Edo 2024: Oyegun-Igbinedion Group, Others Kick Against Zoning

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By Correspondent

A pan-Benin group that was put together by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, both former governors, to take a position on the question of power shift from Edo South to other Senatorial districts have decided against letting the governorship position go.

Oba Ewuare II

This decision is contained in a communique that may be made public at a meeting scheduled to hold today, Sunday 17, December 2023 at Chief Oyegun’s Benin City residence.

A confidant source told Midwest Herald that the agitation for power rotation between the Tiv and Idoma of Benue State “largely informed the group’s position to retain the office of governor in Edo South.

The technical report’ that will be presented today equally canvassed the similarity of Kanuris in Borno and Yobe States as well as Kaduna State.

“Since the creation of Benue State in 1976, the Tiv ethnic group has held the elective position of governor without differing to the Idomas who constitute the second largest ethnic group in the state.”

The group however have a proviso in their communique that, power will only shift for commensurate political offices.

“The challenge here with this, is that, the alternative plum positions like Minister, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly have been assigned to Edo North Senatorial District.

“We are unable to think of any other commensurate offices that can compensate Edo South if we are to let go of the governorship,” our source stressed.

“In the past, the juicy agencies, board positions appointments were all exclusively occupied by Edo Central.

“Sadly, the incumbent governor has not been able to do something positive for the upliftment of any Edo South man or woman in seven years.

“At best, Governor Obaseki has caused division among the Benin nation with his anti-Benin, anti-palace tendencies.”

Today’s meeting is the fourth in series after the third that necessitated Dr Tony Iredia’s ‘technical committee’ to draft the communique, after some persons openly kicked against power shift which was canvassed by Governor Godwin Obaseki during the meeting.

Obaseki asked the forum to give the conditions to shift governorship to Edo Central, obviously to accommodate his anointed aspirant.

The group which was promoted and funded by governor Obaseki, was forced off the curve when the membership was enlarged.

The principal aim and objective of the group was to stampede Edo South to accept Obaseki’s sole decided candidate.

Apart from the two conveners, Oyegun and Igbinedion, some other persons that attended the inaugural meeting were Godwin Obaseki, Tony Iredia, Parry Osayande, and few others.

A follow-up meeting had Chief Kenneth Oteghekpen, the Nobabor of Benin Kingdom. The frank, highly-spirited Benin Chief minced no word on the quest to have a governor from Edo South.

The growing agitation by the Benins to retain the position may not be unconnected with Obaseki’s perceived disconnection from his people who defended him in 2020.

Obaseki’s long drawn battle with Oba Ewuare II over the Benin Artefacts and the constitution of a parallel Local Government Traditional Council in the seven local government areas of Edo South, has exacerbated their forlorn position.