A
gathering on Saturday in Benin of some erstwhile leaders of the Edo
State chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) on one hand and the
executive and stakeholders of the state chapter of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) has further fuelled speculations that the former
APC stalwarts were all set to declare for the PDP.
The
Saturday convergence at the old campaign office of the arrow head of
the former APC stalwart, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had in attendance
members of his group such as Chief Tony Omoaghe, Hon West Idahosa, Chief
Amos Osunbor, Chief Osaretin Edosomwan, Hon Etiosa Ogbewei, Chief Sunny
Omokharo, Dr Philip Ugbodagha, Barrister Nosa Adams, Mrs Evelyn
Omokhodion Igbafe, among others.
The
PDP were led to the gathering by its Edo State chairman, Chief Dan
Orbih, who was joined by other party leaders such as Senator Odion
Ugbesia, Chief Clifford Ordia, Pharmacist Matthew Urhogide, Hon Henry
Tenebe, Hon Christopher Adesotu and a host of new party members such as
the lawmaker representing Edo South in the Senate, Senator Ehige Uzamere
and Chief Solomon Edebiri.
Speaking
at the gathering, Chief Orbih said he came with his executive council
to express their desire to have in their party members of the Ize-Iyamu
group in order to fight tyranny and institutionalise internal
democracy
and participatory democracy in Edo State.
Orbih,
who said that it was difficult for the Ize-Iyamu group to leave the APC
because they built it, noted that by their action, they have placed the
interest of the Edo people above theirs.
He
accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of plundering the economy of the
state through what he described as frivolous local and foreign trips,
which he said had cost the state the sum of about N4.5 billion.
Ize-Iyamu,
who spoke on behalf of his group, praised Chief Orbih for the way he
has piloted the affairs of the Edo PDP, pointing out that while he was
in the APC, he fooled himself into thinking that the PDP in Edo State
had been completely depleted of strong and reliable politicians.
“Today,
I know better. There is no way you can talk about leadership in Edo
State without talking about the people here today. You have come to us
and I want to say that we shall do the same. We will be meeting you as
soon as possible,” he said.
He
pointed out that he was not afraid of blackmail from any quarter and
that he knew blackmail would follow his latest political move, warning
that “those who live in a glass house should not throw stones.”
He
said he could not be figured out as the reason behind the withdrawal of
notable politicians in the state from the APC because many had left
before his group took the decision to leave the APCSOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE.
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