BENIN CITY – Ahead of the inauguration of the sixth Edo State House of Assembly, the Edo Political Renaissance, a social political group has called on the leadership of the ruling party, the APC to consider merit and loyalty to the party in choosing the new leadership of  the house.
The group in a statement signed by Mr. Imagbenikaro Monday and John Onaighise and made available to news men in Benin City said that, having considered the political interest of the party and the pedigree of its elected candidate, it is the opinion of the group that Bright Osayande be considered for the position of the deputy speaker of the state House of Assemble.
According to the group, Bright Osayande is the only surviving member of the House. Since 2007 when the ACN which transformed to APC was in opposition in the state. He has since remained in the party, contributing to the successes of the party since then till now.
“It is only pertinent to reward him for his loyalty, commitment and dedication to the party.
“ The APC in the incoming Assembly has 21 elected members while the PDP has three of the 21 members, Osayande is one of the senior ranking member from Edo South Senatorial district. “Since, Edo Central is most likely to produce the speaker, it behoves on Edo South to produce the deputy speaker, hence the choice of Bright Osayande who has been elected to the House on three occasion 2007, 2011 and now 2015”.  It was gathered that Hon Elizabeth Ativie recently hosted the 15 newly elected members including the three PDP members to a dinner party with a view to shore up support for her election when the House is formally inaugurated.
The group therefore called on the leadership of the party to do the needful by ensuring that,  they put a square peg in a square hole, by rewarding Bright Osayande with the position as a way of recognizing his commitment and loyalty to the party.
The group also recalled that, last year, in  the wake of the crisis that, rocked APC Osayande not only turned down mouth watering offer to decamp to the PDP but remained steadfast in the APC.