My modest contribution to Esanland is not a ‘Quid Pro Quo’, hence I am not soliciting for election, says Gen Cecil Esekhaigbe
..insist that he has made and still making sacrifice to ensure the realisation of Esan’s legitimate political quest
Sequel to a video by one Shaba Mien-mien shared on some social media platforms, wherein the said Shaba made unsubstantiated allegations against the highly respected Edo Central APC Senatorial Leader, General Cecil Esekhaigbe Rtd, PhD, the APC chieftain has made a revealing clarifications and placed the record straight in a personally written rejoinder to the said video.
RE: ALLEGATIONS OF BETRAYAL OF ESAN QUEST FOR PRODUCING THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF EDO STATE.
My attention has been drawn to the above Reference that ESAN has been shortchanged in the political calculations for Edo 2024 in a meeting of Leaders in Abuja.
The Social media have been busy with all sorts of insinuations and insults to this regard crescending into a fallacious video broadcast by one of our sons in Europe called Shaba.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t respond to issues that have no substance. For the sensitive nature of our quest and the passion of most Esan people to have our dreams realised, I will make some clarifications.
With the release of the APC guidelines and processes for the primaries, a strategic meeting was held in Abuja with equal representation by each Senatorial district to discuss the guidelines for the primaries.
I led the Esan team comprising Lady Betty Okojie and Hon Odi Okojie who attended as the members of the NASS who are not Aspirants were invited.
The question of sabotaging Esan legitimate quest for Governor did not arise. The meeting discussed the processes and procedures which will guide the selection of the candidate of the party.
THERE WAS NO DECISION ON WHICH SENATORIAL DISTRICT WOULD GET THE TICKET. I am a firm advocate of Power Rotation built on a common understanding and Consensus.
The passion and agitation for Esan is therefore LEGITIMATE looking at the chronicle of command in Edo State.
This was and has remained our deliberations. While the Agitation is legitimate, we must understand that the needed consensus can only be through negotiations, strategic alliances and tapping the good consciences of other senatorial districts.
Under my leadership, I have made and still making sacrifices to ensure the realisation of our legitimate quest. Many respected Esan men and women have demonstrated abiding faith in our common objective by a unanimous support of my leadership.
We the leaders in APC are open to objective criticism and altruistic interrogation in our adventure. The authors and faceless sponsors of the social media vituperations on my team should be asked some salient questions.
1. Did they attend the meetings where the decision to shortchange Esan was made?
2. Was there a communique from the meeting to that effect?
3. Has the process of selection even started before their write ups and videos?
5. Is the process of the selection over?
6. Who communicated the unverified story to the man in Europe?
For clarification purposes, we have qualified Aspirants from Esanland who are capable of leading Edo State and I pray that they come up tops as the selection exercise kicks off today.
The senatorial districts have equal representation on the Panel screening the Aspirants, so there will be fairness to a very large extent.
I want to make it clear to mischief makers in APC that we are determined to sanitise the system. No individual is too important to be left to wallow in malfeasance without check.
It is no longer business as usual. It is either you are in our party or go elsewhere. For me, I am too old to be intimidated in any guise.
I would continue to live by example and I have thus challenged any politician who has given me money to come out in the public with evidence.
I am also not a stooge to any mortal and there is nothing I shall want that would change this. I have paid my dues in Esanland and I would continue to do my best.
My modest contribution to Esanland is not a Quid Pro Quo hence I am not soliciting for elections.
I have turned down so many appointments for Esan to produce Governor. I am very qualified to contest for the office of the Governor but I chose to lead my people.
For avoidance of doubt, i am very qualified to hold many of the appointments in Government by any level of consideration and contribution to the party.
Do I need to mortgage my ancestral land to hold appointments? God forbid!
I am out to lead and I need the support of every well meaning Party man and woman. Please let’s exercise restraints and genuinely unite as a people with common destiny.
We are on course and with God on our side, we will collectively achieve our objective. My team did not betray Esan and nobody would. The mischief makers who are gradually becoming irrelevant in our fold would try to cause disaffection but they will fail.
For the young man Shaba, can you in your clear conscience say that what you posted was a verified information?
You can be a successful crusader if you are altruistic and sincere. I will forgive you for the insults because you do not know me.
May God forgive you and bless you with wisdom. “Wisdom begins when you know your limitations,” For those nursing self inflicted injuries, desist from the outdated politics of personal aggrandizement and irresponsible behaviours.
There is CONSEQUENCE for every action. Rather than exhibiting cowardly behaviour of character assassination by proxy, be bold and author your allegations with your correct identity and face the consequences.
I owe the good people of Esanland who genuinely inquired about what is happening in APC this explanation.
May God bless us all!
Gen Cecil Esekhaigbe rtd.PhD.
