The New PDP and Benin Enegie

THE NEW-PDP AND BENIN ENIGIE

By His Royal Highness, HRH Enogie of Obazuwa Past President Association of Enigie Benin Kingdom. The Convener,  Benin Leaders of Thought.

I attended a special meeting convened on Wednesday, March 25 at the instance of the PDP at the Palace of the Enogie of Egbean, Siluko Road and President of the Association of Enigie in Benin Kingdom. About 100 Enigie were in attendance. I describe the meeting as special because it was called just three days before the election of March 28.

Although that last ditch meeting was convened at the instance of the party, not all of their flag-bearers were present. Some, they said, were “inevitably absent” as they were campaigning elsewhere. Nevertheless, they seized the opportunity to plead with Enigie for their support.

Introducing the team which was led by the wealthy business man Captain Hosa Okunbor and four Palace Chiefs. Lucky Imasuen, the party’s senatorial chairman who introduced the team, told the Enegie that the party was now called the “New PDP”. He said the New PDP was now led by the Benin business mogul, Capt Hosa.

He described Capt Hosa as one of the movers and the shakers of Abuja (the FCT) and a “very good friend of President Jonathan” He said the people of Benin were lucky that such a wealthy personality agreed to throw his weight behind them.

Speaking after Imasuen, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu appealed passionately for the Enegie’s support for the New PDP’s flag bearers as well as for the party’s presidential candidate. He said President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan personally appointed him a co-ordinator of his campaign in Edo South because of the President’s love for Benin.

He also said a Benin man he named as Matt Akhionbare, who serves at the Villa, has his office in the Villa located close to the President’s. “One has to pass by Akhionbare’s office to get to the President’s”.

Ize-Iyamu also talked about the business mogul’s friendship with the President and that the mogul gets the President’s ear. So, if Benin people vote for the President (and all the party’s flag-bearers) they will have a strong voice to speak for them in Abuja.

It was time for the business mogul to speak. He grabbed the microphone. He was suave and eloquent. He disclosed why he decided to throw his hat into the ring to fight the Benin cause in spite of his earlier stance to face only his business. He said many of his fellow business men had gone out of the country and were wondering what he was still doing around at this time of political uncertainty. He said he told them he was staying to ensure that Benin people voted themselves ‘out of opposition’. He said he promised his “friend, the President”. He would get Benin votes for him.

He ended his speech by dramatically getting on his knees, pleading fervently for support for President Jonathan and all the new PDP’s candidate at the elections.

Principal speakers at the event talked about the business man’s friendship with the President. But no one said when the friendship started. Was it before the President’s first coming in 2011. or only recently?

The three disclosures: that Benin have a rich. Influential man, who has the President’s ears: that the President personally appointed Pastor Ize-Iyamu as campaign co-ordinator and that Mr. Akhionbare’s office in the Villa is near the President’s is cheery to the Benin ethnic nationality. But the more that is so, the more it compounds the main question Benin Leaders of Thought has been asking since 2011, thus:

Why is it that no one has been able to influence the President to include a Benin man or woman in his cabinet since Governor Oshiomhole made the people of Edo South vote massively for President Jonathan in 2011?

Some of the New PDP speakers tried to profeer an explanation. They said the President does not appoint “opposition” people to his cabinet. It is true that Governor Oshomhole’s government in Edo State is in opposition to President Jonathan’s PDP administration.

But is Edo Central not part of Edo State? Is President Jonathan president of only PDP or for thoe whole Nigeria irrespective of political or religious belief?

Must a state have a person who is the President’s tribesman or personal friend to be able to het its constitutional rights?

Mr. Imasuen had earlier admitted that the old or original PDP nay have done “something wrong” in the past. He assured that the New PDP is different. He pleaded with the Enigie to “give them a  chance”

The Eigie, through their President told their august visitors that being non-partisan, they do not sponsor any party or politician. Enigie, the President said, pray to god to give Benin and Nigeria good politicians and good leaders who would develop the land.

One Enogie was heard saying: ‘Edo State knows who has been winning for the past six years and you don’t change the winning team.

By HRH. Prince Edun Akenzua, Enogie of Obazuwa.