Alexander Okere, Benin
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused
the state government of stalling the use of the Samuel Ogbemudia
Stadium, Benin, to officially kick off the party’s governorship campaign
slated for next Monday.
The two major political parties in the state – All Progressives
Congress and the PDP – have elected their candidates for the September
10 governorship polls, with the latter having two flag bearers who
emerged from separate primary elections.
The State Chairman of the party, under the Ahmed Makarfi national
caretaker committee, Chief Dan Orbih, told journalists in Benin that the
party had earlier secured the use of the stadium only to have its
application cancelled allegedly on the instruction of the State
Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
Orbih said, “Just yesterday (Thursday) in the afternoon, the
government reached us saying that they have cancelled the earlier
approval given to us. But before then, we informed all the PDP elected
governors, the chairman and members of the Board of Trustees and other
very distinguished leaders of our party in and outside Edo State,
informing them about the venue and the event.
“They had also taken adverts at the national level publicising this
event before we got government order that they have cancelled the
approval for the use of Ogbe stadium.”
But the state government denied the allegation, adding that it had
yet to approve or disapprove the request by the opposition party as of
1pm on Friday.
The Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilisation, Mr.
Priestly Ediagbonya, told our correspondent that although the letter
got to the registry of the Ministry of Youths, Sports and Social
Mobilisation on June 28, it got to his office on Friday.
“I have two papers bearing ‘Peoples Democratic Party’ here on my
table. One held its congress two days ago; I understand that one is led
by Ali-Modu Sheriff. There is another one which I am about treating,”
Ediagbonya said.
He added, “I have not attended to it; . I got wind of it (letter)
now. I have that (letter) on top of my table now; I have not minuted on
it. This state belongs to everyone of us. Nobody has told me to cancel
the arrangement. It was received at the open registry.”
However, while vowing that it would go ahead with the governorship
campaign at an alternative venue, the state chairman said, “But let me
tell you that a hundred Adams Oshiomhole will not stop us from flagging
off our campaign on Monday.
“We have been to the Baptist Convention Ground to inspect that place
as an alternative venue and I can tell you that that place is better
than our earlier proposed venue.”
No comments:
Post a Comment