By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
As Political Party’s steer up its strategies ahead of the Edo 2016 governorship elections, the Enijie of Esan land has lamented a total neglects of Esan Nation in the scheme of things during the past seven and half years reins of the present administration of Comrade Oshiomhole while urging the incoming administration to ensure that all senatorial zones are captured total.
Their bewails was disclosed at the palace of Ojuromi of Uromi during a visit of Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, governorship campaign flag off of Edo Central earlier today.
Speaking on behalf of the Royal father’s in Esanland, His Royal Highness, Aidonojie, Ojuromi of Uromi, welcome and thanked the PDP leaders and their train to Esanland. He congratulated the PDP candidate on his victory at the PDP primaries while reiterating that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has direct relationship with virtually all the Royal fathers.
“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is son of the former Esogban of Benin kingdom without blemish. Your father did not betray the palace. We trust you that you will not betray us. Esan nation are part and parcel of this state. We the people of Esan are very unhappy at the relegation of the Esan people in the state. When you become Governor of Edo state we urge you to correct the ills committed against us. We are very happy that you took one of our sons and we will say thank you to you, not just by words of mouth, we will use our PVCs.” he remarked.
The PDP national leader Chief Tony Anenih thanked the Esan monarchs for giving him a title that he is proud of, the Iyasele of Esanland. He introduced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to the monarchs describing him as “a man whom I have studied over the years. He is a man who says in the morning and it is yes in the afternoon and yes in the evening. He is a man of God. His Excellency in waiting, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Yakubu his deputy is a man who is known everywhere and the only one whom Oshiomhole could not buy.” Chief Tony Anenih said.
Speaking shortly after the National leader of the party, Chief Dan Orbih PDP chairman Edo State pointed out that the APC has completely neglected the Esan people. He stated that the APC has not appointed Esan person into any position of significance; adding that the only position which they had attained was the speakership of the House of Assembly but the APC took it away on the alleged instruction of Adams Oshiomhole.
Dan Orbih noted that, the PDP decided to choose their deputy governor from Esanland as a gesture to begin the healing and reintegration process for the Esan people to redress the injustice of the past perpetrated by the APC and Oshiomhole.
Responding, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu thanked the Esan monarchs for the rare honour done to him. He praised Esan land for their high regard for tradition and culture. He bemoan the total neglect of the district by Adams Oshiomhole even at a period when the state received very high allocation, ten times higher than previous administrations.
“Education and agriculture are some of the brands of Esanland. 2008 till now, the APC government of Adams Oshiomhole totally neglected the Ambrose Alli University. Oshiomhole has done everything to destroy whatever was left in Esanland.”
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu lamented how the right of Esanland to have a Speaker was denied by Adams Oshiomhole. Also how Adams Oshiomhole removed the Head of Service because he was an Esan person. He also said that the worst insult to the Esan people was the APC choice of deputy governor candidate outside Esanland. He said the Esan people should stop supporting those who have no regard for the Esan people, he promised to develop Edo state and restore justice and equity to the state.
“What the government of Edo state has spent in Esanland is 8% of the budget. For the government to spend eight percent in a senatorial district that is one of the three districts of Esanland is the apogee of insult to the Esan people. I have seen schools being commissioned; I have not seen a laboratory. I will build and commission schools with laboratories and libraries when we come on board. We shall create special markets in Esanland including a spare parts market. My deputy John Yakubu shall not be a spare tyre but a co-pilot”. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu said.
Similarly, the running mate, Hon. John Yakubu, who is an Esan Son, spoke in Esan dialect, while thanking the PDP leaders for zoning the number two citizen to Esan. He expresses grief over the marginalization melted on the people by Adams Oshiomhole. He pleaded with the traditional rulers to give total support for the PDP also as a way of appreciating the party for treating the Esan people with dignity and respect.
The Enijies across the Edo Central senatorial districts attended the event as the campaign train move to Edo south in the coming days.
