By Maxwell Effiong
The Esan Youth Democratic Union, has condemned Sen. Monday Okpebholo false claims that he had drilled bore holes across all the Communities in Esan land.
Sen. Okpebholo known as Akpakomiza is the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for Edo 2024 Guber Election.
The APC Governorship candidates made this claim during an Interactive LIVE session of the ESAN WORLD CONGRESS held on Sunday April 28, 2024.
A statement jointly signed by Maxwell Okoh, Esele Inokpoare and Omoaghe Abhulimhen said they commended Sen. Monday Okpebholo for finally summoning the courage to grant a LIVE interview (though in darkness.)
Moreso, as guest, they said Akpakomiza engaged the public after a lengthy period of silence and absenteeism from Media engagements.
Meanwhile they have described It as an encouraging development and urged him to keep it up.
In the statement made available to Truth Live News the group said thus:
“We, Esan Youth Democratic Union, followed with keen interest the Interactive LIVE session of the ESAN WORLD CONGRESS of Sunday, 28 April, 2024 which had APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo(Akpakomiza) as guest.
“For starters, we want to commend Sen. Monday Okpebholo for finally summoning the courage to grant a LIVE interview (though in darkness) and engage the public after a lengthy period of silence and absenteeism from Media engagements.”
Therefore, “It’s an encouraging development and we urge him to keep it up,” the Union said.
“However, in the course of the interactive session, Sen. Monday Okpebholo blatantly lied to the world that he had drilled bore holes across all the Communities in Esan land.”
A claim the Union said that is “a gross misinformation.”
As as result, they challenged him to show the world the bore holes he has drilled across Esan land.
According to the group, It is also interesting to observe that their Senator now understands the importance of LIVE interviews and engagements because the Governorship Elections are around the corner.
Also, the Union observed that as a Senator for nearly a year now, he had denied the good people of Edo Central whom he represents the opportunity of interacting with him in Town Hall Meetings.
“All of a sudden, he has realised that they matter and now seek to engage,” the group said.
“While we welcome the engagements, we advice the Senator to desist from threading the path of falsehood to score cheap political points. We are not fools,” it warned.
In addition, the statement said there are several communities in Esan Land without access to clean water supply.
Therefore, “it is highly disingenuous for him to say that he has provided bore holes across our land.”
“If anything, Senator Okpebholo ought to give account to the people what he did with the over ₦500 million allocated to him in the 2024 National Assembly Budget for Constituency projects without any tangible project on ground to show for it.”
“We wonder how a man who has been unable to demonstrate accountability as a Senator will fare as a Governor.”
The Union demanded him to inform the good people of Edo Central what he did with the N400 million worth of rice the President gave to Senators as palliatives in December.
Accordingly, “We have it on record that the rice was not distributed.”
“Or are the branded bags of 5kg rice he is currently sharing to voters what he has used our palliatives for? The people deserve to know!
In conclusion, the group used the medium to remind Senator Okpebholo that the era where politicians can lie through their teeth and get away with it has gone.
According to the union, “Every claim will indeed be fact checked and verified.”
Thus they said “We take the forthcoming Edo Governorship Election very seriously and will scrutinise every candidate properly.”
Also, the they said that they will not allow any politician to play politics with ESAN people by fabricating falsehoods and fake promises about their welfare in a bid to curry their votes.
Never again!