Group Makes Case for Chief Ohimai as Owan West New APC Leader, Cites Contributions To Party

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The contributions made by Chief Lucky Ohimai to the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo has been recognized, as a group, comprising notable leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, has called on the state governor to make Chief Ohimai the new leader of the party in the local government area.

Sequel to this, some ward leaders in the local government, who are said to be loyal to Hon. Julius Ihonbvere, met recently to strategize on how to ease out the long-serving Rev. Obadan and replace him with their nominee, Dele Ogunleye.

In a communique signed by Mr. S. I. Akhigbe and 15 others, it was stated that a motion for the replacement of Obadan was moved and unanimously adopted at the meeting.

The choice of Ogunleye and the attempt to alter the leadership status met stiff opposition and condemnation from another leadership group in the local government, who opted for the maintenance of the status quo, or if a change must be effected, it should be Chief Lucky Ohimai, a well-known grassroots politician often referred to as Tarex.

The group said that they were hinging their choice on the significant roles that Ohimai played during the September 21 Edo State governorship election that saw the victory of Monday Okpebholo at the polls.

According to the group, before the leadership of Ohimai came on board, to actively participate in the politics of Owan West, the APC in the local government could best be described as a rudderless ship, as the party clearly lacked the wherewithal, strength, and focus to prevail in a contest against the now opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which had the well-entrenched presence of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, in its fold.

They noted that the intervention and presence of Chief Ohimai, who bestrode the entire local government like a colossus during the campaigns and whose allure and presence attracted several opposition figures into the APC’s fold, as never witnessed in the party’s history, gave the APC a well-deserved victory.

The pro-Ihonvbere group, even in their protest letter, acknowledged that Chief Ohimai had contributed significantly to repositioning the APC in Owan West.

Loyalists of Lucky Ohimai are of the view that the call for the removal of Rev. Peter Obadan as LGA leader is a mere smokescreen directed at whittling down the growing influence of Chief Lucky Ohimai before the governor and other critical party stakeholders across Edo State.

They noted that the statement issued by Rev. Obadan indicating his preparedness to relinquish the APC’s leadership to Lucky Ohimai was a pill too bitter to swallow for supporters of Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, whose opinion is that as a man holding such a high-profile position at the federal level, the onus should naturally rest on him to provide leadership for the party. They therefore saw Rev. Obadan’s pronouncement as an affront taken too far.

The majority of party members in Owan West welcome the idea of Ohimai’s leadership, saying that as a man who virtually turned the tide in favour of the APC by using huge personal resources in providing logistics support for the party and members, before, during, and after the elections, he has all the qualities needed to successfully place the party on a surer footing in winning future electoral contests in Owan West.

They urged Governor Okpebholo to disregard the protest letter from those feeling shortchanged in the scheme of things and ensure kudos, accolades, and patronage are accorded to those who ensured the victory of the party in the recently held gubernatorial elections.

While emphasizing the need to maintain laid-down constitutional processes and procedures, and allowing them to play out without manipulations and undue interference, they appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo to consider a candidate for Commissioner in Owan West and other appointments by taking into account the inputs of party leaders who showed visibility and ensuring the party’s victory is taken into consideration.

They urged the governor, being the leader of the party, not to be swayed by undue sentiments of those who feel the old order must take precedence over new thinking, which individuals like Chief Lucky Ohimai represent.