Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A group, Owan Conscience, has faulted the endorsement of the senator representing the Edo North Senatorial district, Adams Oshiomhole for second term by some Owan members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group made the condemnation in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Richard Ofen-Imu, and the Secretary, Mike Igaga respectively.
According to the group, the purported endorsement by a handful of APC members, who claim to be party leaders in Owan East LGA, is “laughable and insensitive,” as it ignores the long-standing demand for justice, equity, fairness, and inclusive representation.
The group described this action as “yet another painful and sad reminder of the persistent and wicked political plot to marginalize the Owan people, who have, in recent years, been treated as spectators rather than stakeholders in the politics and governance of Edo north.
“Despite our unwavering loyalty, sacrifices, and electoral support over the years, the Owan bloc continues to be sidelined whenever critical decisions relating to allocation of elective and appointive positions are made in Edo north,” they said.
They added that Owan East and Owan West LGAs have competent, credible, and capable sons and daughters who are eminently qualified to represent Edo north in the Senate. “Continuously denying Owan people this opportunity in the last 20 years reinforces the perception that our communities are politically expendable,” the group stated.
In terms of performance, the group said that Adams Oshiomhole has no visible projects in Owan land beyond the sharing of bags of rice, fertilizers, and a few motorcycles during the Yuletide, despite the huge financial allocation for constituency projects in the senate.
“One begins to wonder whether the likes of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and our very distinguished senator are in the same upper chamber. We can clearly say that in almost three years in the Senate, the Owan Nation has not felt the representation of Oshiomhole. It has been a disastrous performance,” they said.
The group added that they are ready to go on a tour of Owan East and West LGAs with Comrade Oshiomhole for him to provide particular proof of the projects he has facilitated in Owan.
With the benefit of hindsight, the group noted that the Etsako bloc of Edo north has in the past produced the following persons as Senators: Senator Franca Afegbua, Senator Richard Lemai, Senator Albert Legoge, Senator Oyofo, and Senator Francis Alimikhena, who both served for eight years respectively. And presently, Senator Adams Oshiomhole is expected to have served out his term in the Senate by 2027.
“This is in addition to the monopolization of the Ministerial, Ambassadorial, Deputy Governorship positions, and legions of other top political appointments too many for enumeration here,” they said.
“Whereas, the Owan bloc, consisting of two Local Government Areas — East and West — has produced one Senator, Senator Yisa Braimoh, and the Akoko Edo bloc, Senator Domingo Obende, who both served for only four years each,” the group added.
Owan Conscience called on all well-meaning Edo north stakeholders, traditional rulers, youth and women groups, and political leaders to resist what it termed “this brazen attempt to perpetuate injustice and political exclusion against the Owan people.”
They reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing a fair, just, and inclusive political process that guarantees equal opportunities for all ethnic blocks in Edo north, stressing that “the time for Owan’s rightful representation in the Senate is now.”
