By Ayo Kehinde
An All Progressives Congress, APC, group in Edo State, Alliance Network for Democracy, has called the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the perceived sinister plot of Senator Adam Oshiomhole to undermine the party’s cohesion and ultimately the good of the people in the state.
This is coming on the heels of the nomination for ministers following the first batch of the ministerial nominees list unveiled by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio last Thursday.
So far Edo State has a nominee in the first batch of nominees facing screening on Monday. He is Abubakar Momoh.
According to the the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mrs. Elizabeth Suleiman, there are strong indications that the former Edo State governor has perfected plans to highjack the ministerial slots meant for the state.
They accused the former governor of “being inconsiderate and insensitive to the political freedom, balancing and determination as encapsulated by the spirit of ‘Emilokan’ which Mr. President invoked to win the election despite all the hurdles.”
In a statement they said; “We believe that it is morally bankrupt and ethically unjustifiable for Oshiomhole to influence the state’s ministerial slot for his Personal Assistant having succeeded in turning virtually all Federal appointments to the state in to a family affair.
‘For instance, while Oshiomhole is currently a serving Senator, his son, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole is a Special Assistant to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Developments Commision (NDDC) on Health.
“In the same vein, his younger brother, Mr. Said Oshiomhole is also a Special Assistant to the NDDC Commisioner representing Edo state in the Commission.
‘The Afemai nation is richly endowed with men and resources, but Oshiomole only seemed to be concerned about his family and his Iyamho Uzairue People of Etsako West Local Government of Edo State as most Federal appointments are retained in his village without considering other communities that make up the Affemai nation.
‘Apart from Oshiomhole who is a serving Senator and his family members in NDDC, the Nigerian Ambassador to Mozambique, Barr. Iyamah is from Oshiomhole village.
“The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Representatives for South-South Region, Engr. Stanley Dako is from Oshiomhole village.
‘The Police Service Commission member from the state, Mr. Austin Braimah is from Oshiomhole village.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) Board Member from the state, Mr. Luqman Mohammed is from Oshiomhole village.
‘The Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu is from Oshiomhole village.
‘The Benin -Owena River Basin Authority member from the state, Engr. Saliu Ahmed is from Oshiomhole village.
“All these people are from the same nuclear and extended family in Iyamho Uzairue village of Etsako West LGA of Edo State.
‘The questions are; where is Federal Character, where is justice, where is equity, where is fairness and above all, where is the spirit of Emilokan?
‘We believe that the greatest of injustice demands the boldest of action.
‘Hence, we call on Mr. President to politely reject the ministerial nominee coming from Oshiomhole because he has lost touch with the spirit of Emilokan which was symbolized by the resounding victory Nigerians gave to him at the polls.
‘While our demand is self-evidenced by the fact that other Local Governments that make up the Afemai nation are marginalized, it is not self-executing.
“Therefore, we call on Mr. President to put an end to the unfortunate fate being imposed on other Local Government Areas of Edo State by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.”
