A joint meeting of tEsan leaders of thought, governorship aspirants, and leaders of the socio-cultural organisation Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI) has laid the groundwork to prune the high number of Central senatorial zone aspirants to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki, whose term expires on November 11, 2024.
On Sunday, the Edo Central Senatorial Zone met in Benin City, the state capital, to rally around its best foot and urge all candidates to avoid acrimony, aspersions, and ill blood. “Obligatory for the gubernatorial contenders of Esan extraction to examine the need for unity of purpose and ensure that whatever acts they do are free of acrimony, aspersions and bad blood” was one of its resolutions.
It further emphasised, “Under all situations, the overriding and collective benefit of Edo State shall determine their activities.”
The President Esan Okpa Initiative, Rt Hon Mathew Egbadon, and Public Relations Officer, Mr Tony Iyare, issued a statement stating.
“Esan Traditional Rulers briefed the combined gathering on their consultations with His Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Ogidigan, the Oba of Benin, and the Traditional Rulers of Edo North.
The combined gathering also heard about the Esan Okpa Initiative’s engagements with Edo State political and opinion leaders.
The leaders and governorship aspirants thanked the Esan Traditional Rulers and Esan Okpa Initiative for their sacrifice in leading the strategic engagement with Edo State’s dads and leaders.
The combined conference evaluated the consultation input essential to the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial elections and discussed the resulting issues.
Leaders of Thought and Governorship Candidates agreed after much debate and cross-pollination of ideas:
a. All gubernatorial candidates must pledge to behave peacefully and strive for Edo State’s unity and growth.
b. Important for Esan people to shine in the gubernatorial campaign.
c. Esan gubernatorial candidates must consider unity of purpose and avoid acrimony, aspersions, and bad blood.
b. They’ll always act for Edo State’s greater welfare.
The joint meeting:
Requested Governorship Aspirants to interact and narrow down their party’s ticket candidates.
• Encouraged governorship candidates to deliberately and freely meet the standards of morality, honesty, and enthusiasm for Edo State socio/political and economic growth.
• Encouraged gubernatorial candidates to find viable political platforms.
“The joint meeting will reconvene to receive and consider the consensus list prepared by the Governorship Aspirants themselves within their respective political parties, and revert to the Esan stakeholders in order to unstintingly mobilise for the necessary support and buy-in of the generality of Edo people in the spirit of fairness, justice, equity and brotherly relations among Edo people,” the communique concluded.
Esan Okpa began a series of discussions with political and traditional leaders in Edo South and North senatorial zones in May to gain their support for an Esan candidate to replace Mr. Obaseki.
According to Edo State House of Assembly pioneer Speaker Egbadon, the meetings were constructive.
