Edo APC guber candidate to emerge through primaries ..But I have a choice – Oshiomhole

BENIN CITY – Sequel to the lingering misconception about the purported endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has cleared the air on the issue, saying that the candidate of the party will only come through the party primaries, but that he has a choice.
Adams Oshiomhole disclosed this in the Government House Benin City, on Thursday, during a stakeholders meeting of leaders of the All Progressives Candidates (APC) in the State.
According to the Governor, “Let me ask: if any one of us has a right to have a say, should I as governor also have a right to have a voice and have a say? So, let me be very clear. That first, there would be party primaries based on our constitution, and the process will be transparent. As the Governor of this State, who has gone through what I went through. Let me also say very clearly, I cannot be neutral in matters affecting my environment. If there is anyone of you who is a father of a house who can tell me he is not interested in how his house is organized, I don’t envy him.”
He said: “Even people who are not from Edo State, whether they see you in the market place, inside an aircraft, in a vehicle, in a beer parlour, they will ask, ‘oga, you go guide us oo, we don’t want to return to the past.’ Because, indeed what has changed? The people of Edo State are the same. The resources in the State are the same. How come that one time, everything was going down?
“And right now, everything is standing again. It is the result of leadership. I will never be afraid to take a position and to explain my position and the basis of my position. But I recognize that that is only how far work can go. In a democracy, whether mature or growing, endorsement is legitimate and democratic.”
Oshiomhole continued: “What I owe Edo people is very clear to me; what I owe them is like a principal who has worked with teachers, and who has presided over a school to write a testimonial or a reference.”