As the campaign hots up, the battle is shifting to Esan land as the two major political parties battle for the soul of Edo Central. Chief Anenih fired the first salvo last week when he accused Governor Oshiomhole and his APC of marginalizing his people from Esan land following the removal of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly Victor Edoror.

But the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Charles Idahosa roared back, accusing Chief Anenih of marginalizing his own people.

However the worst attack came from a chieftain of the PDP, Okharedia Ihimekpen, who declared that Anenih should first of all address the marginalization of the Okpebho people by the Agbazilo in Esan land, asserting that Anenih had no justification to accuse Oshiomhole.

According to him, “ it is immoral for PDP to accuse Oshiomhole of marginalizing Esan people. That APC has neglected the Esans in the past seven years is a statement of fact. But the APC is not alone in the conspiracy against the Esans. The PDP and its leadership are also involved.

In the firsts place, why did the leadership of the PDP zone the governorship to the South, when they knew that the Esan had been marginalized in the last eight years? Is that not conspiracy against the Esans?

Under PDP we had Prof. Osunbor as governor. Who removed him? Was Oshiomhole the one? An Esan man removed him. Prof. Ambrose Ali was a governor in this state, who conspired to remove him? These questions Chief Anneih should answer.

The Esans are divided into two zones, Agbazilo and Okpebho, why are they not talking about the marginalization of Okpebho in favour of Agbazilo?,

Since 1999 every prominent position that has come to Esan land has gone to Agbazilo, Uromi in particular. Is that not marginalization of the Okpebho? We should tell ourselves the truth. The Esan leadership should know that the Okpebho Esans have been marginalized and that is the real marginalization.

So the marginalization of the Esans is not Oshiomhole or APC alone, PDP leadership is involved.

The PDP leadership must first of all do justice to the marginalization of the Okpebho people. From 1999, all the Ministers that came to Edo state came from Uromi, starting from Anenih as Minister of Works, Dr Joseph Itoto was Minister Interior (Uromi), Austin Okojie (INEC) Uromi. Agbazilo people removed Prof Osunbor and Prof Ali from power. These two professors were from Okpebho.

Looking at other appointments, Mattew Egbadon was Executive Director NPA, the CMD of Federal University of Technology Uromi is from Uromi, Secretary of the National University Commission from Uromi, the CMD of UBTH, Prof Ibadin is from Uromi, so who is talking about marginalization?”.

Ihimekpen continued: “ When you even look at former Speakers of the state House of Assembly, starting from Mathew Egbadon, Friday Itulah, they are all from Uromi. Before we start crying out that Esans have been marginalized, charity should begin at home. The leadership of Esan land should stop marginalizing Okpebho people, he that seeks equity must come with clean hands.

Let us fight the marginalization of Okpebho first by the Agbazillo. Even the Deputy governorship position that was zoned to Esan by PDP, they still cornered it and zoned to Agbazillo in the person of John Yakubu.

There is no need of playing ostrich that the Esans are being marginalized when the Agbazilo in Esan have marginalized the Okpebho people over the years and nothing has been done to address it”.

Meanwhile, Saturday Vanguard learnt that the leadership of the State House of Assembly has agreed to return the Speakership to Edo Central so as to restore the tripod arrangement in the state politics.

Culled from Saturday Vanguard

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/edo-central-turns-battleground-oshiomholeanenih/

A PDP cheiftain Mr Okharedia Ihimekpen, yesterday faulted the allegation by former chairman Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih that the Adams Oshiomhole led APC marginalized the people of Edo Central, accusing Chief Anenih of allegedly masterminded the marginalization of Okpebho people of Esan land with his Agbazillo people.

Explaining that Oshiomhole should not be blamed by the alleged marginalization of Esan people, Ihimekpen, who declared that Anenih should first of all address the marginalization of the Okpebho people by the Agbazilo in Esan land, asserting that Anenih has no justification to accuse Oshiomhole.

God bless Okharedia Ihimekpen for speaking the truth.This has been my problem with the PDP that all appointed & elected positions zoned to Esan land since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy has all gone to Uromi. Are other area not part of Esan land? Or is Uromi the only area in Esan land?

After all said, Esanland belong to PDP... PDP is Esan, Esan is PDP
QED.

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UAE123:
God bless Okharedia Ihimekpen for speaking the truth.This has been my problem with the PDP that all appointed & elected positions zoned to Esan land since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy has all gone to Uromi. Are other area not part of Esan land? Or is Uromi the only area in Esan land?

Really?

ok

kahal29:


Really?

Its totally true. PDP shd 1st of all address dis only alone Uromi appointment b4 accusing Oshiomhole & APC

The PDP should have zoned the governorship to Esan, since they claim to love the Esan land more than APC do.

f

When I made same assertion here last week how "Mr Fix It" has being appointing ministers especially for Works to his boys since 1999 and asked what he has done to the Esans and Edo in general people who don't know the number of LGAS in Esanland came up barking like dogs!

kahal29:


Really?

Very true sir!
Mike Onolemhenmhen was minister for works for state under Iya-adua, same Mike was minister for works under President Jonathan and the Anennih himself was a minister for works under Obasanjo, Anennih was chairman, of NPA under Jonathan etc, they re all from Uromi town! Anennih's home. What happens to other LGAS in esanland? Yet they could not tarred a single road in the town Osho did it for them.

Qmerit:


Very true sir!
Mike Onolemhenmhen was minister for works for state under Iya-adua, same Mike was minister for state under President Jonathan and the Anennih himself was a minister for works under Obasanjo, Anennih was chairman, of NPA under Jonathan etc, they re all from Uromi town! Anennih's home. What happens to other LGAS in esanland? Yet they could not tarred a single road in the town Osho did it for them.

Na wah oh

Qmerit:
When I made same assertion here last week how "Mr Fix It" has being appointing ministers especially for Works to his boys since 1999 and asked what he has done to the Esans and Edo in general people who don't know the number of LGAS in Esanland came up barking like dogs!

How LGAS dey Esan land and help us classify it according to the marginalized and non marginalized?

kahal29:


Na wah oh

My brother u nor see politics, even the running mate to Ize-Iyamu now is from Uromi oooo

kahal29:


How LGAS dey Esan land and help us classify it according to the marginalized and non marginalized?

Edo central. Esan west LGA (ekpoma), Esan central LGA (irrua), Igueben LGA (Igueben), Esan north east (Uromi) , Esan south east ( Ubiaja) below re the appointments since 1999.

Mike Onolemhenmhen was minister for works for state under Iya-adua, same Mike was minister for works under President Jonathan and the Anennih himself was a minister for works under Obasanjo, Anennih was chairman, of NPA under Jonathan etc, they re all from Uromi town! Anennih's home. What happens to other LGAS in esanland? Yet they could not tarred a single road in the town Osho did it for them.

Qmerit:


My brother u nor see politics, even the running mate to Ize-Iyamu now is from Uromi oooo

Jeez... .. . is it that bad?

kahal29:


Jeez... .. . is it that bad?

I for one don't like that man at all he has done too bad to the Esanland and Edo in general, can you believe it that Osunbor is from Ekpoma and this same Anennih brought evidence against him in court to allow osho win the case just cause he refused to be a boy boy gov to him.

A contract given to him to handle by Prof Ambrose Alli as a gov back in the 80s which he failed to execute landed Alli in jail by Buhari. Alli is also from Ekpoma. He still want to be in power saying marginalisation here and there

He be like say Esan get mouth for edo pass the binis?..this one wey esan dey rule everywhere....dia is God

Typical divide and rule tactics. Have any of you been to Ekpoma recently? Have any of you even been to the Okpebho recently?
Yes, Okpebho has not seen much development since Ambrose Alli, neither has most of Esan land except Uromi recently, but comparing that to the APC's neglect over the last 8yrs is just stupidity at its peak.
Not a single project, not even 1from the state. Sure, the ministers and federal officials from the area have not done much but do you really want to compare their failure to Oshiomole's? Oshiomole is the governor for Pete's sake. How can a governor completely neglect an entire senotorial district in his state?
And where is Obaseki's running mate from? Is he not from Oshiomole's village? So what does the APC have for Esan land?
And for those asking why PDP did not bring an Esan man to run for governorship, you are either being silly or just plain ignorant. Edo south alone have over 200000 more voters than the rest of the state put together. There is no way PDP could have run against a Bini man with any other tribe. Why didn't the APC bring someone from Esan land too?
At least, Anenih provided the road that links most of Esan land from Ekpoma through Irrua, Uromi, Ebhokhimi to delta state and Onolememen was 80% done with Ugboha water works and Ugboha road, the water works which Oshiomole did not allow to see the light of day. I hate Anenih as a graduate of AAU, I fully understand the Agbazilo/Okpebho politics and the consequent fall out and the effect on my side of the divide, but trying to use that to divide and woo a section of Esan land is just cheap.
Maybe the APC didn't think they will ever come back to beg for votes from esan people. If the were serious, why did they not take advantage of the political divide in Esan land? A smart party would have chosen a side, put up one or two projects there, give one or two positions in government and neglect the other side, then Esan would have been truly divided, but now, Oshiomole's total neglect of Esan land have brought us together.
Yes, there is a great divide between the Abgazilos and the Okpebhos. It is a historical affair that have been there from the beginning. In fact, the only thing they both agree on today is their hatred and total rejection of the APC.
Let me assure u this one thing, whether the PDP campaign in Esan land or not, they can be assured of a block vote from both sides of the divide.
The main battle ground will be in Benin.