…”We have credible leaders not dictator”, Says Hon. Lugard Enoma
By Simeon OSAJIE
Concerned group, leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ovia North-East Local Government area of Edo State on Monday, 30th March protested against imposition of candidate on them by Mr. Lucky Eghosa Imasuen.
The group described the imposition of a non-indigene and non-party member as the APC chairmanship candidate in the forthcoming Edo State Local Government Council Election as uncalled for, and see it as a disgrace to their reputation which may cause internal crisis in the local government area.
The group which assembled at Kings Square, Ring Road, Benin City protested through major streets in the Benin metropolis enroute the state secretariat of the APC at Ikponkpan Road, GRA, with different banners with inscriptions such as “Ovia North-East Have Credible Leaders Not Dictator Like Lucky Eghosa Imasuen”, “Lucky Eghosa Imasuen Was Sacked From Egor and Took Refuge in Ovia North-East”, “A Refugee Cannot Impose Another Refugee On Us in Ovia North-East”, “Ovia North-East Have leaders not a sole administrative’.
Before presenting a petition letter to the Assistant Secretary of State APC, Hon. Sam Oboh who stood in for the State Chairman of the party, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, the leader of the protesters, Lugard Enoma, said they have about 23 Aspirants vying for the position of chairman in the local government council, and Mr. Lucky Imasuen did not pick any of them, instead he went and picked his nephew (Christopher Eriamatoe) who is not APC card carrying member and imposed him on them.
He said what Imasuen’s would have done is to pick one of the Aspirants, lobby them instead of imposing his nephew, and described both Imansuen and his nephew as refugees in Ovia North-East local government area.
The letter read: “Our intention in writing is not to create division within the party but to safeguard the integrity, cohesion, and electoral strength of the APC in Ovia North East.
“As loyal party members who have contributed immensely to the party’s growth and success over the years, we consider it our responsibility to bring these concerns to your attention.
“we are deeply concerned about the way the affairs of the party in Ovia North East are currently being handled by Chief Lucky Imasuen.
“Several decisions affecting the political structure of the Local Government appear to have been taken unilaterally without consultation with established party leaders and stakeholders who have worked tirelessly over the years to build and sustain the party’s presence and electoral victories in the area.
“The selection of Ward Councillors, Supervisory Councillors, and other strategic political appointments is widely believed to have been carried out without meaningful consultation with long-standing party leaders in Ovia North-East. These leaders have consistently laboured to ensure the party’s success in elections, yet their experience and input appear not to have been considered in the current decision-Making process.
“You may not be aware that Lucky Imasuen started his political career in Egor Local Government Area, and when he became irrelevant, he transitioned to an established structure in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, which he superintends without consultation among the leaders.
“”It is troubling that there has been little or no effort to convene leadership meetings to discuss critical political issues affecting the Local Government. Political parties thrive on consultation, dialogue, and collective decision-making, and the absence of such engagement undermines the spirit of internal democracy that should guide their operations.
“The implications of this situation extend beyond internal dissatisfaction. When a single individual exercises absolute authority over party structures and candidate selection without consulting other leaders or stakeholders.
“It weakens internal party democracy, breeds feelings of marginalization among committed members, and diminishes the sense of collective ownership that is necessary for the party’s success.
“We are concerned about the developments surrounding the forthcoming Local Government chairmanship election. At one point, about 23 Aspirants from Ovia North-East expressed interest in contesting for the position.
“It appears that none of these individuals has been considered worthy, as reports suggest that a preferred candidate, allegedly a close relation who recently returned from abroad and who has not actively participated in the political activities or electoral processes within the Local Government, has been positioned as the candidate without adequate consultation with party leaders and stakeholders,” Enoma lamented.
Responding, the State Assistant Secretary of APC, Hon. Sam Oboh, appreciated them for the orderly manner the comported their protest. He said protest is part of democracy that they should be able to air out their grievances when they are not happy.
He said the State Chairman of the APC is not around and promised to convey their message to him.
Earlier, the protesters were at the State House of Assembly and Edo State Government House to register their grievances where they were received by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and an aid to the Governor respectively.
The duo commended them for not taking the law into their hands, that the matter should be channel to the state secretariat of the party that the issue is an inter-party affairs that would be resolved within the leaders of party.