Edo 2024: APC Chieftain Warns against Introduction of Tribal Politics

•Condemns plot to blackmail Oshiomhole

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Ahead of the governorship election in Edo State in September, the South-south Zonal Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Blessing Agbomhere, has warned against the introduction of tribal sentiments by aspirants from any of the contending political parties in the election.

In a letter copied to the National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje and President Bola Tinubu, among others, Agbomhere, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the party, lamented the marginalisation of Edo North in the politics of the state, adding that the party’s gubernatorial ticket should be handed over to an aspirant from that part of the state.

Agbomhere also condemned what he described as a plot to foment crisis in the state by some disgruntled Edo sons whom he said have tried unsuccessfully to attract the endorsement of the former governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole. According to the letter by Agbomhere, “We will not allow anybody or group of persons, under any guise or tribe, whether from Edo South, North or Central to blackmail our leader, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole for the sake of supporting or not supporting a governorship aspiration.

“Comrade Oshiomhole has paid his dues in Nigeria and has made so many sacrifices for the Edo people to a level that any attempt to tarnish his reputation by any person or group of persons under the pretence of fighting for a particular tribe will not be tolerated by the generality of Edo people.

“Before Oshiomhole became governor of Edo State, the state had Governors Samuel Ogbemudia, John Oyegun and Lucky Igbenedion, who made Pastor Andrew Ize-Iyamu a de facto governor during his administration – all were governors from Benin (Edo South). “Despite these men wielding enormous power, Benin City, and Edo State in general were referred to as ancient city and state by the rest of the world