Oba of Benin didn’t influence ACN’s victory in Edo – Idahosa

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN—Edo State Government, yesterday, described as laughable, statement credited to a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Owere Dickson-Imasogie, that the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state won the last general elections due to the influence of the Oba of Benin.

Imasogie was quoted to have said that PDP performed poorly during the April elections in the state due to “undue influence. All the Enogies went about telling the people that they got messages from the Oba of Benin through Governor Adams Oshiomhole, that they must vote ACN all through.”

But addressing newsmen, yesterday, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr Charles Idahosa, said that contrary to what the PDP leader said, “the result of the elections was a reward of the rebirth of Edo State by the Oshiomhole-led administration. The massive development in the three senatorial districts of the state, which the PDP deprived the people for years won the election for the ACN.”

According to him, “Imasogie is from the same local government area with me and I laughed when I heard the statement. From available records, despite the fact that he lost at his polling booth in the just concluded elections, he had always lost elections even during the zero party elections.

“The problem with the PDP is that they had refused to accept the fact that the party is dead in the state and also refused to accept the developments being carried out by Oshiomhole’s government,” he added.

“It is sad that he has decided to drag our royal father into politics but he should know that all the while he lost elections, even in the 80s, it had nothing to do with traditional rulers. The only election he enjoyed victory was when we all joined the PDP in 1999 to produced Igbinedion as governor. He has never won any election, hence he has nothing to tell his people,” he added.