Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A group on the aegis of Edo South Vanguard For Justice and Equity on the Edo State gubernatorial election, has frowned at the campaign of calumny currently being peddled against the topmost governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo, saying that such act undermine the spirit of fairness and equity upon which the state stands.
The group in a statement signed by Engr, Osaigbokan Auoma (Ovia North-east) Coordinator, Pastor Johnson Osareimen (Ovia South-West) Assistant Coordinator, Mrs. Joy Ebhonuaye (Oredo) Woman leader and Mrs. Eson Blessing (Oredo), Secretary, respectively and made available to Truth Live News Media in Benin City, said those who have embarked on such voyage of tarnishing his reputation are those jittering over his towering resume and antecedents.
“We boldly state that this is an act to prove that they feel threatened and jittery with the intimidating resume of Asue Ighodalo, a well-known gentleman of national and international repute.
“He is not desperate and has no history of violence or stains of any nature. We advise against this vile campaign of calumny and fruitless gang-up against Dr Barr Asue Ighodalo”, the statement said.
The group said that they are aware that the current administration of Mr Godwin Obaseki is on the home stretch and as expected, political activities that would lead to the enthronement of a new administration in another eleven months are in top gear and, as usual, politicians are coming up with their antics and dramas and which they must not allowed to sail through.
The group in their statement while chronicling the political history of the state, said Edo Central has been highly marginalized over the years and that, the 2024 governorship election serves as an opportunity for the state to redeem its image by allowing the region (Edo Central) to produce the next governor of the state.
“As a noble organization with its members across the seven LGAs in Edo South senatorial district of Edo State, we have taken our position as far as the Edo 2024 gubernatorial election and the political situation in the state are concerned.
“We have taken our time to critically consider the socio-political history of the state since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation in 1999 and arrived at the equitable resolution that since our senatorial district, Edo South, started with Chief Lucky Igbinedion between 1999 and 2007, Prof Osehriemen Osunbor from Edo Central, May 2007 to November 2008, an administration that was truncated by an appeal court verdict, Comrade Senator Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North, between 2008 and 2016 and Mr. Godwin Obaseki from Edo South again, 2016 to 2024, it is only fair that Edo Central is allowed to govern the state as from 2024.
“After a thorough research and study of all the aspirants coming out to contest the 2024 Guber election, we have concluded that for Edo state to experience a more peaceful coexistence, unity and brotherhood among all the ethnic nationalities in the state, we must first and foremost respect the doctrine of fairness, equity, justice, equality and diversity, which gives the people of Edo central to the opportunity to produce the next governor.
“On this note, we want to state unequivocally that we are throwing our weight behind Barr Aseulimen Ighodalo of the PDP, who hails from Esan South-East LGA of Edo central senatorial district of the state”, the group boasted.
The group in strong term warned and condemned those behind the campaign of calumny against Asue Ighodalo maintaining that they are absolutely behind him.
” Finally, we strongly condemn the attempt by some desperate politicians to drag the enviable name and integrity of Dr Asue Ighodalo into a negative narrative of political violence and thuggery”, the statement said.