The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has urged millions of Edo citizens to stand solidly behind the super performing governor of Edo State , Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the July 14 governorship election. At the same time, the party asks Edo people to be at alert as retrogressive forces and those that have imprisoned the fortune of Edo State for years before the coming of Governor Oshiomhole are desperate to drag the state down again through fraudulent rigging of the coming election. In a release in Lagos , signed by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Joe Igbokwe, the party says that a party that desires additional fortes while it continues to wreck havoc and plunder with the enormous opportunity it has had since 1999 can do anything to covet additional spaces for the purpose of looting.
It therefore warns Edo people to be awake and not slumber in their well expressed desire not to be dragged to the terrible days of the past. “We endorse Adams Oshiomhole and the monumental achievements he has recorded in Edo State these past four years. We endorse his deft effort to recover Edo from the remnants of the locusts invasion that prevailed for nearly ten years before his monumental victory. We are happy that Edo people have overwhelmingly stated their desire to maintain the glorious era his regime has brought to the state for the next four years. We are happy that even his political rivals have conceded the fact of his superlative performance and have swelled his quest for re-election come August 14. We are happy with the massive outpouring of endorsement coming to Oshiomhole ahead of the July 14 election and we wish to restate that his sterling performance has vindicated the trust and support of the ACN to him both during the period he was fighting for his stolen mandate and when he assumed office as governor four years ago. “However, we are saddened by reports of massive subterranean moves by the agents of darkness to subvert the mandates of the Edo electorates during the July election.
We are aware of the many plots and intrigues hatched by these spent forces to steal Oshiomhole’s highly anticipated and probable victory. While we warn that such would not be allowed to happen, we alert the good people of Edo State to keep their eyes wide open for such nefarious efforts which these forces have repeatedly brought to bear on the Nigerian political scene since 1999. We are baffled that a party should anticipate victory or plan victory not on its sterling performance but on its capacity to manipulate the process and steal the mandates of the people. We are sad that a party that has stayed in power for thirteen years have no record of performance to point for endorsement but its ability to fix elections for the purpose of diverting the freely given mandates of the people. We are happy that Edo people frustrated the fraudulent registration exercise that ranks high in the PDP rigging plan and we are happy that Edo people rose with one voice to condemn the political assassinations brought to cow the people to silence as the forces of darkness make their merry rounds. “We are happy that in four years, Oshiomhole has left a performing legacy the PDP cannot boast for in nearly ten years in power.
Before the coming of Oshiomhole, Nigerians know that Benin , the capital of Edo State had been taken as a cursed city because of the sheer level of despoliation the PDP left in the state. The state of other parts of Edo State was even more deplorable but in just three and half years, Oshiomhole has elevated Benin to a modern city of pride and left massive infrastructural legacy in every part of Edo State today such that eminent Nigerians and relevant stakeholders in Edo State have openly endorsed his second term. We are happy that members of PDP in Edo State , on contact with truth and reality, are deserting the party in droves and massing around Oshiomhole, which leads us to ask whom the forces of darkness want to steal the state for. “We therefore urge every Edolite to stand firm and ensure his votes are not stolen in the coming election for it is a vote to decide whether the state can continue its present speedy recovery or whether it will relapse back to the hands of the predators. We urge every Edo indigene to refuse to be intimidated by the antics of the PDP as they get desperate in their efforts to corner Edo State for another round of plunder. We urge them not to give in to the hot airs and petty intrigues of the notorious election riggers that have been massed for the purpose of stealing Edo State come July 14 and we warn of dire consequences should any attempt be made to subject the state to the notorious electoral fraud that has defaced the country’s electoral process today.”