POLITICAL heavyweights of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Edo South Senatorial District yesterday met in Benin City to plot ways of ousting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power by defeating its candidate in the September 21 governorship election.
Notable Edo South APC leaders present included, two former deputy governors, Dr. Pius Odubu and Lucky Imansuen, former APC Governorship candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Director-General APC Campaign Council and Sen. Matthew Uroghide.
Others were Rt. Hon. Samson Osagie, APC Youth Leader Tony Kabaka, Edo State APC Secretary Lawrence Okah, Osaro Obazee, former Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, Hon Nosa Adams, Comrade Martins Osakue, Prince Austin Eweka among other notable politicians.
The meeting was dubbed “Edo South APC Leadership Family Conversation,” convened by APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa as part of activities to mark his 44th birthday where he condemned the current Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.
Idahosa said since Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration ended, “development has been on holidays” in the state just as he vowed that their administration would make Obaseki account for every penny his administration has spent.
He called on the people of Edo South to come out and vote for the APC in the election promising that their votes would be defended till the announcement of the results.
Speaking, Odubu who is also the leader of the party in Edo South said Obaseki’s actions and policies have underdeveloped the state, with tales of unfulfilled promises, and urged party faithful to work together to deliver APC in the election.
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“With the caliber of leaders here today, Edo South is poised to rise again. We have realized our failings and are determined that this time around, we will deliver APC. It is a straight contest between APC and PDP.”
“When APC was at the helm of affairs, you saw massive road construction and rehabilitation across the 18 local government areas, hospitals were built, and civil servants were paid as and when due.
“Sadly, all the gains recorded by Oshiomhole were reversed. While Oshiomhole’s government was action-oriented, PDP’s government was all about signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). During Oshiomhole’s government, we paid respect to traditional institutions.”
Ize-Iyamu, on his part, said winning Edo South for APC is a task that must be done, adding that for any party to win the governorship, it must first win Edo South Senatorial District.
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He lambasted Obaseki, describing him as a tyrant who must not be allowed to install a successor in the September governorship election, noting that the PDP candidate cannot be trusted.
On his part, Adams said the only to show Obaseki the displeasure of the people of Edo South was to ensure that APC wins in the 77 wards that make up Edo South while Eweka said the people of Edo South were the largest victims of Obaseki’s “mis-governance”.
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Two special guests at the meeting; the candidate of the APC and former governor of Edo State and now a senator, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said they were sure of the victory of the party with the unity in the region.
Oshiomhole said “I know our governor and his deputy will respect not only the Oba but the palace and the traditional institutions in the state unlike others. With the unity of the leaders of Edo South, delivering Edo South is a done deal, I have no doubt about that at all.”
On his part, Acting State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe said there was no longer dichotomy in the party as he said all members of the PDP like the Legacy Group were formally in the APC and there should no longer be sectional meetings.