By Raphael Okhiria
The pioneer chairman of Ikolo Esan Organization Worldwide, Prof. Gabriel Oteze, has expressed appreciation to all Edo people, particularly members of the political class for graciously agreeing to make an Esan man the governor of the state come November, this year.
Oteze who is a retired professor of Geology and also chairman, Board of Trustees, Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI), thanked leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), for successfully conducted their primary elections that produced their candidates from Esanland.
“We appreciate them. The voters should equally have such thinking. We Esan cannot do it alone. The people acted wisely. I believe things will work out as expected”, he posited.
He noted that the development simply shows how united the people are and they are very willing to listen to one another in the process of taking critical decisions to move Edo state forward.
“We appreciate them. The voters should equally have such thinking. We Esan cannot do it alone. The people acted wisely. I believe things will work out as expected”.
Prof. Oteze said Edo politics have been very interesting and that the ethnic-geographical coloration has been wonderfully good.
He recalled the era of Prof. Ambrose Alli and Brigadier Samuel Ogbemudia rtd, of blessed memories whom he said gave the people of the then Bendel State all the good things they needed to enhance their quality of living.
He also reminded Edo people how they have always stood to support one another, adding that the Esan people have always deemed it fit to support other Senatorial districts when they had the opportunity to produce governor in the state which according to him was a demonstration of maturity and selflessness.
Prof, Oteze, therefore commended Edo people for reciprocating the good gesture by spearheading the nomination of two eminently qualified candidates of Esan extraction to fly the flags of the two major political parties in the election.
He enjoined Edo people to work very hard in the emerging dispensation in order to sustain the pace setting credentials of seasoned administrators like Prof. Ambrose Alli and Brigadier Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, rtd.
“Edo people should wake up to be on top so that we can go back to our greatness. This election should not be about ethnic issue”, he said.
The elder state man, also called on the PDP and APC gubernatorial candidates to resist the temptation of embarking on campaign of calumny but insisted that their electioneering campaigns must be issue based.
He added that the issue of Okpebholo and Agbazilo should be down played because Esan is one when viewed from the political prism of the general Edo politics.
About Author
