Drum beats of ‘war’ in Edo Central over alleged imbalance in political office sharing

AGENE GODWIN, Benin

Palpable fear of break down of law and order looms in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State between inhabitants of the four autonomous Kingdoms that make up the locality over alleged imbalance in the distribution of political appointments.

The aggrieve leaders of Ewu, Opoji and Ugbegun Kingdom in a statement made available to newsmen in Ugbegun, want the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to wade into the injustice meted against them by political leaders in Irrua.

The statement which was signed by Prince Tom Anuge, Mr Mathew Emiohe and Hon Aigbiremolen, among others argued that the three marginalized Kingdoms have over the years voted massively for the victory of the APC, yet they are forgotten when it comes to benefiting from the dividends of democracy.

A portion of the statement reads: “ We of these three Kingdoms seriously demand a change of attitude from the majority group by allowing equitable distribution of infrastructures, political appointments, elective offices that are usually allocated to the local government area, subsequently as this will enhance development and peaceful co-existence among the component Kingdoms that make up Esan Central.

“We like to place it on record that our Kingdoms of Ewu, Opoji and Ugbegun voted massively for APC in all elections that have been conducted in Edo State.

“Throughout the years, we have watched patiently and painfully from the political wilderness that we seemed to have been how Irrua Kingdom continues to snatch in the most unjust manner most of the political positions of significance in our local government especially important the position of council chairmanship. From 1999 till date, the chairman of the Council, all executive directors, special assistants, board chairmen allocated to the LG are all centred in Irrrua Kingdom”

“It is our humble hope to pursue political and peaceful avenues for protest that are available to us until this great marginalization, injustice meted to us by the Irrua people is fully addressed. We shall agitate constructively, protest peacefully in order to avoid the real possibility of a breakdown of law and order if this trend remains unattended to.”