- We cannot compare Oshiomhole with PDP 8yrs in Edo – Senator Roland Owie
- Never Again Shall we deal with Imposition – Prince Edobor
By Ehi Ekhator.
All is not well in the camp of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the choice of candidate in the next coming governorship election.
Just as there is a problem over an alleged imposition of candidate in the state All Progressives Congress, NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that the PDP aspirants are equally fighting the some cabals planning to impose their anointed candidate.
According to investigation, Edo State Party Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih invited some leaders to Abuja for a meeting at Chief Tony Anenih’s residence. Those in attendance were reported to be loyal associates of one of the aspirants, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Discussion concerning the upcoming governorship election and state congress were top on the agenda in the meeting.
The leaders who were in support of other Aspirants other than those for Pastor Iyamu were not invited. For example, Senator Rowland Owie and Chief Ben Edo, two very top members of the Edo South curcus as number two and three respectively were not invited, a move that did not augur well with the other aspirants and their supporters.
NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that those projecting their candidate are Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Dan Orbih and host of others.
Our correspondent gathered that upon their return a week later, Chief Tom Ikimi as Chairman of a special committee and one of those solidly behind the secret anointed aspirant, sent a text message to all aspirants and a meeting was held at his GRA residence in Benin.
The list of those invited for this Special Committee meeting includes:
Edo North:-
(1) Alhaji Kassim Ozeto
(2) Chief Mike Oghiadomhe
(3) Col. Tunde Akogun
(4) Hon. Henry Tenebe
(5) Hon Pascal Ogbome
(6) Chief Dan Orbih (State Chairman)
Edo Central.
(1) Arch. Mike Onolumeme
(2) Sen. Odion Ugbesia
(4) Sen. Cliff Odia.
(5) Hon. Joe Edionwele
(6) Hon. Sergies
(7) Dr. Prince Tony Omoghae
(8) Hon Giwa Agbonmelere.
(9) Chief Tom Ikimi (Committee Chairman)
Edo South
(1) Chief Gabriel Igbinedion (Esama.)
(2) Dr. Oni Edigin
(3) Owerri Dickson Imasogie
(4) Barr. Ahimien
(5) Hon EJ Abonayima
(6)Hon. Omosede Igbinedion
(7) Hon. Omoregie Ihama
(8) Sen. Matt Ughrohide
Aspirants present in the meeting were:
(1) Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri (ISE)
(2) Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (POI)
(3) Hon Mathew Iduyokemwen (MAI)
Aspirants who shunned the said meeting or took excuses not to attend were:
(1) Senator Uzamere
(2) Osaro Onaiwu
NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that the meeting almost ended in chaos when the aspirants were told that the committee was saddled with the primary responsibility of scaling down the number of aspirants to an initial two and finally one as time goes on.
The meeting tensed all the aspirants except one aspirant who said a level playing field be provided.
The leaders of the meeting, according to NAIJA CENTER NEWS finding advised the aspirants to discuss within themselves with a possibility of arriving at some stepping down for another which they all rejected.
Uncomfortable at the turn of the event, the Committee Chairman stated that the party will dictate what happens and not the aspirants, again a statement that resulted in complaints.
However, the Edo South curcuss Chairman Chief Gabriel Igbinedion who was absent came just as his Daughter, Hon Omosede Igbinedion was stepping out to catch her scheduled flight back to Abuja alongside other elected PDP National Assembly members who were all invited to the botched meeting.
He (Chief Igbinedion) pleaded for calmed nerves and asked to be given time to consult and submit two names to the committee for consideration. Two of the aspirants except one again rejected the suggestion.
The Aspirants again protested that anyone who continue to show interest be allowed to see his ambition to a logical conclusion; the Primaries. The meeting thus closed without any concrete resolution. The committee Chairman and Party Chairman gave him (Chief Igbinedion) two weeks to come out with these names.
NAIJA CENTER NEWS investigation revealed that the plot continued in Chief Igbinedion’s residence where he invited five persons per Local Government including the Party L.G. A Chairmen over the burning issue. Again nothing concrete came out as those against the plot to impose a candidate successfully thwarted the move.
Majority of the Party Leaders who may have learned from the Presidential election are said to be in favour of a true and transparent primaries nothing that the party failed at the National level as a result of the same imposition; a scenario they are no longer willing to see repeat itself in Edo State, therefore raise posers:
What is the role of National PDP in State chapters if the state chapter does anything that is unconstitutional?
What will be the role of the people if a few persons are allowed to determine their destiny?
After the imposition by these persons (assuming they even succeed), will the general election also be by consensus?
Is the party not at risk of incurring the people’s wrath considering the fact that the Igbinedion dynasty is frantically trying to foist one of their own through the back door?
Senator Roland Owie who spoke with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on the issue confirmed the plans.
The Senator stressed that they would not succeed in hatching it, insisting that though they may plan but they can’t as it will go against the tenet of the party.
On the secret meeting that took place in Abuja, the Senator said he challenged Tom Ikimi’s right to be in the meeting knowing fully well that he is supporting a specific candidate.
Some of us have told them it is illegal and they cannot try it. They were trying to do that nonsense and we told them it is not possible.
I told Tom Ikimi that he doesn’t have moral right to be there because he has a candidate he is supporting, how will you then chair such a committee. The PDP constitution is very clear, only NEC, PDP at national level that can constitute the committee at the appropriate time.
They were just wasting their time with what they were doing, it is unnecessary and they do not have the authority to do that.
Ikimi has his own aspirant which everybody has right to have but certainly my own arguments have been that the governorship election is not on party level but who is fielded.
I have said it that any aspirant that has close link with PDP eight years in Edo State cannot be the governor because that regime did not do too well. Everybody is free to choose candidates, but Edo people will choose their candidate. If they choose a candidate that is not salable or not, we wish them luck.
Oshiomhole may not have done to the extent that is expected to be but you cannot compare the governor’s achievement on ground to that of Lucky Igbinedion because if a man is not objective and as a Catholic Knight i am bound to say the truth in public and private.
There are some achievement Oshiomhole has made which PDP in Edo State did not do. All we should do is to tell the people that we would do better than what Oshiomhole had done by bringing a credible candidate, but if they bring a candidate within the system that failed (Lucky Igbinedion administration), we will distance ourselves throughout the campaign.
So they won’t try it, and if they dare, it will be aborted.
Revealing Oshiomhole’s plan, Senator Owie said the governor’s plan is to roll out a big board of Pastor Ize-Iyamu with Lucky Igbinedion to warn Edo people if he emerged as the party flag bearer.
Quoting the governor, the Senator said: “If Pastor Ize-Iyamu emerge as PDP candidate, he would roll out big board from Ofusu to Okpila with picture of Lucky Igbinedion and the Pastor with an inscription “don’t draw Edo State back again”, and during campaign we will be defending ourselves.
Speaking on the issue, another chieftain of the PDP, Prince Edobor Eghosa said “We must not forget where we are coming from as a political party. First we are guided by the provision of our constitution. The founding father of this party have in mind when they postulated the motto of this party that there must be justice, unity and progress and the law two is not attainable without the first one.
“The slogan of PDP is that power must be to the people. We say no to imposition, and the selection of candidate must be through free, credible and democratic process. That is how in the end, there will be unity and progress because justice has been served.
“Making reference to what happened at the federal level, Prince Eghosa said i think our people have learned from their mistakes. The problem of the general election in 2015 has become an opener to the people.
“We drifted from the primary constitution of the party and that was why we lost the election. Not again shall we now deal with imposition and cabals who are bent on destroying this party.
EXCLUSIVE: Ikimi, Orbih, Igbinedion planning to hijack PDP candidacy for anointed candidate
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