AGENE GODWIN, Benin
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) , in Edo Central senatorial district, Chief Mathew Emiohe, Sunday, ruled out the possibility of the zone in producing a successor to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
This is just as the party chieftain appealed to Oshiomhole to and leadership of the party in the country to lift an earlier embargo placed on political activities in the state to enable commencement of electioneering campaign ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the state.
Emiohe who blamed the lack of unity and cohesion among APC leaders in the zone for its inability to produce a successor to Oshiomhole, noted that the situation ‘had always being the party’s undoing.’
He opined that the ban on electioneering does not augur well for the party and the aspirants as they are eager to showcase themselves to the electorate, which would also avail the people the opportunity to properly assess all the aspirants.
“You all know that next year is governorship election in the state and by now we expect that all the aspirants should have been let loose to sell themselves to the people so that they can be accessed. But I understand that it is not possible because of the embargo placed on political activities in the state and this will not augur well for the party.
“In the U.S, the election is in November 2016 and all the aspirants are busy campaigning, so why are we not campaigning here? Why should the governor stop them from showcasing themselves? Is there going to be any imposition? That will not be allowed, they should be allowed to campaign, I don’t believe in zoning and when we know aspirants will now choose from one of them?
“In 2012, we won in the 5 local government areas that constitute Edo Central in spite of the fact that the PDP is on ground here. In the first term, people saw what Oshiomhole was doing and they voted for him overwhelmingly but I’m afraid if the voting pattern will go the same way in the 2016 governorship, I’m just being objective because I represent my people and I know the feeling of my people. Any politician that means well for the party should be able to say the truth no matter what because I speak the mind of my people.”
