Politics
Edo 2024: Those adopting homegrown mantra are after cheap popularity — PDP Aspirant
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin
A Governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the Edo 2024 gubernatorial election, Hon. Osaro Onaiwu, has described those calling themselves homegrown for the purpose of gaining cheap popularity in the name of election, saying it is about capacity to deliver the dividend of democracy to the people of the state and not mere sloganeering of homegrown.
He expressed his views while speaking with journalists in Benin, the state capital, ahead of the party’s primary.
Onaiwu said that there is nobody that is more homegrown than himself if that is what they should go by, because he has represented the state in a competition when it was still Bendel State and has equally served the founders of the state which none of those chorusing homegrown has done.
“Let’s first of all talk about the homegrown thing because nobody is more homegrown than me, because one, my wife is Edo. Majority of the aspirants their wives are not Edo.
“So, as governor to be, my wife understands the values and culture of the women and which is key, that is one.
“I served the two major people that built Edo, Samuel Ogbemudia, was the maker of Edo, then the man who created the state, Akhomo, so I served him.
“So, when they say homegrown, there has to be a definition of homegrown. So, I have served the two great people of this state. I have also participated in sports festivals. I played handball for Bendel state.
“So who could be more homegrown than me? Let any of the aspirants come out and put a medal on the table to say this is what I did for Bendel state when he was young.
“So, this is not the time for us to talk about who is homegrown and who is not homegrown. So, we are looking at capacity, we are looking at those who are ready to serve. In Igboland, there is what we call the apprentice system.
“So, when you have finished serving, they will set you free. So, let all of them come and tell me who they have served and that they now want to serve Edo people.
“When you have not served somebody, you can’t serve the people. Service is about passion, service is about humility, service is about care.
“So, we don’t want people who say that they are coming to serve us. Are they coming to serve us or are they coming to loot our common wealth? No. So, the homegrown issue should not even come into play because if they want to talk about the homegrown, I am the original homegrown because my wife is Edo.
“I married in Edo, I didn’t marry outside Edo. My mother is Ishan, my father is Benin. So who is more homegrown than me? So I don’t want to use that word homegrown, that should not even come in at all. If we want to go there, we have a lot to talk about some people,” Onaiwu said.
On the issue of zoning, the aspirant said those who advocate for it have forgotten the political history so soon adding that politics is a game of numbers, therefore those who are seeking for elective position should be prepared to canvass for votes and stop playing up sentiment.
“The issue of zoning, we have never zoned in Edo. It is clear. People are just trying to bring sentiment and emotion.
“Emotion and sentiment don’t win elections. Election is about consensus, election is about talking to people. We have never zoned. If you check from 1999 till date, every other area in the state has always participated in elections.
“So why the emotion? Why the sentiment? When Osunbor was the governor, was it zoned? He contested against Julius Ihonvbere.
“It was not zoned. So why are they now talking about zoning? Have we forgotten our history? Some people that are talking of zoning, did they participate in the electoral process in Edo State from 1999?.
“The candidates in 1999, who were the two aspirants in PDP? Was it not Azzis Garuba that was permanent secretary that Akhigbe brought and Lucky? Was it zoned? When Lucky finished in 2007, Ihonvbere from north wanted to contest against Osunbor and Ogbesia, was it zoned? In 2020, did Rice man Gideon not try to contest against Godwin Obaseki, was it zoned? So, if you have the capacity, if you know you have what it takes to govern the people, go round the local governments and sell yourself.
“You don’t sit down in one place and you expect them to come and give it to you. Go round, go to Akoko-Edo and other local governments, that is how to be a politician.
“They have people who have the capacity to be governor in Edo Central. It is not by sitting at home that we know your capacity. You have to go out.
“We have never zoned in Edo. That emotion will not work and for your information, democracy is a game of numbers,” Onaiwu maintained
Polling stations across the United Kingdom are opened on Thursday morning, with opinion polls suggesting the centre-left Labour party on course to secure a big majority.
Labour is expected to secure majority in the House of Commons and form a new government, after 14 years in opposition.
Millions of people will cast their vote between 7a.m and 10pm, An exit poll, published shortly after 10p.m., would provide the first indication of how the election has gone on a national level.
The first of the 650 seats are likely to declare their results from 11.30p.m.
Party leaders have made their final appeals to voters after touring the country since the election was called.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday represents a pivotal moment for the country’s future as he claimed Labour would “wield their unchecked power to increase taxes should they secure a supermajority’’.
Sunak was joined by his wife Akshata Murty as they visited a polling station to vote on Thursday.
He said “morning’’ and waved at reporters as he entered Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton.
In his final stump speech on Wednesday evening, Sunak said: “this underdog will fight to the final whistle.’’
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the UK “cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives, adding Britain can begin a new chapter’’ under his party.
“Britain’s future is on the ballot,’’ he said.
Starmer was also cheered by activists as he spoke at a community centre in Redditch, Worcestershire, as his campaigning came to a close.
“That’s what we are fighting for, let’s continue that fight.If you want change, you have to vote for it.’’
As the bookies’ favourite to be the next prime minister, Starmer said he was pleased with Labour’s campaign and his party was “ready for what comes next’’.
An average of all polls completed during the seven days to July 3 puts Labour on 39 per cent, the party’s lowest rating since the campaign began 18 points ahead.
The Conservatives on 21per cent followed by the right-wing populist Reform UK on 16per cent, the centrist Liberal Democrats on 11per cent and the Greens on 6 per cent.
The Conservatives are up slightly on the figures for the previous week while Labour are down, with the averages for the seven days to June 26 being Labour 41per cent.
Conservatives 20 per cent, Reform 16 per cent, Lib Dems 11per cent and Greens 6 per cent.
Sunak had called the snap general election on May 22.
The Labour Party has demanded immediate release of Dr Chigbo Okoli, Chairman, sub-Committee on Registration and Revalidation of its National Transition Committee (NTC).
Tha party made the demand in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the NTC, Mr Abdulwahed Omar and Mr Nnawuihe Nwauwa, respectively
In the statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, the party officials said Okoli was arrested by persons suspected to be officers of the Nigeria Police Force and had been held incommunicado.
“On Tuesday, the 25th of June 2024, around 2pm, gun-wielding armed policemen swooped on Dr Okoli after he left the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Federal
Capital Territory Command.
“They arrested him in a gestapo manner, without informing him of the offence he was suspected to have committed. Neither was he allowed to contact his lawyer nor any family member,” they said.
The officials added that Okoli has been held incommunicado since the time of his arrest and neither charged to court nor released on administrative bail.
They described Okoli as “a peaceful and law-abiding citizen of Nigeria that has neither been arrested nor accused of committing a crime”.
“Every attempt by his family, Attorneys and associates to access him has been unsuccessful.
“This is in clear violation of his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and other statutes,” they said.
The party officials called on the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, among other security agencies, to ensure the immediate and safe release of Okoli forthwith.
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