…Say Alimikhena undeserving of fresh mandate.
The speculated senatorial ambition of the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, is ruffling feathers amongst party faithful in Edo North senatorial district, and raising tension in the polity as it is pitching the immediate past governor of Edo State against the incumbent senator, Francis Alimikhena.
Loyalists of the former APC Chairman have launched a movement to promote his candidature and have vowed to stop Alimikhena, who is seeking a third mandate in the red chamber of the National Assembly.
Though Oshiomole is yet to make public his ambition, his supporters said they would continue to pile pressure on him to throw his hat into the ring and contest for the senate seat.
The group, which met on Wednesday on the platform of the “South South Movement,” Edo North chapter, at a press conference, accused Alimikhena of haven not met the aspiration of the people to deserve another shot at the senate.
Led by a former Executive Director, Ministry of Lands and Survey, and deputy director of the group, Mustapher Buddy, and other party chieftains, Vitalis Eshokene, Ojisua Akojima David, and Felix Ughiovhe, the group alleged that most of the projects executed by Alimikhena were merely ‘ceremonial’ in nature and non-functional.
Eshokene, who spoke on behalf of the South South Movement, Edo North Chapter; said “in my Etsako East Ward 9 and 10, the boreholes are ‘ceremonial’ because they cease to function after inauguration. He has boasted that the few individuals he has empowered will take him to the senate for the third term.
“We don’t have problem with him giving Greek gifts to few individuals in the name of empowerment. What we are saying is that he has failed to meet the collective interest of our people.
“He (Alimikhena) was a principal member of the Senate in his first term and there was no significant project he attracted to the area with this position. Look at what Prof. Julius Ihonvbvere is doing in Owan Federal Constituency with laudable people’s orientated projects.
“We are saying this because we hear he is telling people that he will be a principal member if he (is) given another opportunity. For us, he has had his chances and failed to use them for the betterment of the district.
“To change this narrative is why we are routing and already mobilising for Oshiomhole to come replicate what he did as the governor in the area.
“People may want to say it is not the same thing being a governor and a senator, but past experiences have shown that Oshiomhole sees the people as the centre-point of his policies.
“We are not just talking, we are already working the talk by mobilising funds both for the campaign, and buying of the form for the former governor who has done a lot for not just the people of Edo North senatorial district, but the entire State.
“We no longer want a sleeping senator; we want a working senator,” Eshokene stated.
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