As we approach the June 18 All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship primaries in Edo State, there are glaring indications that the party would come out unscathed even as last minutes efforts by aspirants to win the support of delegates heightens. Already, the media are awash with reports of endorsements and counter-endorsements going on among the different aspirants and the party delegates.
It is heartwarming that while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has irretrievably broken into three factions officially, the All Progressives Congress is daily waxing stronger. It was not surprising that some PDP lawmakers who were at a loss over the factionalisation of their party willingly dumped the party for the APC at the floor of the National Assembly last week.
Interestingly too, even the perceived difference amongst our party men and women over the upcoming governorship primaries is being daily amicably managed by the party machinery in ways and manners that daze the opposition parties.
Not-too-long ago, the National Secretariat led by our own son, Chief John Odige- Oyegun sent a mission led by Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola to meet with all the various interest groups within the party with a view to aligning all interests to the common national interest of the party.
Just last week, some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were also in the state to foster peace and unity among members asserting that they don’t want to lose Edo to the opposition party. The three APC governors who were in Edo are Alhji Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Mr. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.
Spokesperson of the delegates and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong said they were in Edo to support the party to maintain peace in order to ensure victory for the party in the forthcoming governorship election.
Their visit was preceded by the Progressives Governors’ meeting last week, which equally discussed Edo State as a key state to the APC government in Nigeria. Edo State is the only state controlled in the South-South by the party.
With this understanding, it is clear that Edo State is the most politically mature state in the region and envy of all. As at today, Edo is the only state in the South-South that is able to pay its workers as at when due and is going ahead to increase workers salaries and working out their promotions. It is the only state that is still investing heavily in building infrastructure and development of the social sector. This explains why the APC is the toast of all the best governorship aspirants for the forth coming governorship election.
Like the Oyilola-led committee, the visiting governors met with party elders and took brief presentations from governorship aspirants and as well gave appropriate advice. At the end of their visit, the morale of the various aspirants received some boost as they were all reassured of a level playing field for the upcoming primaries.
But most importantly, as a party, the APC cannot afford to go and sleep before, during and after the primaries. The party is preparing to go to the September governorship election as united as ever and to continue its winning streak. Various groups and levels of the party are meeting and strategizing, leaving no stone unturned. At the end of the day, nobody would want to be in opposition after a hard earned victory to dislodge a corrupt and inept government of the PDP at the centre. Edo people cannot afford to gamble into such an opposition whose 16 years woeful history is well known to all and the same characters are still there.
There is no doubt that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has upped the stakes for all those jostling to take over from him at the completion of his tenure given his fantastic performance. It is therefore imperative that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole would be a strong determining factor as to who emerges at the June 18 primaries of the APC. The average Edo people are not too keen on the issue of tribe of the successor as being bandied by some interest groups.
What people are keen to see is a man or woman with sterling leadership qualities who is committed to serve the people. Edo people want a man or woman who would build on the solid foundation laid by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and not those seeking to reap where they did not sow
It is important to emphasise that Edo State is an APC state and the PDP cannot contend come September polls. Those who understand politics, who want to test their popularity in gubernatorial race have since dumped the PDP for APC and many others are on their way because human being naturally do not want to associate with failure which the PDP represents in Edo state.
It is therefore important to invite all those who have clocked the age of 18 and above who have not been registered as voters to take advantage of the registration exercise scheduled for this month by INEC to come out in large number to register so that they would have opportunity of casting their ballot for the APC candidate.
As it stands today, the PDP has broken into three factions and there is every likelihood that three governorship candidates would emerge in the state just as it was when they were asked to produce a minority leader at the Edo State House of Assembly. They produced three minority leaders each clutching a letter from the various factions of the party. It took them over one year to resolve that now that the party is in disarray, we are likely going to have three or four candidates that would all be eventually disqualified on technical grounds.
The APC, must cease the opportunity of its beautiful internal peace and reconciliation mechanisms to retain power in the state with a view to continuing the massive developmental efforts which the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole administration have been implementing.
• Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State.
