Edo Guber: Odion Akhaine deserves the slot – MURIC

Group Backs Idahosa To Deliver APC

As the battle for the primaries of the Edo State gubernatorial election gets hotter, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has made a case for one of the candidates, Professor Odion Akhaine.

The group contended that Odion Akhaine deserves the ticket because of his role as the General Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), which was in the forefront of the battle to halt military rule in the 90s.
 
This was revealed in a statement by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola. The full statement reads: “We are keenly monitoring developments in Edo State where party members are getting ready for the gubernatorial election which is billed for September 21, 2024.
 
“Of particular interest to us in the MURIC is the candidature of Professor Odion Akhaine, who is vying for the post of governor in the election.
 
“Though a non-Muslim, it is our wish to identify with him and give him solid solidarity in view of the momentous role he played during the struggle to free Nigeria from the vicious claws of military dictators, particularly after the annulment of the results of the June 12, 1993 election.
 
“As the General Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) in those days, Professor Akhaine was in the trenches with the likes of Dr. Beko Ransom Kuti, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, Uba Sani and other pro-democracy activists. He also spent time in prison for confronting the military. Akhaine is therefore one of the heroes of democracy in Nigeria.
 
“Unfortunately today, many of those who fought for our democracy and paid costly prices have been forgotten by those who are reaping the fruits of democracy.

“It is paradoxical that apart from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, we cannot find those who were actually in the trenches in the corridors of power today. In actual fact, there had been near total blackout of pro-democracy activists from the corridors of power from 1999 until the emergence of President Tinubu and Uba Sani in 2023.

Similarly, member representing Ovia Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, yesterday, got endorsed and described as the surest bet to deliver victory for the APC if he emerges the party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.

The endorsement is coming following report by the Prof. Julius Ihonvbere-led committee that pruned down the numbers of the APC aspirants from 29 to 6.
The Convener, United For Greater Edo (UFGE), Abel Aigbondion, in a statement, said Idahosa has demonstrated capacity, political sagacity and experience to bring in the votes for the APC.

“We are very much impressed with what he has been able to achieve in Ovia within a limited period and urged him to continue in that direction.”

According to the group, Idahosa is the surest bet to fly to deliver victory for the party if he eventually emerge the party’s candidate. Aigbondion said Idahosa’s emergence among six aspirants from the pack of other notable contestants was also a clear pointer to his popularity and capability to bring in the votes for the APC.