Sunday 8 July 2012

Ahead July 14 Edo gov poll...

Group rallies support for PDP
INDIGENES of Edo States living in the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT), Abuja and its environs, under the unbrella of Edo Transformation Forum, have urged all eligible voters in the state to vote en masse for the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), General Charles Airhiavbere (retd), in the governorship election in the state, scheduled to hold on Saturday.

In a communique signed by Felix Asemota, Okazogie Lawrence and Murphy Otoisi, representing the three senatorial districts in the state, after an emergency meeting in Abuja, at the weekend, the group said this became neccessary for the state to take its rightful place as the heartbeat of the nation.

The communique appealed to all eligible voters of Edo State origin across the states of the federation and Abuja to tavel home to cast their votes for the PDP candidate, for the total liberation of the state from the opposition.

It noted that all the South-South states had PDP governors at the helm of affairs and, as such, the people should go for the PDP on Saturday.

According to the group, “the rate of development in Edo in the last four years was insignicant compared to what is obtainable within our South-South neighbours of Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa.”

It further enjoined all Edo indigenes to continue to support the leadership of their leaders, including Chiefs Tony Anenih, Mike Oghiadohome, Mike Omolememen and Major-General Airhiavbere, so that the state could continue to benefit from the transformation programme of the Federal Government.

No ethnicity in Edo politics - PDP chieftain
A businessman and chieftain of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Captain Hosa Okunbo, has dismissed the suggestion of ethnicity in the politics of the state, saying politics is all about the interest of the people.

Captain Okunbo, who spoke during an interactive session with journalists in Benin City, on Sunday, said the quest for the common good of a people did not amount to ethnic politics.

He observed that if some people were contributing more or were the determinant factor because of population in the process of electing a leader, it presupposed that the people should also enjoy the benefit of their strength.

Okunbo said the total number of votes from Edo South, his senatorial district, was more than votes from both Edo North and Edo Central senatorial districts, adding that this fact was demonstrated by the result of the last presidential election.

He said he withdrew his support for the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) administration in the state because he could not be contributing to a system that did not take into account the interest of his own in relation to their contribution.

According to him, “If you look at the appointments, the North has political presence in Abuja, the Central has political presence in Abuja, but the South does not.”

Besides, Captain Okunbor also dismissed insinuation that the Benin traditional ruler, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa, was in support of a particular candidate for the Edo governorship election holding on Saturday, saying “the Omo N’Oba is our father. I believe he has the interest of Benin people at heart.”

Youths condemn alleged purchase of voter cards by ACN
LESS than a week to the Edo governorship election billed for Saturday, a group, Edo Youth Vanguard (EYV), in Abuja, at the weekend, decried the purchase of voter cards from intending voters in various local government areas of Edo State by officials and agents of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), led by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration.

The allegation was coming on the heels of reported exchange of voter card for N5,000 in almost all the local government areas, as part of efforts by the government to win the election.

In a statement by its coordinator, Mr Mathew Idemudia and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the group said the alleged action of the officials of the ACN had cast doubt over the election, whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was fully prepared.

Idemudia said the alleged intimidation of villagers with arms by officials of ACN called to question whether the one-man one-vote canvassed by Oshiomhole on one hand, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the other, would come to play, in view of the high level of insecurity witnessed in recent times.

The group further said challenged the security agents to be on the watch out for acts capable of jeopardising the election in Edo State, while it also warned youths to resist being used as thugs in the election.

Benin crown prince assures on peace
EDAIKEN N’Uselu and crown prince of Benin Kingdom, Eheneden Erediauwa, has assured the people of Edo that he is in the vanguard for the sustenance of peace in a united Edo State.

Prince Erediauwa gave the assurance during a dinner held in his honour on Saturday night, at the palace grounds in Benin City noted that his father, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa and the governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, contributed to the unity.

Eheneden, who recently returned from foreign service, after close to two decades of diplomatic sojourn as Nigeria’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to countries that included Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Italy, said the reception organised by his father, the Benin traditional ruler, was the crowning glory of receptions he had received since his return.

Dignitaries that attended the dinner included Governor Oshiomhole; national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Bola Tinubu; former Minister of Defence, General Godwin Abbe (retd); Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi; Senator Chris Ngige; former deputy governor of Edo State, Lucky Imasuen, and Edo State publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Matthew Urhoghide.

NGO conducts opinion poll on preferred candidate
THE Centre for Public Opinion and Media Research (CePOMeR) is currently conducting a public opinion poll to gauge voters’ choice of the preferred candidate to occupy the office of governor of Edo State for the next four years.

The poll’s outcome will be issued under the theme: Office of the Citizen Bulletin.

The opinion poll came on the heels of a successful debate by candidates for the state gubernatorial election, organised by the Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG).

The NEDG debate narrowed down the front runners to three, namely the Action Congress on Nigeria (ACN) and its candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; The All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and its candidate, Chief Solomon Edebiri and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retd).

Having witnessed the final round of debate and also given the intense campaigns by the candidates, the poll targetted 5,000 persons registered to vote at the July 14 election from across its three senatorial zones.

Respondents will also indicate the reason for their choices as well as confidence level on ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a free and fair election.

CePOMeR will announce the outcome of the poll at a press conference in Benin City, Edo State, tomorrow.

The centre is an independent non-governmental research group, specialising in social and policy work.

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