By Ikhili Ebalu , Benin City
Edo Gubernatorial aspirants on the APC platform,,
Plus Odubu, ,General Charles Airhiavbere rtd, Dr Chris Ogiemwonyi including Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Monday in Benin City condemned the needless crisis which they said the party in Edo has been embroiled in since the middle of 2018.
The four gubernatorial aspirants stated their position at a press conference they collectively addressed on Thursday in Benin City, and blamed the crisis on the deliberate alienation of party leaders and members from the Edo state government, which the party worked hard to instal in 2016 through the wishes of Edo people.
They said the orgy of politically motivated violence which swept through the state, during the period, which targeted members of the party with opposing views from the State government, coupled with the attacks on the person of the APC National chairman and others perceived as threats to the second term ambition of Governor Obaseki, negated their collective desire for a party that is stable, virile and viable.
On the Edo assembly cris, they said that the inability of elected members of the legislative arm, all on the platform of the APC, to perform their responsibility of law making for which they were elected since June 2019 is, ” unprecedented and does not represent the progressive character of Edo people”.
The aspirants then passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the party at the State level led by Col. David Imuse rtd., and the National level under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and commended the traditional institution in the state who took various steps to promote peace and unity.
Expressing gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and other National leaders of the party for their insistence on party supremacy, they added that the successes recorded with the recent inclusion of Bayelsa and Imo states as APC states must serve as impetus for the party to retain Edo state with,” firmer grip”, in this year’s gubernatorial election.
Meanwhile the aspirants say they are committed to ensuring full compliance with the party directives with regards to the elections urged the State Governor Godwin Obaseki to subject himself to party laws and rules, to elicit, “… the respect, order and decency which lies in the interrelationship between government and the people”.
They also said after consultation with other critical stakeholders they unequivocally and wholeheartedly welcome the urgent intervention of the APC National Reconciliation Committee led by the Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan and said they were ready with their memoranda for presentation to the committee.
As stakeholders,they concluded that they have made both individual and collective efforts at restoring sanity to the APC in the state though it appears that as the state moves towards elections, the apprehension in the land is on the increase.
It was their views that there is need for sanity to prevail in Edo APC as it was such a party that would enable all of them as stakeholders to realise, ” our individual and collective aspirations so as to provide effective, efficient and productive leadership for our dear state”.
Other party leaders in their entourage we’re, eng Isaac Osahon Hon Esemude, Omorede Osifo Marshall, Saturday Uwulekhue, Hon Ogbejiele, Iyoha former speaker, Omoghe Tony, Lucky Imasuen and others.
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