A popular socio-political group in Edo State, Owan Conscience, has dissociated self from the recent purported endorsement of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, for a second term in office.
Addressing a Press Conference on Friday, Chairman of the group, Barrister Richard Ofen-Imu, made it pointedly clear that it is the turn of Owan Nation to take over the senatorial seat come 2027.
His words: “Let me inform us that Owan Conscience is a socio-economic and cultural organization of Owan sons and daughters, who are desirous of unifying the various clans of Owan East and West Local Government Areas, accelerating growth and development in the area; as well as projecting and defending the interest of our people in every sector of the economy.
“We read in the media recently that the Edo North Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had endorsed Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Senator representing Edo North in the National Assembly, for a second term in the Senate. The purported endorsement was said to have taken place at a meeting of APC leaders in Edo North Senatorial District at the Iyamho home of Comrade Oshiomhole.
“We wish to make it abundantly clear and without any iota of doubt that the Owan Nation completely dissociates herself from the unjust and insensitive endorsement. Edo North Senatorial District, otherwise known as Afenmai, is made of three sub-ethnic groups; namely, Akoko-Edo, Etsako and Owan. These three groups should, naturally, share the political positions that may be allocated to the area as an entity.
Continuing , Ofen-Imu said, “Comrade Oshiomhole, like we all know, is of the Etsako sub-ethnic group, a group that has over the years dominated the senatorial slot to the glaring disadvantage of Akoko-Edo and Owan.
The analysis clearly shows that while Etsako would have held the senate slot for about 31 years by 2027, Owan and Akoko-Edo have held the same position for only 4 years each. This is not only unfair and unjust, but an act of wickedness of brother against brother and it lacks equity.
“Needless to add that the current Minister from Edo State, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, is from Etsako, same as the immediate past Minister, Prince Clem Agba. The immediate past ambassador is an Etsako man. The current nominee for the same position of an ambassador is also from Etsako; just to mention but a few positions zoned to Edo State/Edo North and being held by indigenes of Etsako.
“Rotation of elective political offices among component ethnic or sub-ethnic groups is a major feature of democratic governance in the country. Therefore, the Edo North Senatorial slot for 2027 should, expectedly, go to the Owan people who have only occupied the senatorial seat from 2007 to 2011.
“The Owan Conscience is hereby calling on the various political parties, especially the APC, to zone their senatorial slot to Owan for the sake of equity and fairness. Owan APC leaders should not under any guise give support to the so-called endorsement which is founded on injustice and selfishness,” the Chairman of Owan Conscience posited.
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