Group Supports Asue Ighodalo, Power Shift to Edo Central District in 2024

Adibe  Emenyonu in   Benin City

Ahead of the party primaries slated for February and governorship elections in September 2024, a group, Edo South Vanguard for Justice and Equity, yesterday, canvassed for power shift to Edo Central Senatorial District so that the district can produce the next governor. 

Addressing journalists in Benin City on behalf of the group, Mrs. Joy Ebhonuaye, who is Oredo Woman Leader of the group, said the body has thrown its weight behind Asue Ighodalo as the most qualified aspirant. 

Ebhonuaye said as a noble organisation with its members across the seven local government areas of Edo South senatorial district, it has taken its position as far as the Edo 2024 gubernatorial election and the political situation in the state are concerned. 

“We have taken our time to critically consider the socio-political history of the state since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation in 1999 and arrived at the equitable resolution that since our senatorial district, Edo South, started with Chief Lucky Igbinedion between 1999 and 2007, Prof. Osehriemen Osunbor from Edo Central, May 2007 to November 2008, an administration that was truncated by an Appeal Court verdict, Comrade Senator Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North, between 2008 and 2016 and Mr. Godwin Obaseki from Edo South again, 2016 to 2024, it is only fair that Edo Central is allowed to govern the state as from 2024. 

“After a thorough research and study of all the aspirants coming out to contest the 2024 Guber election, we have concluded that for Edo State to experience a more peaceful coexistence, unity and brotherhood among all the ethnic nationalities in the state, we must first and foremost respect the doctrine of fairness, equity, justice, equality and diversity, which gives the people of Edo central the opportunity to produce the next governor. 

“On this note, we want to state unequivocally that we are throwing our weight behind Barrister Aseulimen Ighodalo of the PDP, who hails from Esan South-East LGA of Edo Central senatorial district of the state. We have taken a look at all the aspirants from the senatorial district and resolved to back him because he is the most qualified; we believe that with his exposure and wealth of experience in economics and investment at both local and international stages, he has what it takes to get the state to her right destination,” Ebhonuaye declared. 

The group, therefore, called on all the good people of Edo South to support their son, Governor Obaseki, who made a promise to the state in 2020 that for equity and fairness, he would ensure that Edo Central produces the next governor, stressing that “it is our responsibility to support him to achieve this noble course.”

It also condemned in strong terms, the attempt by some desperate politicians to drag the enviable name and integrity of Dr. Asue Ighodalo into a negative narrative of political violence and thuggery. 

According to the group, “We boldly state that this is an act to prove that they feel threatened and jittery with the intimidating resume of Asue Ighodalo, a well-known gentleman of rational and international repute. He is not desperate and has no history of violence or stains of any nature. We advise against this vile campaign of calumny and fruitless gang-up against Dr. Asue Ighodalo.”