By Elempe Dele
The Edo North Senatorial District is now experiencing political uproar. Even some members of the All Progressive Congress, or APC, have been using offensive language, and it has gotten out of control. The goal is straightforward: to get Senator Adams Oshiomole to hear this discordant sound.
Comrade Adams Oshiomole defeated Senator Francis Alimikhena, who received only five votes after withdrawing from the race, to clinch the APC Edo North senatorial ticket in 2022 with 309 votes. Oshiomole will attempt to defeat the same Alimekhena, who campaigned under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the actual 2023 election. Alimekhena received 55,344 votes, compared to Oshiomole’s 107,110.
One lawmaker in the Senate you can rely on to address thematic concerns impacting the public in a reasonable and compassionate manner is lawmaker Oshiomole. Both his followers and opponents post videos of his speeches on various social media sites. He is the outspoken voice that raises issues that regular Nigerians deal with on a daily basis. from insecurity to the skyrocketing price of domestic energy supplies. However, there is some strange clatter of words from both his friends and opponents back home in his political base.
Owan Conscience, a socio-eco-cultural organisation comprised of Edo State’s Owan sons and daughters, recently convened to publicly declare their strong opposition to Senator Oshiomole’s second term. Even though Akoko-Edo hasn’t seen a gathering of this kind recently, the conversation on people’s lips and murmurs in small groups are comparable to those of the Owan people.
Last weekend, Owan Conscience members (from Owan East and Owan West) gathered in Benin and conducted a press conference. Among other notable figures are Comrade Mike Igaga, Secretary; Princess Yinka Alufohai; Prince Silva Alele; Comrade Richard Ofen-Imu; Chief Richard Ehimigbai; Mrs. Sabina Idowu-Osehobo; Dr. Victoria Amu; and Chief Patrick Agbebaku-Izobo. According to a trustworthy source, certain APC members who believe Senator Oshiomole has been treating appointments from the Federal Government in an unfair manner are contributing to the group’s funding.
In a press conference, the Owan Conscience declared that they disassociated themselves from a rumoured endorsement of Senator Oshiomole for a second term, describing it as impolite and unfair. Three sub-ethnic groups—Akoko-Edo, Etsako, and Owan—make up the Edo North Senatorial District, also referred to as Afenmai. Naturally, the political stances that may be assigned to the region as a whole should be shared by all three groups. As everyone is aware, Comrade Oshiomhole belongs to the Etsako sub-ethnic group, which has dominated the Senate over the years to the conspicuous detriment of Akoko-Edo and Owan.
From the first republic, Edo North has had the following senators: Chief E. A. Lamai (1960–1966), Senator John Umolu (1979–1983), Senator Franca Afegbua (October–December 1983), Senator Albert Legogie (December 1992–November 1993), Senator Victor K. Oyofo (1999–2007), Senator Yisa Braimoh (2007–2011), Owan, Senator Domingo Obende (2011–2015), Akoko-Edo, Senator Francis Alimikhena (2015–2023), Etsako, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole (2023–2027) Etsako.
The study unequivocally demonstrates that Owan and Akoko-Edo have only served in the Senate for four years apiece, but Etsako would have served for almost thirty-one years by 2027. In addition to being unjust and unfair, this is also a wicked act committed by one brother against another and lacks fairness. The group further mentioned that both Prince Clem Agba, the former minister, and Hon. Abubakar Momoh, the present minister of Edo State, are from Etsako.
An Etsako guy serves as the immediate ambassador. Etsako is also home to the current candidate for the same ambassadorial post. Just a handful jobs that are held by Etsako natives and designated to Edo State/Edo North.” As a matter of equality, the organisation argued that political parties, particularly the APC, ought to provide the senatorial ticket to Owan, who has been underutilised. Since members of the Owan Conscience have started the tonal value of political introspection, the Akoko-Edo people might make a similar demand prior to the 2027 election.
Other significant grievances raised by the organisation and others against Senator Oshiomole include the fact that, since his election in 2023, he has not been seen to commission or facilitate any significant senatorial projects in Edo North, particularly in Owan and Akoko-Edo. They compared themselves to other senators who have a history of facilitating the establishment of postsecondary institutions inside their senatorial zones, as well as the development of roads, water supplies, vocational study centres, healthcare facilities, and even extensive programs for empowerment. They cited Senator Akpabio as an example, who last year gave out billions of dollars’ worth of empowerment products to constituents.
The charges and news conference have not yet received an official response from Senator Adams Oshiomole. No political growth is taken for granted, as I know from experience. Oshiomole will not take this political bluster from the Owan people for granted, especially after the painful experience of being removed as the National Chairman of the APC with the help of one of his protégés, Godwin Obaseki. Similar to this Owan sound, the unheard voice of Akoko-Edo APC members is equally deafening. Silent screams can be quite harmful. Journalist Elempe Dele authored this article from Okpe, Akoko-Edo, Edo State.
