Pastor Leo Olu-Martins, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Edo State, has called to order opposition elements who derive pleasure in dragging Governor Monday Okpebholo and labelling him a tribalist for giving his kiths and kins from Edo Central Senatorial District preferential treatment in political appointments.
He said: “One of the hallmarks of democracy is the fact that you must have a functional opposition. That functional opposition provides alternative to the people as to how things should be done. So that if opportunity for another election comes and the opposition provides another alternative perhaps they can consider the opposition instead of staying with the ruling party.
“But when it comes to ethnic profiling, it comes to an instance when it looks like you are uncomfortable with the man because he’s from a particular ethnic enclave is not what I appreciate. Unfortunately, the greater part of our democracy when we look at it there’s always been that kind of complain. When Buhari was in office people accused him of Fulanisation. There are people who are accusing the present President(Bola Tinubu) of Yorubanisation.
“I have never liked to engage governance on the basis of what an individual will do for his people. It’s natural that people will find some safe haven within their kiths and kins. What’s Donald Trump doing now in America? He is saying that ‘we will take America back. We’re the aborigines of America.’
“Let us even say for the sake of argument that you’re correct. That the bulk of the people that any governor is favouring are from a particular part of the state. Are they not Edo people in the final analysis? If you check some of those people there are intermarriages. I am an Esan man but I am married to an Edo North lady. So by extension my children are also from Edo North. They’re Edo people. So, this ethnic profiling, this divide should stop.”
Going further, he reiterated: “It should be noted that less than a year ago another senatorial district of Edo State(Edo South) had its son in the helm of affairs in the Government House. People were not complaining as much as some people are doing now. We have come to the conclusion that it’s turn by turn(rotational by senatorial district). It won’t remain in Edo Central forever. At any rate how long has the Edo Central District waited to be on the state governorship seat?
“The last time(2007) that somebody from the Edo Central was governor(Professor Osunbor) he spent less than 20 months as he was removed by the Appeal Court to be replaced by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North. Edo Central accepted the turn around of events without rancour. We persevered.
“We have an opportunity now. As you know I am not a member of the APC. I am of the PDP. But I am an Edo man and I want the advancement of an Edo man whether a PDP member or of the APC. I really don’t care as long as my brother, an Edo man, is empowered I am fine with it.”
According to Pastor Olu-Martins: “If you are engaging Okpebholo on issues of insecurity, welfare of the people, pensions, profligate governance, wastefulness and others we will get into such an argument. But when you begin to profile him and say ‘Esan Agenda’. My response is since when did this ‘Esan Agenda’ thing started?
“This politics of schism; this politics of division. Unfortunately, some of the greatest wars in life had been wars that are either religious or ethnic. That’s how the Hutus and the Tutsis(Rwanda) started. People should upgrade their criticism of an administration on the basis of the real issues.”
Responding to insinuations that political appointments are skewed in favour of Edo Central, Pastor Olu-Martins asserted: “There are some local government areas in Edo South that have two commissioners nominated or appointed by this administration. For instance, Orhionmwon Local Government has gotten at least two people appointed or nominated as commissioners. Same thing with Egor and Uhunmwode Local Governments.
“Nobody raised any issues on this. The Governnor was not even praised for doing this. I think the solution lies in orientation and reorientation. The Ministry of Information and Communication has a whole lot of job to do. I am also glad that gentlemen of the Fourth Estate of the Realm are also taking the opportunity to educate people.”
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