The Owan Conscience, a socio-political group, has condemned the recent endorsement of Senator Adams Oshiomhole representing Edo North for a second tenure in office by some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owan East.
Speaking during a Press Conference, Chairman of the group, Barrister Richard Ofen – Imu, said that “the action is yet another painful and sad reminder of the persistent and wicked political plot to marginalize the Owan people who have, in recent years, been treated as spectators rather than stakeholders in the politics and governance of Edo North.
“Despite our unwavering loyalty, sacrifices, and electoral support over the years, the Owan bloc continues to be sidelined whenever critical decisions relating to allocation of elective and appointive positions are made in Edo North.”
Going further, Barrister Ofen – Imu stated: “The purported endorsement by a group of few APC members, who claim to be APC leaders in Owan East LGA is laughable and insensitive as it ignores the long-standing demand for justice, equity, fairness, and inclusive representation.
“Owan East and Owan West LGAs have competent, credible, and capable sons and daughters who are eminently qualified to represent Edo North in the Senate. Continually denying Owan people this opportunity in the last 20 years, reinforces the perception that our communities are politically expendable.”
According to Ofen – Imu, “in terms of performance Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has no visible projects in Owan land that we know of beyond sharing of bags of rice, fertilizers and few motorcycles during the Yuletide, inspite of the huge financial allocation for constituency projects in the senate.”
The Owan Conscience posited that the Etsako bloc of Edo North has in the past produced senators to represent the senatorial district in addition to the monopolisation of the ministerial, ambassadorial, deputy governorship positions apart from legions of other political appointments.
Summing it, Owan Conscience stated that “the action of this group of Owan East APC leaders is selfish and anti Owan.”
The group called on “all well meaning Owan sons and daughters, political leaders, traditional institutions, youth groups and civil society stakeholders, both at home in the diaspora, to rise above partisan sentiments and unite behind an Owan candidate for the Edo North Senatorial seat. This is not merely a political contest; it’s a struggle for dignity, recognition and fair representation.”
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