By, Victoria Emike
A two-time Senator and former Governor Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor met with the Director General of Edo-APC Diaspora Council, Legend Asuelime, PhD, regarding his quest for the sole ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.
In recognition of the role the Edo APC Diaspora Community plays in molding public opinion not just during the primaries but also, and more importantly, during the governorship elections in the state, the Professor turned Politician has been engaging the Edo Diaspora Community.
The soft-spoken leader and legal luminary offen referred to as the Attorney General of the Senate by his colleagues whilst at the red chamber spoke about returning to complete his improved plans for Edo State and its people.
With a few words, the sincerity of the aspirant was clear. He articulated a few of what he felt Edo deserved at this point in time, and it was obvious he meant well for the state.
While some within the APC have raised concerns about his age as we head to primaries in February 2024, the DG of Edo-APC Diaspora Council opined that such sentiments are non-issue because the aspirant is the same age with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was nominated and subsequently voted into power by APC faithfuls across the Federation and including Edo State. Age, therefore, can not be an exclusionary factor. Moreover, the 72 year old leader I had the pleasure of interacting with obviously has a sound mind and looks fitter than many 27-year-olds.
Moreover, at this period, when Edo Central is demanding for the ticket to be zoned to them, using ethics and equity as a barometer, excluding one of their best candidates in the zone based on age or other irrelevant factors should not be topical and therefore ignored.
The constitution of the party, which we have read from front to back, did not state anywhere that party members lose their right to aspire to the highest office in any state of the Federation because of age.
The former governor reserves his right to contest for the ticket with others. We will support that notion, except there are other guidelines that the party will come up with to streamline candidates that may affect him. By then, we will have no choice but to respect and follow the Party’s decision. For now, we have seen none, and we believe he will be a good governor if the party favors him with the ticket.
Whether APC will win the state is not a subject of debate. Any candidate, even a blind man on wheelchair presented by APC, will defeat PDP because the current and outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Shuabu have by their failures given edolites, home and abroad, the rare privilege of observing and understanding ‘how not to govern a state like Edo.
*Comr. Victoria Emike is
Publicity Secretary
Edo-Diaspora Constituency.