‘PDP can’t postpone May 29 handover date’

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that in spite of the shift in the general elections by six weeks, “the May 29 handover date of the PDP-led Federal Government to the APC cannot be postponed, as no one can postpone Christmas.”

  While receiving some defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party in Benin City on Sunday, Oshiomhole said: “You heard what happened. They said they have postponed the elections. 

  “Few days back, they called us for a meeting at the Council of State and we said they should go ahead and do the elections. 

  “In any event, we are not the only country with security challenges. Even election is held in Afghanistan and Iraq.

  “So, whether they postpone the election or not, we won’t fight. They can’t postpone Christmas.” 

  The governor appealed for calm, saying, “nobody should be angry because I know you were ready for Saturday’s election. Only a debtor thinks tomorrow is far.” 

  “Everybody has seen that they don’t want elections. They sponsored discussions on television; Jega said INEC is not the issue; so, they came up with security.”

  Oshiomhole continued: “If they like, let them keep coming up with issues, but elections will hold. 

  “So, I ask you, just take it easy. These six weeks will cost us more resources and time because we thought we would do the election, get through with it and get on with our lives. 

  “But they decided to postpone the election, to prolong it. But let me ask you; a child that is due to arrive after nine months, how long can you prevent it from birthing?”

  Declaring that the APC was already in power, “by the grace of God,” the governor said they (Federal Government) could postpone the election “but they cannot postpone May 29 handover date.” 

  “Two wrongs cannot make a right. So, don’t fight; make peace. We will use the remaining six weeks to mobilize more, pull out more people from the PDP so that Edo State will be 100 per cent for APC,” he said.

  Governor Oshiomhole expressed joy and praised the courage of the defectors for dumping the PDP to pitch tent with the APC “that is set to bring the much-desired change and development to the country.” 

  He assured them of a level-playing ground in the party.

  His words: “I am really grateful to all of you that have joined. You can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. 

  “I want to promise you that together, we will continue to build a new digital political superstructure on top of which we can build all the other things.”

  Over 300 people decamped from the PDP to the APC. They were led by Chief Sunny Erhengbo, Dr. Friday Omokaro (former PDP House of Representatives aspirant for Ikpoba Okha/Egor Federal Constituency) and Mr. Fred Ikhuebor, head of security, Goodluck to Goodluck Campaign Organisation, Edo State chapter.