EDO YOUTH VANGUARD FUMES OVER CLANDESTINE MOVES BY APC LEADERSHIP TO CEDE ITS GUBER TICKET TO SERVING SENATOR, WITH OTHER SERVING POLITICAL APPOINTIVE OFFICERS AS ALTERNATIVES
…*says the scheming betrays the confidence reposed on the party by Edolites to take back Edo come 2024*
Òria Obòbaifoh writes from Porthacourt city (home of agreement)
I would like to recount history a little before unveiling the main content of this post as already captioned in subject. I sincerely beg that my insightful digression be pardoned.
History has always told the world, it has no problem as it is still ready to teach those that are ready to learn from it.
The likes of Dr Mike Onolemene, Hon Engr Ogbeide Ihama, Sir Prince Lewis Osobase; Hon. Dr. Felix Ehiguse Akhabue just to mention a very few for a start would have been distinguished Senators and HoR, respectively by now until greed, lack of contentment and godfather’s imposition throw them out of the race that was almost as good as won and had tickets handed over to some sets of self serving ‘Halleluya boys’ with their “Mr Only Me” syndrome of greed. The results sent them all into political retirements as the electorates unanimously proved that power actually belongs to the people. Party loyalty was sacrificed at the altar of what was right at that material time, and all these were done without regrets.
APC as a party was the major beneficiary of this political fracas and fortunes smiled on it through the electoral victories recorded majorly in the Edo Central Senatorial district. The success stories made headlines as it was indeed a breaking news in Esan Land for the APC.
As a party, we still have God to thank for the grace that found us and no thanks giving is enough to this effect. Confusing GRACE with political POPULARITY and ACCEPTABILITY is what I find so difficult to understand as an analyst.
I have seen several posters and bill boards recently of Sen. Monday Okpebholo (Akpakomiza), Hon Prince Odi Okojie, and a host of others showing interest in Edo guber race. It beats my imagination the insatiability of humans. They, amongst others were among the very few that had their palm kernels cracked by the benevolence of the gods; under no guise should these complete gentle men be ungrateful to the people who found them worthy for that befitting assignment. He who is faithful with little, will definitely be when in abundance; the bible says. But the question is, have they been able to deliver on the first assignment? Stable and highly focused characters should be sought after if our party, APC must take back Edo, come 2024.
I was privy to the outcome of the meeting of Edo Youth Vanguard for Edo 2024 which held at Upper Sakponba Rd Benin last weekend. Their submissions on Edo 2024 gubernatorial race completely align with my introductory notes, though I still owe the public the duty to make excerpts from it.
Amongst other things, they resolved that there should be no form of anointed candidate and godfather imposition as in the case of PDP in the just concluded elections as same spelt doom for the party from top to bottom. Our formidable APC should learn from history.
The group resolved and threatened to make their positions known to presidency if same is discarded by the state leaders. They opined that all political office holders (elective and appointive) should be prevailed upon to face their primary assignments. Edo 2024 requires extra commitments and it is not advisable to feature any aspirant who has nothing to loose or suffer at the end of day as they would easily fall back to their jobs. This indicates that they will not take the contest seriously as they have nothing at stake since their job is still waiting for them. Stretching this position a little further, the likes of Sen Monday Okpebholo-Senator Representing Edo Central Senatorial District(child of grace), Hon Prince Odi Okojie-Hon Member Representing Esan North and South East Fed Constituency (another child of grace), Sir Victor Eboigbe-Hon Fed Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commissions, Barr Thomas Okosun- Chairman Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal; Col. David Imuse-State Chairman, APC (off course, the resignation of the latest should be immediate as he can never be a judge in his own case).
Edo Youth Vanguard went further and stated that, should the aforementioned fail to jettison their ambition for other qualified Esan sons and daughters to fly, they should be made to resign compulsorily before making official declarations so that their positions can be taken up by other grateful Esan sons and daughters as no one pursues two things simultaneously and gets it. The risk of always loosing both are higher as experiences have shown in time past.
It concluded that APC should note the ages of all aspirants and the group comfortably recommended an age bracket of 40 years to 62 years. It was begged at 62years because, the individual can comfortably take two terms, God willing, and exit honourably at 70 years (max). Taking analysis on this powerful point (emphasis are mine), Sen. Prof Osereimen Osunbor should be appeased to to support a younger and vibrant candidate and take the role of an elders state man he has long become. He is among few men from Esan marvelously blessed by God politically in Esan. He went through the ranks as University don. By all standards, he should be a pensioner by now comfortably enjoying his wealth as Professor emeritus and delivery the needed lectures for nation building but as a child of grace, luck found him further and he had his 8 years shot in the Senate before the one and half year surgeon as Governor before legal truncation over 15 years ago. If he was 60 then, for instance; he should be 75 by now.
Lastly, the issue of capacity was disected by the group. The group passionately appeal that serious individuals/aspirants unnecessarily raising our number of aspirants should shield their ambition if they do not have the capacity. Guber race involves spending. It will take average of 50 to 80m (mere anticipation for now) to buy APC Guber forms when eventually advertised. We don’t want people selling their houses just to buy forms. What will they sell to fund the campaigns. Before an aspirant relies on party and outsiders for funding, the party should be able to rely on the aspirant for preliminary funding.
If sympathy is to be granted in this regard, certainly not now when speculations are high that the ruling party in the state is planning of imposing a Bank Chairman in their usual way, with an opposing political party fielding a ‘riceman’. The later for instance, have saved for over 20 years for this purpose.
APC cannot afford to play to the gallery this time with imposition against the will of the people as we are currently gathering. This scheming must stop as it will spell political doom for all of us if pushed further.
A stitch in time saves nine.
