Support Edo Governor Of Esan Extraction; Group Appeals To Parties, By Marvellous Ose
A group, under the aegis: ‘Esan New Era’; a socio cultural group of prominent Esan indigenes, from different walks of life, has called on critical stakeholders in Labour Party, LP, as well as those in other Political parties, to in the spirit of Fairness, Equity and Unity, nominate and support an aspirant of Edo central Senatorial district extraction as their gubernatorial candidate for the 2024 Edo Guber.
The group made this appeal to the leadership of Edo state Labour Party on Monday 17th July 2023, where Comrade Valentine Uduebor the Organising Secretary of Esan New Era, who led other members of the group, including Comrade Columbus Akpama and Mr. Napoleon Oriabor to Labour Party Secretariat, the venue of the meeting.
In the meeting with the leadership of Edo state Labour Party, Comrade Valentine Uduebor said; ‘…we have been championing the need for understanding, unity, equity and fairness with respect to the upcoming 2024 Edo Governorship Election, and we strongly believe that the “Tripod stand” arrangement, where all the three Senatorial districts are given a sense of belonging, will be respected by the leadership of all the Political parties that are participating in the 2024 Edo Governorship Election’.
Continuing, Comrade Uduebor, who traced the Political history of Edo state, said; ‘…it is clear that Edo central has all along, been supportive of candidates from Edo North and Edo South to emerge as the governor….we are also stake holders in this state…’. He added that; ‘…for the upcoming 2024 Edo Governorship election, in the spirit of Fairness, Equity and Unity, Labour Party should project, nominate and support an aspirant of Edo central extraction, to emerge as the party’s candidate’.
In his response, the Edo state Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Comrade Kelly Ogboloir, who welcomed the group, said; ‘… as a party, zoning is not our priority. We are interested in an aspirant that can win elections and also be able to defend the results…our party will not support any aspirant on the ground of whatever sentiment, as capacity and integrity of candidates is what Labour Party is known for…’
Also commenting, the Vice Chairman of Labour Party, Barr. Patrick Agbontaen, said; ‘…a normal human being knows that without Unity, Fairness and Justice, things will not go well’. He expressed concern over the large number of aspirants of Edo central extraction that have so far, signified interest to contest for the Governorship position come 2024.
Comrade Joshua Odianosen, the Senatorial Youth Leader, who assured the members of Esan New Era not to worry about who gets the ticket, also added that Labour Party is fair enough, and that the party will support the best aspirant to emerge as LP’s candidate, irrespective of the Senatorial district such aspirant may come from.
Other members of executive of Labor Party, present at the meeting, include Hon. Pauline Omogbelehan, the state Woman Leader, Hon. Michael Aruoyo, the Assistant state Secretary, and Comrade Ken Omusi, the state Youth Leader. Others include; Comrade Joshua Odianosen, the Edo South Senatorial Youth Leader, Celestine Iyare, the Auditor and Sam Orukpa, the state Publicity Secretary.
The group, Esan New Era, earlier on Saturday, 22nd April 2023, held a Press Conference at Prestige Hotel, Benin, where they made a similar appeal to the people of Edo North and Edo South that Esanland has for a very long time now, been marginalized in governance, and in the scheme of things in Edo state; as such, come 2023 Edo Governorship election, Edo North and Edo South should in the spirit of Fairness, Equity and Unity support the emergence of Edo governor of Esan extraction.
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