Look beyond zoning Edo guber race, says Dekeri
• Edo Central PDP caucus backs Ighodalo as sole aspirant • LP aspirant cautions party leaders against money bag politics
AS the Edo governorship election draws near, a governorship aspirant and member representing Etsako Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Anamero Dekeri, has called on people of the state to look beyond zoning and elect leaders based on merit and competence.
His call came amid clamour in some quarters that the governorship seat be zoned to Edo Central Senatorial District.
Addressing a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday, the aspirant contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) pointed out that zoning breeds incompetence.
The federal lawmaker, who hails from Edo North also explained that the Senatorial District has been shortchanged among the three senatorial zones in the state. According to him, while Edo Central has produced two democratically elected governors since the creation of the state, Edo South has ruled the state four times as against once by Edo North.
He said: “It’s high time Nigerians began to see beyond leadership of turn by turn. Because, in my view, it breeds incompetence, and once an individual begins to have a sense of entitlement, it could bring out the worst of that human. We should be looking at a nation or state where we enthrone leaders on the strength of competence, commitment and the will to lead.”
He promised to prioritise the welfare of the people if given the mandate to govern the people.
ALSO, ahead of the February 22, 2024 Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) governorship primary election in Edo State, Edo Central Senatorial District has endorsed Dr. Asue Ighodalo as its sole aspirant for the election.
The decision was contained in a statement issued by the senatorial caucus, yesterday, in Uromi, the headquarters of Esan North- East Local Council of the state, following the official presentation of the Edo Central PDP Special Committee Report, Chaired by the party’s National Leader, Tom Ikimi.
According to the statement signed by Archbishop Anthony Okosun, the Senatorial Caucus Chairman and two others, the adoption of Ighodalo is without prejudice to the right of any other aspirant to pursue his/ her aspiration for the election.
Meanwhile, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party ( LP) in Edo State, Ogbemudia Bassey Osagie, has cautioned the party to give all aspirants a level playing ground, threatening to personally hold the party executive accountable should the primary be skewed in favour of a particular aspirant.
He expressed disappointment that some money bag politicians in the party have allegedly hijacked the party by doling out cash gifts and vehicles to LP officials.