From Tony Osauzo,  Benin

Ahead of 2024 governorship election in Edo State, a group, Esan New Era, has called on the political parties to cede the governorship position to the Edo Central senatorial district.

The group lamented that though the senatorial district boasts of eminently qualified leaders, it has not been opportune to govern the state since its creation except the short-lived tenure of Oserheimen Osunbor, who was governor for 18 months from 2007 before he was removed by the courts.

Addressing a press conference in Benin, yesterday, General Secretary of the group, Christopher Onoye, and other leaders, said the membership of the group cut across all political parties and despite the array of leaders the area has produced, they have always believed that Edo State is one as virtually all of them traced their roots from Benin and have always taken a pan-Edo position.

He explained that in 1998 when the 4th Republic was birthed, political leaders agreed the governorship should start from Edo South which produced Lucky Igbinedion and thereafter Osunbor.

“The equation was however, interrupted with the coming into power of Governor Adams Oshiomhole which gave the Edo North their complete rightful two tenure (eight years). Oshiomole returned power to the South in 2016 instead of Edo Central.         

“We are here today to remind our brothers and sisters from Edo South and Edo North that we are all children of the same parents in Edo State with equal rights to the heritage of our parents. We are here to remind our brothers and sisters from Edo South that when their son Igbinedion held the political powers in the state, Edo Central lent their support. We are here to remind our brothers and sisters from Edo North that we, Edo Central, supported their son, Oshiomohle. We are here to remind Governor Godwin Obaseki that in the moment of his political turmoil, we, Edo Central, accepted him as our own brother though from Edo South to continue and complete his 2nd term.

“It is in the light of all these that we are appealing to the major political parties in Edo State, to Zone their 2024 governorship tickets to Edo Central senatorial district. We assure you we have the people with integrity, intellect and capacity to move our state forward as governor. This is the right thing to do in the face of God and man. This will make the spirits of our late political leaders to rest in peace,” the group demanded.