By Simeon OSAJIE
The Aiguobasinmwin Movement World-Wide today stated that Edo South must rise to defend their political autonomy, reject imposed candidate, and insist on leadership rooted in service, loyalty, and proven performance to represent the senatorial district at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly come 2027 National Assembly election.
This was stated in a press statement signed by its President and Secretary-General, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture and Mr. Osayuki-Osa Benson respectively and made available to journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital.
The Movement disclosed that the people of Edo South are once again being confronted with an attempt to impose leadership without performance, presence, or accountability.
The statement read:
“EDO SOUTH REJECTS FAILURE, ABSENTEE LEADERSHIP, AND OUTSIDER IMPOSITION OF SENATORIAL CANDIDATE COME 2027
“The people of Edo South are once again being confronted with an attempt to impose leadership without performance, presence, or accountability. This must be firmly rejected.
“Ogbeide Omoregie-Ihama has a clear and troubling history of abandoning constitutional responsibility after being entrusted with power. Public office, in his case, has repeatedly failed to translate into public service.
“While he was a Member of Federal House of Representatives, he was representing himself instead of the good people of Oredo Federal Constituency and thereafter abandoned his constituents while disappearing and appearing after and during elections period.
“Similarly, his recent appointment as Executive Director, Strategy & Commercial at the Niger-Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Edo South has recorded no visible impact, no meaningful intervention, and no tangible benefit from his position. There is no evidence of advocacy, development, or strategic engagement on behalf of the people he now seeks to represent.
“Rather than account for this glaring poor performance and absence, Ogbeide-Ihama is reportedly relying on external political forces, like Nyesom Wike, to push his ambition for the Edo South Senatorial ticket under the APC.”
Going further, the statement added: “Let it be stated without ambiguity that Edo South is not a political extension of any outsider.
“Our senatorial seat is not a reward for influence peddling. Our future will not be negotiated by people who neither live with us nor stand for us.
“We cannot re-enforce failure. We cannot reward poor and absentee leadership. And we will not allow individuals who abandon duty in office to recycle themselves through higher ambitions. Sadly, this same Ogbeide Ihama was nowhere to found or heard when Obaseki was misbehaving and instigating violence against our highly revered Benin Royal Palace. Thus, a man that was silent when his voice was needed most can never be entrusted with power especially within the circuit of Edo South Senatorial District.
“Edo South deserves leaders who are present, accountable, and committed, not those who disappear after being elected or appointed and resurface only when elections approaches.
“This is a call to vigilance and action. The people of Edo South must rise to defend their political autonomy, reject imposed candidates, and insist on leadership rooted in service, loyalty, and proven performance.
“The choice before us is clear: is it effective representation or manipulation, service or self-interest, Edo South first or outsiders deciding for us.
“Edo South must choose wisely and firmly to avoid blame game like what we are currently experiencing under the leadership of Senator Neda Imasuen.”