By Bassey O. Bassey
Upper Sakponba axis of Benin City and its environs were agog on Monday, as the indomitable youths in the areas engaged in a massive solidarity movement marches for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidates, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and Barr. Osarodion Ogie.
Drums were rolled out with different solidarity songs echoing and charging the atmosphere along Sakponba road, Ikpoba Okha Local government council, the youths promised to deliver the formidable candidates of PDP to produce the next Governor of Edo State come September 21st,
2024.
The Upper Youth for Asue/Ogie comprises of different bodies and groups but under one umbrella (UY4AIO2) who all came together to support Asue/Ogie gubernatorial election campaign.
Amongst the groups present were Upper Peace and Unity, Upper Solidarity Youth Movement, Federated Upper Youth Council, Upper Tollgate Movement, and a host of others, who all took turn to express their collective willingness to deliver Dr Asue Ighodalo as Governor and Barr. Osarodion Ogie as Deputy Governor, respectively.
The youth bodies took turn to recount the magnificent achievements of the incumbent Governor of the State, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, hence the pivotal reason they all came out to support the aspirations of Asue/Ogie gubernatorial ambitions.
The Upper Youth Solidarity Movement’s President-General who’s the Coordinator and Convener of the Programme, Hon. Edwin Edegbe aka Tanko, asserted that come September 21, 2024, all the 10 wards in Ikpoba Okha local Government Area would deliver their votes to the candidates of the PDP whose son, deputy governorship candidate is their illustrious son, Barr. Osarodion Ogie who is the incumbent State Secretary to the Government.(SSG).
The Youth also seize the opportunity to clear the issues surrounding the alleged attack on Labour Party candidate, Barr. Olumide Akpata, who he accused of dwelling on campaign of calumny against Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The youths who expressed their unconditional resolve to support their PDP Candidates for the election, also admonished the participating political parties to shun campaign of hatred, propaganda and bereft of ethnic agenda but to rather dwell on issue based campaigns that would move Edo state forward.
“Recall that recently, June 3, 2024 precisely, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, signed the anti-cultism law, following the loss of over 150 persons to cult-related activities in five months in parts of the State; Obaseki went ahead to set up a special task force to combat cultism in Edo State, with special focus on Edo South, a move that has attracted huge applauds by observers at home and abroad.
“In a twist that has sent shocking waves to the world and cause observers some discomfort, the Labour Party governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, came out openly a few days ago to condemn the state government’s deliberate efforts at curbing the menace of cultism and land-grabbing in Edo; Akpata noted during a meeting with a few youths in Upper Sakponba, that the government ought to negotiate with cultists, land-grabbers, and find ways to massage them, not outright passage of the anti-cultism law.
“In Akpata’s words, “who nor go, nor know, nor be so, who nor go, nor know, somebody go get up, all the cultists in Edo State, we are going to prosecute them, and we will lock them up in prison, how; na so them dey do am, who nor go nor know.”
“We have asked the Edo State Police Commissioner, Funsho Adegboye, to take-in Akpata for questioning, to tell Edo people where im go and wetin im know wey Edo people nor know.
“Elements like the Labour Party governorship candidate, should not be allowed to come near the corridors of power, he has exhibited uncouth arrogance, makes unguarded statements, displays high-level unprofessionalism; if he becomes Governor, God forbid, Akpata will be a wrestler in government house, threatening fire and brimstone on the same people he was elected to protect.
“We reject Akpata and his violence disposition; Edo has evolved beyond his likes.”
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