Edo South leaders unhappy with FG on appointments, says Odigie-Oyegun

• Umakhihe urged to join Edo governorship race as Catholic priest declares
Leaders from Edo South Senatorial District, yesterday, alleged marginalisation on appointments so far made by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the zone has been ignored despite its population and voting advantage over the other two senatorial zones.

The leaders expressed their displeasure at the GRA, Benin City residence of the former Governor of Edo State and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, who said their goal is to forge a common front for the interest of the zone in the state and Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Odigie-Oyegun said: “We are comparing notes. We are looking at the level of appointments. We are looking at the unfolding political equation, and at the end of the day, we ask ourselves what is, indeed, for Edo South? Basically, at the end of the day, we can say that we are not happy with the appointments that have been made so far.

MEANWHILE, a group, Concerned Edo Citizens Forum (CECF), yesterday, called on a distinguished Nigerian and Edo son, Dr Ernest Afolahi Umakhihe to join the Edo State governorship race to liberate the state from the shackles of oppressive leaders over the years.

Addressing newsmen during a world press conference in Benin City, the state capital, Coordinator of CECF, Endurance Dirisu, and its Director, Publicity and Mobilisation, Felix Osas Osagie, appealed to Umakhihe to accept the patriotic call to serve his father land.

Explaining the need for Umakhihe to join the race, Dirisu said: “We are strongly convinced that Umakhihe possess the requisite criteria and experienced in public sectors over the years.”

Dirisu, who described Umakhihe as a home boy, said he hails from Otuo, in Owan East Local Council of the state and has worked and lived in Edo.

ALSO, following Pressure from a cross section of Edo people and other Nigerians, the Parish Priest of St Francis Catholic Church, Benin, Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan, has formally joined the Edo State 2024 governorship race. Rev. Obinyan, who spoke, yesterday, with journalists at the Secretariat of the Edo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benin, explained that he delayed joining the race, because he had to make extensive consultation before taking a stand.