Auchi Deserves Reps Ticket Despite Oshiomole’s Senatorial Bid- Ahmed

From Habiba Ibrahim-Sam

BENIN CITY

The senatorial bid of Comrade Adams Oshiomole aside causing ripples, has also forced a return to the political chessboard to alter the already exiting power rotational arrangement in Etsako Federal Constituency.

It is widely believe that the former governor will clinch the party’s senatorial ticket hence, the other two local governments, Etsako East and Central will have to settle for the House of Representatives’ ticket.

However, APC leaders in Auchi, Etsako West, who had previously lobbied and secured assurances for the House of Representatives’ ticket to be zoned to it, feels shortchanged by attempts to alter the status quo to its detriment.

According to cross section of Auchi APC chieftains, much as Oshiomole’s bid for the Senate is welcomed, it should not in any way preclude Auchi from aspiring for what would ultimately benefit its people politically, even if they are of the same local government area with Oshiomole.

One of the proponents of the popular clamour of “Auchi for the Reps ticket,” Mr Saliu Ahmed, believes Auchi’s demand for the House of Reps slot is justified and also predicated on the quantum contributions the community and its people have made towards the growth of APC in Edo North District.

Mr Ahmed, the managing director of Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority, (BORDA), noted that Auchi’s demands are legitimate, stressing that it would be a grave injustice to equate it with the Comrade governor’s senatorial bid, despite both aspirations coming from the same local government.

Buttressing their stake to the House of Representatives’ ticket, Mr Ahmed noted, there are precedents which can guide APC party leaders in making equitable and fair decisions on the issue.

He specifically cited the case of Governor Oshiomole’s who openly supported and paved the way for Phillip Shaibu, the incumbent deputy governor of Edo State, to be elected House of Reps member regardless of the fact they both hailed from the same Uzairue clan and local government- Etsako West, without complaints from other quarters and wondered what the hullabaloo is all about now.

He also appealed to party leaders to separate Oshiomole’s senatorial bid from the genuine demands of Auchi people, adding that, doing so would serve as a reward for its past contributions in helping to shore up APC’s popularity as well as the block votes it delivered to candidates from other clans which helped them coast to easy political victory.