The Benin Traditional Council yesterday restated the non-partisan position of the Palace of the Oba of Benin. The council said it was unacceptable for the political inclination of any political group or persons to be ascribed to the Oba of Benin. A statement signed by the Secretary to the council, Mr. Frank Erhabor said it had come to the notice of the Benin Traditional Council and the Palace that the name, pictures imprimatur and effigy of Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokoplo, Oba Erediauwa were used as signs of campaigns by political parties.
“In particular, the Benin Traditional Council wishes to reiterate that the Oba of Benin’s desires and prayers as father to all is for the individual or party to be expressly committed to the continued unity of the Edo people, infrastructural development of Edo State, creation of jobs for the people, reduction of poverty and above all, respect for traditional institution,” the statement said. Meanwhile, the Edo State governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the July 14 election, Mr. Andrew Igwemoh has said his party was committed to improving the lives of Edo citizens with better governance and accountability in the utilization of public resources.
He said a Labour Party government would do more for the people, adding: “Though Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done very well, we in the Labour Party think we can do better than he is doing as a party of market women, students and workers.” Igwemoh, who is a fellow of the Institute of the Chartered Accountnats of Nigeria (ICAN), was unanimously nominated yesterday at the party’s primaries in Benin City as the sole aspirant by the delegates at the primaries, which was supervised by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu.
Speaking before the primaries, Nwanyanwu, who commiserated with Governor Adams Oshiomhole on the killing of his Principal Private Secretary, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde said LP was not in alliance with the ANPP or any other party. He said he was certain that Edo people and especially members of the LP would vote for a progressive governor, especially now that it was obvious that there was a performing governor in the mould of Oshiomhole.
