…state party executives, others shun declaration venue
Contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the factionalised members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have put their differences aside after a recent visit by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to leader of the other faction known as Legacy Group, Chief Dan Orbih, during which they both embraced and laughed together, strong indication emerged on Monday that all is not well within the umbrella party in the state.
This is because a member of the Legacy Group and a governorship aspirant of the party, Engineer Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, while formally making his intention to contest the governorship ticket known on Monday , shunned the party’s secretariat on Airport Road, and used Bishop Kelly Pastoral as his declaration venue.
Ogbeide-Ihama who represented Oredo Federal Constituency at the 8 & 9th National Assembly, arrived at the Benin Airport at exactly 12:30 pm, and was received by a momoth crowd in a carnival-like ceremony after which he trekked from Airport to Ring Road as a way of announcing his arrival in Benin after obtaining his Expression of Interest form at the national secretariat of the party.
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The former lawmaker, however, shunned the state party secretariat on the same Airport Road and used Bishop Kelly Pastoral along the same Airport Road axis.
The Engineer-turned-politician was received by senatorial party leaders and party leaders from Oredo local government area at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral. However, none of the State Working Committee members of the party was there at his declaration of interest.
Speaking during his declaration, Ogbeide-Ihama said if the PDP can do well by giving him the governorship ticket, winning the election would be as easy as a ‘walk -over.”
He said as a loyal member of the party who has remained in the party since 1998 without any record of defection, he’s the best man for the job, insisting that he has what it takes to govern Edo and attract development to the state.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: PDP Leaders Canvass Ogbeide-Ihama As Division Erupts Over Zoning
“This is a formal notification and a passionate appeal to leadership of the party to support me for my governorship ambition in the year 2024. There have been speculations and questions if Ogbeide-Ihama is interested in the governorship race or not. I want to formally notify you that I am contesting, and I need your support.
“Since 1998 till now that I have registered as a member of the party, I have remained in the party. I am a loyal member of my party. So, if we are to talk about loyalty, I am the person,” he claimed.
He added: “If you talk about experience, I have the political and managerial experience to govern Edo. I have the managerial skills to manage humans and resources of Edo. I have the human relationship. I want to be governor of Edo and not a senatorial district. I am fully ready. All I need is your support and prayers. I will be governor of the whole Edo State and not a senatorial district.
“I want to bring development to Edo State. I want to empower our youths so they can stand on their own. I want to stop child mortality. There is no reason why anyone above 70 years in Edo should lack healthcare. I want to give good free healthcare to our aged parents. Edo will be a state all of us would be proud of with Ogbeide-Ihama.”