Barely 24 hours the National Executive Committee (NEC), and leaders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), agreed to allow the candidacy of the incumbent Governor of Edo State,. Godwin Obaseki, in the forthcoming governorship election, one of the aspirants for the race, Hon Ogbeide-Ihama Omoregie, has agreed to withdraw the matter against the party and governorship hopeful, Obaseki, pending at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Division, in Rivers State.
PDP leaders in Edo State, waded into the legal tussle by using the internal organs of the party at both state and national levels to broker peace, in the face of massive endorsements for the candidacy of Obaseki, a performing governor described by the leadership of Edo Professionals as the most ideal person to grab the PDP 2020 governorship ticket.
Edo Professionals, is a nongovernmental organisation, NGO, made up of sons and daughters of the State in various professions Providing pro bono advise to facilitate the growth and development of the state.
Obaseki, a founding member of the group was loaned to Adams Oshiomhole, to offer pro bono advise and professional services in investments and socioeconomic remodelling, and in the nick of time became the economic and investments “brain box” as Chairman of Edo State Government Economic Team of Oshiomole’s eight years in the saddle as governor.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a live public affairs programme on Channels Television on Wednesday, one of the leading voices of Edo Professionals, Barrister Mrs Julie Odigie Oyegun, said the people of Edo State have already settled for Obaseki.
She asserted that the tremendous achievements recorded within the past four years of Obaseki’s good governance strides cannot be swept under the carpet by any right thinking Edo man or woman, boy or girl, adding that nobody, not ten of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu put together, can withstand or thwart the collective will of Edo people come governorship election in September.
She noted that democracy and democratic governance is all about making society better and the main target remained the people, adding that Obaseki within the past four years have demonstrated capacity, diligence, prudence and leadership skills in the discharge of his assigned responsibilities as governor of Edo State.
Oyegun further posited that come September this year, Obaseki will sweep the polls in the State, due largely to the uncommon development in the state, his responsive leadership style, open door policy, accountability and transparency in dealing with developmental and other socioeconomic issues across the three senatorial districts.
In a related development, there are strong indications that one of the aspirants, Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon, may soon embrace peace and face the reality on ground and join the multifaceted endorsement of Obaseki, in line with the interests of the people of Edo State, and subsequently realign himself with the resolve of the party at state and national levels to field the incumbent governor of Edo state, as the party candidate for the September election.
If Imasuagbon treads the part of peace and party interest, his popularity will soar paving the way for a brighter prospect of becoming a major force after Obaseki’s tenure in 2024.
On the other hand, Edo people will see Imasuagbon, as a son-figure whose political ambition is subject to the overall interests and choice of the people, which is basically a plus that can never be toyed with in terms of future political relevance and general acceptance.
The way things are, it is obvious that Edo PDP governorship primaries will hold in Benin City with all the aspirants queuing solidly behind Obaseki for a landslide victory.
