Group Again Ask Party To Zone Guber Ticket To Edo Central
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
Esan New Era; a socio cultural group, made up of prominent Esan sons and daughters, drawn from different walks of life, has again called on Labour Party, LP, as well as all other Political parties that intends to field Candidates in the 2024 Edo Gubernatorial election, to in the spirit of Fairness, Equity and Unity, nominate and support an aspirant of Edo central Senatorial district extraction as their flag bearer.
In a meeting with the leadership of Edo state Labour Party today, Monday 17th July 2023, Comrade Valentine Uduebor the Organising Secretary of Esan New Era, who led other members of the group, including Comrade Columbus Akpama and Mr. Napoleon Oriabor to Labour Party Secretariat in Benin, the venue of the meeting, said; '...we have been championing the need for understanding, unity, equity and fairness with respect to the upcoming 2024 Edo Governorship Election, and we strongly believe that the "Tripod stand" arrangement, where all the three Senatorial districts are given a sense of belonging, will be respected by the leadership of all the Political parties that are participating in the 2024 Edo Governorship Election'.
Continuing, Comrade Uduebor, said; from the Political history of Edo state, it is clear that Edo central has all along, been supportive of candidates from Edo North and Edo South to emerge as the governor, adding that; '...for the upcoming 2024 Edo Governorship election, in the spirit of Fairness, Equity and Unity, Labour Party should project, nominate and support an aspirant of Edo central extraction, to emerge as the party's candidate'.
Responding, the Edo state Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Comrade Kelly Ogboloir, said; '... as a party, zoning is not our priority. We are interested in an aspirant that can win elections and also be able to defend the results...our party will not support any aspirant on the ground of whatever sentiment...'
On his part, the Vice Chairman, Barr. Patrick Agbontaen, said; '...a normal human being knows that without Unity, Fairness and Justice, things will not go well'. He however expressed concern over the large number of aspirants of Edo central extraction that have so far, signified interest to contest for the Governorship position come 2024.
The Senatorial Youth Leader, Comrade Joshua Odianosen, who assured the members of Esan New Era not to worry about who gets the ticket, also added that Labour Party is fair enough, and that the party will support the best aspirant to emerge as LP's candidate, irrespective of the Senatorial district such aspirant may come from.
Other members of executive of Labor Party, present at the meeting, include Hon. Pauline Omogbelehan, the state Woman Leader, Hon. Michael Aruoyo, the Assistant state Secretary, and Comrade Ken Omusi, the state Youth Leader. Others include; Comrade Joshua Odianosen, the Edo South Senatorial Youth Leader, Celestine Iyare, the Auditor and Sam Orukpa, the state Publicity Secretary.
It can be recalled that on Saturday, 22nd April 2023 the group, Esan New Era, held a Press Conference at Prestige Hotel, Benin, where they made it clear that Esanland has for a very long time now, been marginalized in governance, and in the scheme of things in Edo state over the years, as such, come 2024 Edo Governorship election, Edo North and Edo South should in the spirit of Fairness, Equity and Unity support the emergence of Edo governor of Esan extraction.