Waiting for people’s verdict in Edo governorship poll
The candidates for these political parties include Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN, Chief Solomon Edebiri of the ANPP, Elder Roland Izeobuwe of the CPC, Charles Igwemoh of the LP, Paul Orumwese of the NCP, retired Major General Charles Airhiavbere of the PDP, and Frank Ukoya of the SDMP. Of all the political parties, […]
The candidates for these political parties include Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN, Chief Solomon Edebiri of the ANPP, Elder Roland Izeobuwe of the CPC, Charles Igwemoh of the LP, Paul Orumwese of the NCP, retired Major General Charles Airhiavbere of the PDP, and Frank Ukoya of the SDMP.
Of all the political parties, candidates of ACN Comrade Oshiomhole, PDP retired Major General Airhiavbere and ANPP Edebiri appeared to be getting more attention from the people of Edo State due to their performance during intense campaign activities.
Political bigwigs from the PDP stormed the state for the grand finale campaign rally in support of the party’s candidate retired Major General Airhiavbere and his running mate Barrister Johnson Abolagba held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin on Saturday June 30, 2012 barely 14 days to the epoch making election.
Former PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman Chief Tony Anenih popularly known as ‘Mr Fix It’, an indigene of Edo State, was on hand to welcome the party’s powerful delegation, including PDP national chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, the party’s deputy national chairman Dr Sam Sam Jaja, national publicity secretary Chief Olisa Metuh, national organizing secretary Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, national woman leader Mrs Kema Chikwe and governors of Cross Rivers, Kogi, Delta and Bayelsa among others.
Stalwart party men from the state that attended the rally included the Esama of Benin; Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, former governor of old Bendel State Chief Samuel Ogbemudia, President’s Chief of Staff Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, the Minister of Works Mr Mike Onolememen, Professor Osariemen Osunbor, and former Defence and Interior Affairs Minister retired Major General Godwin Abe, state PDP chairman Chief Dan Orbih, a leader of the party in Edo South Captain Hosa Okunbo, and former Senate Chief Whip Senator Rowland Owie among others.
One message from all the speakers at the rally was the expression of optimism to defeat the incumbent governor Oshiomhole of the ACN at the poll.
President Jonathan, Vice President Sambo, Chief Anenih and Edo State PDP chairman Chief Orbih boasted that the party will win the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state.
President Jonathan, who renewed his call for a change in the way elections are being held in Nigeria, gave an assurance to provide 100 per cent security during the Edo State governorship election.
The President, who said he had got positive assurance on security from the Chief of Defence Staff and the Acting Inspector General of Police, stressed that thuggery, stuffing of ballot papers and other forms of electoral malpractices will not be tolerated.
He said, “Let me assure you my good brothers and sisters from Edo State that we will continue to keep faith with our electoral promises….When we talk about delivering, Edo State is one of the first state, in fact, it is in Edo State I first launch my campaign, ‘one man one vote’.
“This time around, no stuffing of ballot papers, no thuggery; one man one vote, one woman one vote one youth one vote. And I come here specifically to promise the people of Edo State that as you keep faith with that, Edo State is going to be one state I will show that example.
“I have been hearing too much story from Edo State; stories of insecurity, stories of this, stories of that. I assure you that even this morning, before I came, I called the Inspector General of Police and asked him, ‘are you ready for Edo State?’ He said yes. I called the Chief of Defence Staff, ‘are you ready for Edo State?’ He said ‘yes.’ I guarantee 100% security for your election and there will be no manipulation, election results will be entered at the various units and nobody will change figures.
“PDP is the dominant party. As long as you mobilise and vote, PDP will win….Let me guarantee that we are going to intervene in all your areas of interest. But for your election, PDP will win. You will vote Major Gen. Charles Airhiavbere. You will vote for transformation. You will vote for peace. You will vote for education. You will vote for health and you will vote for changes,” Mr President also said.
Vice President Sambo, in his brief remarks, said “I’m happy to announce to you that I’m the chairman of this campaign. The promise made two weeks ago is that PDP will win in Edo and form a government on the 14th of July, 2012. I only want to thank people of Edo for being with us. In sha Allah, we will come here for swearing-in ceremony”.
Chief Anenih, who asked the President to ensure adequate security during the election, said all the candidates should be given the same opportunity on the election day.
The former chairman of PDP BOT said party members are ready to deliver Edo State to PDP in order to put in place a government that will be responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people through the provision of quality medical services and pipe-borne water among others.
He said the presence of President Jonathan had raised their hope and preparedness to take over the government of ‘Heart Beat’ state.
“PDP government will protect the interest of our children….All we are saying Mr President is that we need free and fair election. We want all the candidates to be given the same opportunity on the election day. We are ready to deliver,” Anenih said.
PDP state chairman, who also said the time for change had come, advocated a unified implementation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme which he said was not being implemented in Edo State.
Speaking at the rally, the Minister of Works said Edo State has to join the transformation train being piloted by President, adding that the change is responsible for the recent of N5 billion and N5.2 billion for Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme and sinking of boreholes respectively in the state.
“I want to tell you that the change that is imminent in Edo is real. You can domesticate what is already happening in other South-South states by voting PDP on July 14. When you vote PDP, you have voted out insecurity, joblessness and diseases and the state will truly become ‘Heart Beat”, Onolememen also said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum and Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke said “the South-South zone has produced the President of Nigeria for the first time. The only support we can give him (President Jonathan) is to deliver the entire South-South to PDP”.
PDP National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, however, appealed to party members and supporters that graced the rally to translate their large presence into victory on July 14.
PDP governorship candidate Airhiavbere, who received the party’s flag from Tukur, promised that if given the mandate his government would declare emergency on three key issues of security, education and health.
Airhiavbere also promised to work towards empowering youths and women in order to accelerate government’s responsibility of providing peace and security.
One incident that stunned most watchers of political development in Edo State before the commencement of the rally was event that took place at the palace of the Oba of Benin.
The Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba Erediauwa, decided to meet PDP’s delegation among them President Jonathan, Vice President Sambo, the party’s flag bearer in July 14 governorship election, Major General Airhiavbere (rtd), which paid a courtesy visit to him in an inner chamber.
This decision by Oba was considered by some pundits as an attempt to avoid giving a public blessing to the PDP’s governorship candidate, having thrown his weight behind the candidature of incumbent Governor Oshiomhole.
The Oba of Benin, however, in a statement issued on Monday denied media report that alleged that he requested to see only President Goodluck Jonathan and shunned the leadership of the PDP during their visit to his palace.
The statement signed by Secretary to the council, Mr. Frank Irabor, explained that, “in fact, it is the respect and love Omo N’ Oba has for Mr. President that made him to still manage to see our President in a private chamber in the palace despite a complicated situation on that day.”
“The public is reminded that three weeks ago, the Omo N’ Oba waited for over two hours in his open office, where he received the Vice-President, Dr. Namadi Sambo and the PDP chieftains that were in Benin for their political rally,” the statement stated.
The Benin monarch also advised politicians to avoid violence in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, saying that political office occupation should not be seen as a ‘do-or-die’ affair but for development purposes.
Profiles of three key contenders in the election
Adams Oshiomhole
Oshiomhole is the most popular of all the candidates. He is a known and acceptable brand that can be sold easily to the people. His popularity stems from his glorious days in labour struggle. At the moment, he seems to be enjoying the support of traditional rulers in the state. The incumbent governor, who is also receiving the sympathy of many Nigerians, because of past record of the PDP in the state, has the backing of local government councils and the state legislature. Oshiomhole, who hails from Iyamoh; a small community in Edo North Senatorial District with six local government areas, is expected to win the election both in Edo North and Edo South (where the PDP candidate comes from).
Retired Major General Charles Airhiavbere
Retired Major General Charles Airhiavbere is the PDP candidate for July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo State. Airhiavbere joined politics in 2011 after he retired from the Nigeria Army. He was actually given a waiver by the national leadership of the PDP to enable him contest the election. Airhiavbere was said to have been given the PDP ticket for two reasons. First, he is from Edo South and as a Bini man, the party considers that fact that the Binis are the largest ethnic group in the state. This is because of the belief that ethnic politics cannot be totally ruled out as his kinsmen will vote for him to defeat Oshiomhole at the poll. Another reason why he was given the PDP ticket was because the party needs a neutral person to carry the party’s flag at the polls, in view of in-fighting and supremacy battle that had been rocking the party in the last three years.
Airhiavbere is a credible, lovable and likable personality of impeccable integrity and a detribalized Nigerian. His biggest drawback is the platform on which he is contesting the election because the PDP is seen as a highly hated party in the state. He has, however, promised that his government will be different, considering the performance of the past PDP administration in Edo State.
Solomon Edebiri
Solomon Edebiri is the governorship candidate of the ANPP. He is a successful businessman. His profile was further raised during the just concluded live debate organised for all candidates participating in the election. Edebiri’s ability to answer questions with precision and ability to go straight to the point place him ahead of other contenders. However, the ANPP does not have a serious party structure in the state. His ambition was threatened by sudden resignation of its former running mate and former ANPP presidential candidate in the last general election Chief John Oyegun.
He was born in 1962 in Benin. He has Masters Degree in Business Administration. He is currently the President of the West Africa Welding Federation and also the President of Nigeria Institute of Welding. A keen sport lover, who singlehandedly financed the state owned sports club Bendel United football club, is the adopted candidate of Conference of Nigeria Political Party (CNPP).