Edo 2024: Group Wants Political Parties to Select Esan Aspirants

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Ahead of the Edo State Governorship Election slated for next year, the Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI), an Esan pan socio-cultural and non-partisan group, has strongly restated the need for all political parties to pick their candidates from Edo Central Senatorial Zone.
The group stressed that this was important in order to correct the prevailing political imbalance in the state to guarantee justice, equity, fairness and peace for all segments of the State.

Arguing that it will be a “grave mistake to do otherwise”, the group in a statement in Benin City, signed by its President Mathew Egbadon, and Public Relations Officer, Tony Iyare, canvassed for realism anchored on history and mutual respect to the different sections of the state.

The group also stressed the need for the parties, political elite and opinion moulders in the state to appreciate the salient concern by Esan people and be mindful that the state was founded on a tripod of brotherhood at its creation in 1991.
“We cannot afford to carry on with the discordant tunes now coming from the two other senatorial districts on the subject of a governor of Esan extraction, as if a vital part of the tripod does not matter.

“The political wellbeing and inclusiveness of all sections of our dear state should be uppermost in our consideration. We can’t shy away from this vital reality.
“The fact that Edo people have  always ensured that the governor, deputy governor and speaker respectively, come from different zones underpins our resolve and desire on this matter.

Restating its strong appeal to political elites from Edo North and South Senatorial Zones to concede the governorship ticket to aspirants from Edo Central Senatorial Zone, it maintained that this is a recipe to ensuring peace, equity, justice and even development to all sections of the state.
“On our part, we have worked strenuously to reach out to our brothers and sisters in the other two zones to demonstrate our resolve on this matter. Until now that we have started hearing equivocations by some opinion moulders in Edo South and Edo North, we thought we had built  a consensus on the just and equitable demand of Edo Central on this matter.

“We remain ever committed to continue to dialogue with all political strands of the state to achieve this goal,” it said.
Alluding to the popular view that the parties should anchor the emergence of their candidates only on the basis of competence and ability to elicit support of the three senatorial zones, Esan Okpa contended that no section of Edo State is in short supply of competent persons who are ably imbued with the right acumen and capacity to get the support of other areas for the governorship seat.
“With a large pool of accomplished professionals in different areas of human endeavour, the people of Edo Central Senatorial Zone, have demonstrated their ability and can do spirit, to hold their own in every sphere of life.

“It remains the only area that has produced two former governors since the time of Bendel State, who are professors of international repute.
“As at the last count, there are at least five professors from outstanding intellectual background and other distinguished professionals and accomplished aspirants, who have cut their callings in different areas, angling to be candidates of the different parties. That should underscore the character and make up of who we are.

“Our people have also made huge contributions at great costs, to the sustenance of the democratic and political transformation of our dear country and by extension our dear state. We therefore cannot be relegated to play the second fiddle status in a political formation that we helped to cobble together,” the group stated.