Akoko-Edo and Owan Alliance, a body made up of people of the two neighbouring federal constituencies in Edo North District populated by over 2.5 million people has cried out on alleged marginalisation by their Etsako neighbours(the third arm of the district).
Addressing a press conference during the weekend the leaders of the group accused the Etsako of “unfair and inequitable dominance over Akoko-Edo and Owan” which they alleged “is exemplified in the apparent zonal capture of access to the position of the Senate seat for the zone. For instance, despite the fact that we are about 70 percent of the population of Edo-North, we have only had a mere 15 percent representation in the Senate since 1960.”
According to the group Akoko Edo and Owan with a voters’ strength of 324,907 has since 1960 “only occupied the Senate slot for 4years each. This is evidently unfair, unjust, and becoming an act of wickedness of brother against brother within the Afemai brotherhood. This was not the Afemai dream of our fore-fathers.”
Going further, the group alleged that “further statistics shows an inequitable 75 percent distribution of elective and appointive positions to Etsako while Akoko-Edo and Owan are left with just 25 percent. An appraisal of the distribution lends credence to the need for a reconsideration of the status quo.”
Giving a breakdown the group disclosed that since 1999 Etsako has occupied the position of Governor(8yrs), Deputy-Governor(15yrs), Minister(6yrs), Ambassador(4yrs), Presidential Aide(6yrs), Chairman of Edo State Internal Revenue Board(8yrs) and many other elective and political appointments.
They stated that their people “will no longer watch and condone this lopsidedness in the distribution of political positions in Afemai” adding that “the recent reconstitution of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma is a particularly sore one with all three appointees representing Edo North being from Etsako.”
In its final submission the group stressed: “We are resolved to settle for no less. Our resolve is to occupy our rightful place in Edo North Senatorial District which still stands on a tripod of Akoko-Edo, Etsako and Owan as Afemai brothers in a brotherly bond, and not in bondage to anyone.”
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