Edo guber: Osunbor, Agbonmere pick APC forms

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Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state have joined the race for the party ticket ahead of the September date for the governorship election in the south-south state.

Oseheimen Osunbor and Blessing Agbohmere picked the nomination and expression of interest forms at the party national secretariat on Thursday.

With the development, the list of contenders for the party ticket has increased to 10. The party primary is expected to hold on February 3.

Speaking with journalists after picking the forms, Professor Osunbor incidentally from Edo Central promised to give all senatorial districts, a sense of belonging if given the party ticket and ultimately win the election. He noted that zoning of political offices inculcates a sense of belonging among senatorial districts.

He said: “For me, rotation is somewhat different from zoning, if you look at the national level, there is a rotation of the presidency between North and South and it has been working very well. Once it is rotated, other positions are zoned.

“So, I believe in the principle of rotation and zoning, people confuse the two but for me, they are not exactly the same.

“But in Edo I believe there should be rotation amongst the three senatorial districts of the state, having rotated across senatorial districts you will then zone all other positions, where the deputy, speaker and others will come from.

“And I believe it’s a good thing, it inculcates a sense of belonging, oneness, unity and sense of inclusion and I think a country like Nigeria needs that kind of spirit in other to forge national unity.

“A state like Edo needs that kind of spirit in order that no component of the state feels left behind.

“People will say it is not constitutional it is constitutional, go and read section 14 of the constitution, where it said offices shall not be concentrated in one part of the country, or in one religious group or the other in order to ensure fair distribution, let every part feel the sense of belonging and have opportunity to occupy those offices rather than concentrating it and keeping it perpetually within one specific geographical area.”

In his own remarks, Agbohmere, who is the zonal secretary of the APC in the region promised good governance for the Edo electorate.

He said: “I want to build Edo Metropolis City 1 and 2 because Edo City currently is congested, as a result, house rent is very expensive for our people.

“Edo State has no reason to suffer when it comes to road networks. My administration will focus on Edo Construction Company which will construct all the roads and provide services to other states, by so doing we can generate more income.

“I have a plan to make Edo State a tourism destination because you can not go from South-west to other regions without passing through Edo State.

“I am the best candidate among all the aspirants and with me winning Edo State will be made easy. I am an Asiwaju son, he loves me so much. I am his biggest fan in the South-south, in Edo state and the entire Niger Delta.

“Adams Oshiomhole is my father, he loves me so much and he has agreed that I am the best aspirant contesting this election.”

Speaking further, the governorship aspirant said, “As a governor, I will ensure that I implement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu if given opportunity.

“We should make sure that our party win the next governorship election in Edo State. We should not allow our President to be mocked again. We should do the right thing by making sure that the party concedes the ticket to that person whom the people of Edo people love, who has integrity, who is educated in governance and who has a stable character, and that person is Dr. Blessing Agbohmere.

“So winning the election will be made easy with me as the APC candidate and we shouldn’t allow our President to be mocked again.”

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