief Orbih who expressed displeasure over allegation and counter allegation between Governor Oshiomhole and his Deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, called on the Archbishop of the Benin Archdiocese, Most Reverend Augustine Obiora Akubeze, to call the duo to order over their recent outburst.
He said allegation by Governor Oshiomhole that his deputy wanted to kill him amounted to blackmail, describing it as a lie to defend the lack of coordination between the person of the governor and his deputy.
He asked why Governor Oshiomhole reasoned that his deputy wanted him dead at the twilight of his administration when the deputy would have benefited more if this was done at the beginning of their administration.
He said it was a common knowledge that the governorship ticket of the APC in Edo after Adams Oshiomhole’s administration was a poisoned chalice.
PDP welcomes Odubu to race
Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP has welcomed the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu for the courage and temerity he has shown by officially declaring his intention to contest for the office of Governor of Edo State under the APC.
A statement issued by the party said his declaration has definitely opened up the political space in Edo State.
“He has refused to be cowed, blackmailed and intimidated by dictatorial tendencies of the APC leadership in Edo State.
“We in Edo PDP look forward to a robust political process, which will include issue based debates as well as a keenly contested election.
“We wish him luck as he seeks his party’s ticket”, the statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, said.
APC primaries: Imansuangbon cautions against shifting goal post
An All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the September 10 election in Edo State, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon, has cautioned against any attempt to shift the goal post at the last minute, especially on the issue of party delegates for the party’s primaries.
According to Imansuangbon who gave the warning in Benin, such move may not augur well for the party at the end of the day.
He acknowledged that the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and indeed, the party’s national working committee members, were trustworthy and committed to the success of the party at the polls and as such would not do anything to jeopardise the party’s electoral fortunes in the state.
“Quite honestly, it’s the national secretariat of our great party, the APC, that knows who are the authentic delegates for the state governorship primaries coming up in June.
“The national secretariat under the leadership of the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is credible. So, whatever they do will be credible. The national working committee is credible and whatever they do would be credible.
“To that extent, we are not scared because they would do the right thing as they are aware that the right delegates are what would be acceptable to all and sundry,” he said.
On who are qualified to be addressed as delegates, Imansuangbon said: “the delegates are already known. It is a constitutional matter. The party’s Congress has been held before where the delegates were elected. The authentic list of delegates is with the national secretariat in Abuja.
“In each ward, the chairman knows who 11 other delegates from that ward are. So, the goal posts cannot be shifted in the middle of the game.”
On the argument that many of the delegates have since defected to the PDP, Imansuangbon said those remaining should be allowed to do the needful in picking the party’s gubernatorial standard bearer.
Odubu formally declares ambition
EDO State deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu has formally declared his intention to contest for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the election fixed for 10, September, 2016.
The deputy governor, who also used the occasion to comment on his alleged attempt to kill Governor Adams Oshiomhole, described the allegation as a wicked attempt by enemies of progress to drive a wedge between him and the governor.
“It is an old and tired lie concocted to tarnish my image in the eyes of the public. It is politically motivated. You are aware that the governorship election is around the corner, and I am one of those vying for the APC’S ticket. They failed when they tried it during my re-nomination as deputy governor in 2012; they certainly will fail again now.
“For me, nothing in this world is worth the blood of a fowl, not to talk of that of a human being. I leave these enemies of progress to the all-knowing God. I know and I do believe that He would manifest Himself in this matter, in the fullness of time. Time, they say, writes the ultimate history and history, delivers that final judgment”
Odubu who declared his readiness to contest the APC governorship primaries amid speculations that he was told to step down from the race, said nobody has told him to step down from the race for whatever reason, insisting that, “nothing like that will happen and it is not likely to happen; stepping down is not in my calculation”.
Reacting to some leaflets that were being distributed in Benin-City few days ago by some persons that he has been in government for close to 16 years and as such should not be voted for, he said he has been around in the political arena for a while serving the people in different capacities in the legislative and executive arms of government.
“I say that anybody that would say because of this, I should not be voted for, belongs to the genre or class of politicians who believe in the politics of ‘chop – I- chop’. I am in politics to serve the people. While these people are interested in what they can get, I am interested in what I can give. There lies the difference. There is no better way to be prepared for governance than by practical experience garnered over the years”.
Dr. Odubu stated that given the high level to which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has taken Edo State, the state needed a governor that was game ready, one that would hit the ground running, adding that he believes that he was that person by the Grace of God.
“I urge these faceless fellows to desist from their campaign of calumny. In this contest, I have no enemies but opponents. I have advised my supporters repeatedly that they should be temperate in their language and civil in their conduct”.
He said he was stepping into the race with a vision of taking the enormous potentials of the people and by aggregating their physical and intellectual capacities to run a service-driven government that will be totally committed to the welfare and well-being of the people through the creation of favourable economic environment that will create jobs and wealth for Edo people.
Asked if he will accept the outcome of the party’s governorship primaries if it was not in his favour, he said, “if after a transparent, fair primaries, if I lose, as a loyal party man, I will support whosoever emerges”.
He also said that he will not probe the Oshiomhole administration as there was no need for that, saying that probing the administration, “is like looking for the living among the dead. Oshiomhole’s administration is the most transparent government in Nigeria, the first to introduce ICT, Due Process office. He has done nothing worth of probing”.