Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a group, Auchi Development Foundation (ADF), has kicked against the marginalization of the commercial nerve centre of Edo North senatorial district.
A joint statement Tuesday by the President, Prince Nasiru Ikharo and the General Secretary, Alhaji Abdulazeez Elamah after a meeting in Auchi lamented that since the emergence of presidential system of democracy in Nigeria (1999), Auchi people have watched with dismay how their interest in elective positions have been subjected to unfavorable manipulation in the hands of politicians, both within and outside of the community.
While cautioning all political parties not to undermine the interest of Auchi people in their political permutations, Ikharo and Elamah pointed out that the people of Auchi will not look back irrespective of political party affiliations as they will do what is in the interest of their people when they vote next year.
On the zoning of elective political offices like Senate, House of Representatives amongst others for the 2023 and subsequent elections, they insisted that any political party whose zoning arrangements underestimated the political relevance of Auchi will have itself to blame for its political misfortune.
According to them no person of Auchi descent should allow his or herself to be used in the political gaming to jeopardize the interest of the people.
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The statement added: “It was unanimously agreed that ‘Auchi is our party’ and that at no time should political party affiliation affect the resolve in driving that agenda.”
While calling for mass registration, the president and scribe remarked that voter education and enlightenment will not only go a long way in shaping the political direction of our people, but also demonstrate the voting strength in Auchi as a tool for ensuring political equity going forward.
Considering the population and the economic might, coupled with the historical role the polytechnic town played and continue to play in the emancipation of the Afenmai people, ADF observed that to enable a proper engineering and attainment of significant developmental stride, there must be equity in elective positions in Afemai land and across political parties.
Ikharo and Elamah noted: “The summit therefore served as a forum for the Foundation to interface with all known political actors in Auchi irrespective of the parties to dialogue and address the equity in elective position issue.
“There is urgent need to act upon the reports received from politicians in Auchi, especially from the two major political parties, which narrations indicate that unless urgent steps are taken, Auchi and its people may have, or in the near future, totally lose its political relevance.”
and then