Edo 2016: Discuss issues, not Obaseki, APC Chieftain Urges Aspirants

A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Ogedengbe Eseosa yesterday called on those aspiring under his party umbrella to eschew politics of bitterness and name callings while urging them  to rather discuss issues and not personalities.

Eseosa, who was reacting to statements credited to some aspirants on the alleged support of the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the aspiration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki said, “let some aspirants not conduct themselves in a manner as to reduce this contest to personality issues but let’s continue to debate the issues of development, youth inclusion in governance, the unemployment tragedy, revenue crisis and the infrastructure challenge confronting us.

“Most recently, one Blessing Aigbomhere alleged that billions was released and job was not done under Edo State Economic Team for investment by a company, one begins to wonder if government now doles out cash to companies to invest or in the contrary, it is companies that invest their own resources in their investment decisions?

“This is the reason why I said sometimes you don’t respond to all issues. However let it be on record that at no time any money was released to the Economic Team of Edo state to give to any investor rather the Economic Team of Edo state under the leadership of Mr Godwin Obaseki has been working hard in the last few years to establish acceptable framework to make Edo state an investor haven, and this has yielded so much output and result with the coming of several foreign and local firms to the state in the area of agriculture, oil and gas, power and fertiliser and expansion of capacity by existing firms.

“Mr Obaseki is a well-trained technocrat with traceable credentials in the various sectors that he has worked in the last three decades and therefore could not be said not to qualified or eligible to run for the governorship of the state. He has also been part of the old Action Congress (AC) and then later Action Congress of Nigeria (A.C.N) and now the All Progressives Congress (APC), and throughout this period, he remained a pillar of intellectual support for the party and government in the implementation of its developmental agenda for the state.

“I believe people should familiarise themselves with the party guidelines when it comes to electoral contest and the INEC guidelines in addition so as not to portray ourselves as irresponsible and pedestrian in the eye of the public.

“I believe that as true party men and women, we should organise ourselves in such a manner as to promote party unity, campaign without rancour and bitterness and have the interest of the people of Edo state at heart.

“We cannot eat our cake and have it, primary elections should be between brothers and sisters and not a war, even the general election contest is also going to be between brothers and sisters in different platforms and therefore we should exercise caution and restrain in our utterances.

“The social economic upliftment of our people should be uppermost in our minds as we go about our campaigns and mobilising the people for the consolidation of our democratic freedom and liberty.

“As for Oshiomhole’s support for the candidacy of Mr Godwin Obaseki, this is highly complementary to the Obaseki campaign aspiration, however its not to my knowledge that the Governor is supporting his aspiration and therefore it’s also a hearsay considering the depth of rumor that circulates in the political rumor mill.

“But let it be stated at this juncture that politics and leadership in Nigeria has gone beyond just circulating around those that calls themselves professional politicians.

There is no such profession as politician, every man born of a woman is a natural politician and that accounts for why there is organisation within the family unit headed by the head of the family.

“Nigerians and indeed the people of Edo state should open their eyes to global reality. Countries and states all over the world are shopping for competent hands to steer the ship of their development to greater glory and therefore they look beyond the “normal” and encourage people of diverse culture, orientation, training and background to throw in their hats and at the end, the best will emerge and govern the people with the fear of God and the constitution.

“The party delegates that will decide the emergence of the party flag bearer are there in their various communities awaiting aspirants to come and sell their agenda to enable them decide, as continuous attacks by each of us against each of us will not add one more delegate to our basket.”