Politics
THE Edo State Legacy Association (ESLA), has advised Edo people to unite and elect a credible person as the governor of the state in the September 2024 poll.
ESLA President, Mr Odion Emonyon, said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the sideline of the Edo Legacy Day and End of the Year Party in Abuja on Monday.
Emonyon said that the association was formed with the aim of uniting the Edo people in Abuja, as well as chart the way forward for a progressive state.
He said that the end of the year party was organised to celebrate and reach out to the less privileged and ensure that the state legacies were upheld.
“I advise Edo people to look for quality leaders, like we have in this association, we have what we uphold values like honesty, generosity, hard work and above all charity and love at heart.
“When a leader has all these qualities, it will be very difficult for him to go the other way, but if you just take people on the surface or monetary influence; the qualities cannot be visible.
“So, we advise Edo people to look out for people who have the interest of the masses at heart and elect them to leadership positions.
“We the people from Edo call ourselves the cradle of civilization not just in Africa but in the world, so we are advising that anywhere you find yourselves, protect the name and image of Edo,” he said.
Speaking, Dr Peter Orobor, the General Secretary, ESLA, said the association was aimed at uniting the Edo people either by birth or marriage in Abuja to continue to unite them and to promote the legacy of the state.
Orobor said that ESLA had earlier visited orphanages to support them with food stuff among others in the spirit of the season.
“Our plan as a group is to get the manifestos of all the contestants to look at people of credible character, good pedigree and people that put the masses first before themselves.
“We will look at the people that we have seen what they have done over the years not necessarily in politics alone but in their own personal endeavours.
“We will check their track records to see if they put the welfare of the people first and give such people our support,’’ he said.
A guest at the event, Mr Lucky Odigie, a legal practitioner and the president, Benin Community Association (BCA), called on Edo people to shun violence adding that the election was not a war or do or die affair.
“I will advise everyone to take things the way they should be, don’t kill yourselves over any politician, because if you do that, you are going to die wrongly, you have your own life to live, they are already living their own lives.
“I will advise that this idea of running from court to court at times when you know that obviously this person won is of no use.
“If you are defeated fair and square in a relatively fair election, you should admit it in the spirit of sportsmanship and see how you can work towards contesting again and contributing for the betterment of the people,” he said.
Dr Abraham Isibor, another guest and President, Ambrose Alli University Alumni Association, commended ESLA for upholding the legacies of Edo and supporting the people.
“The Edo election that is coming is very significant to those of us, Edo is a volatile state with a high rate of political participation.
“I will like to use this medium to conscientise the youths to do the needful by voting for individuals that will be able to rejuvenate the state.
“For some time now, the news coming from that state has not been too good, so we need a leader that will be able to drive development into that state,” he said.
Isibor advised youths to shun violence and called on political parties to maintain internal democracy, shun money politics so that eligible candidates would emerge.
The Director-General, Edo State Liaison Office, Abuja, Mr Festus Osaigbovo, represented by Mrs Edith Imoisili, commended the group for upholding the unity of Edo people.
“We are happy to be here to celebrate our culture, to celebrate oneness and unity to move Edo forward.
“The governorship election is around the corner; the whole Edo people are looking for a governor that will unite all the people because we are one regardless of tribe.
“We need someone that will promote progress, production and employment, a creative and innovative person to continue the unity of the state,’’ he said. (NAN)
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December 4, 2023 @ 18:19 GMT|
Tags: Odion Emonyon
