ABSCONDEE House of Assembly member-elect for Oredo West Constituency, Christopher Ewere Okaeben, in an engagement with Ogbelaka youths, at the weekend, made a mockery of Edo voters while praising the tactics deployed by his party, the APC to manipulate the result of the February 25 Presidential election and steal the people’s mandate.
In his words, Okaeben said, “There’s nothing anyone can do about Tinubu’s victory. He remains our president no matter what anyone thinks or does. He is smarter than other candidates and is always one step ahead. Once we are done with his celebration, we will now have time for Obaseki. He escaped the first time, he won’t this time. We know Edo people can’t wait for the showdown.”
What an audacity from someone who the good people of Oredo voted into office to represent them and bring development to their communities but he failed and decided to pitch tent with the godfather against the will of his people. Okaeben betrayed their trust and denied them representation for four years for his own selfish interests and those of his godfather, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Unfortunately, Okaeben and his ilk are now being recycled and repackaged by the APC to contest for the upcoming elections to enter another power tussle with the governor, ignore our voices and deny Edo people more years of non-representation at the Assembly. Edo people, can we afford to make the same mistake twice? Are we going to reward them for neglecting us when we needed them the most?
As we set for Saturday’s House of Assembly elections, we must have in mind that the progress and development of our dear State is what is paramount. We must come out en masse to choose leaders who are not beholden to any godfather; those who will work for the betterment of our state.
We must choose leaders who will work with us, not against us. We must also be strategic to reject the influence of godfathers who seek to control our representatives and use them for their personal gain. We must vote for candidates who have a proven track record of service to the people and are committed to making Edo a better place.
*For Okaeben and his cohorts, we must reject them in totality because they first rejected and abandoned us.* We must not give them the chance to return chaos and confusion to our House of Assemble and our dear State.
Yes, it is their turn to laugh now, but they must not laugh last. Come Saturday, March 18, 2023, we must shame them and remind them that power belongs to the people. Edo people will laugh last and laugh best!!!
Eweka Emokpae, a concerned citizen writes from Benin City
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