TELL Magazine

With the political battleline drawn with the three major political parties in Edo State picking their flagbearers for the September 21 governorship election last weekend, Leader of the All-Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo Central senatorial district, Cecil Esekhaigbe, a retired army general, has seized the initiative to foster unity and peace within the opposition party in the state ahead of what promises to be a fierce contest.

Esekhaigbe, in a press statement on Sunday titled “The Road to Osadebe Avenue”, admonished party faithful that the road to Osadebe Avenue will be “tortuous and challenging” which only a united front can successfully navigate.

He particularly appealed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole, immediate past governor of the state whose preferred candidate, Dennis Idahosa seems to have lost out, as Leader of the party in Edo State, that “This is not the time for settling old scores”.

Charting a path of progress for the party, Esekhaigbe called on all members of the party who may have been hurt by the outcome of the primary election, to put the interest of the party first, especially now that the Edo Central Senatorial District has been presented with an opportunity to produce the next governor of the state after its first stint of only 19 months, between May 2007 and November 2008.

He hinted that the area, under his leadership, would be embarking on “an aggressive reconciliation process”, adding that the entire Esan race are indebted to the other districts “with a charter of even and equal development of the state when Sen. Okpebholo is elected by the grace of God”.

Part of the statement reads: “The primaries process for the candidacy of our great party, APC, has been concluded with the presentation of the Certificate of Return to Senator Monday Okpebholo (Akpakomiza). There is no doubt that the 12 Apostles (THE ASPIRANTS) that participated in the process are all qualified by all standards; but the simple fact remains that only just one person would fly the flag of the party. Therefore, the winner should be humble in victory, and those who did not win should please make a huge sacrifice and embrace dialogue. The route to Osadebe Avenue will be tortuous and challenging and only a united front can lead us to the finish line.

“It is in light of this, that I am respectfully calling all our party members to remember the axiom of NO VICTOR NO VANQUISHED. Those congratulating Senator Okpebholo must do so with love and not hate; altruism and not subterfuge; progressive mentality against retrogressive instincts. The political battle must be led by clear line of thought.

“The next important step is reconciliation of all the leaders and the led with utmost respect to our Leader in Edo State. This is not the time for settling old scores. This is not the time for opportunistic alignment and empire creation. All the leaders would need to work together with clear directives to their followers that victory is only possible through a united front.

“Those of us from Edo Central senatorial district are not oblivious of our limitations, but our hope, aspiration, and conviction are hinged on the fact that ‘The strength of a chain is determined by the weakest link’. Our quest for rotation of power was never based on an ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY, but the reasonable and humble demand for fairness, justice and equity”.