Senate 2027: Akoko-Edo and Owan Synergize. Can they Unseat Oshiomole?
By Elempe Dele
There are political cacophony going on in Edo North Senatorial District at the moment. The unpleasant words coming from even some members of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has reached feverish crescendo. The purpose is simple: to make this discordant sound reach Senator Adams Oshiomole.
In 2022, Comrade Adams Oshiomole won the APC Edo North Senatorial ticket with 309 votes against Senator Francis Alimikhena who got only five votes after withdrawing from the contest. In the 2023 election proper, Oshiomole will go to defeat the same Alimekhena who ran under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While Oshiomole pulled 107,110 votes, Alimekhena got 55,344 votes.
At the Senate, Senator Oshiomole is one senator you can be sure will speak logically and humanely to thematic issues affecting the people. Videos of his presentations are shared on several social media platforms by both his supporters and foes. He is that vocal voice that brings up challenges ordinary Nigerians face in their daily lives. From insecurity to the spiralling cost of energy supply to households. However, back home, in his political base, there are certain incongruous clatter of words by both his opponents and his supporters.
Recently, a socio-cultural group peopled by Owan sons and daughters of Edo State called Owan Conscience met to reveal to the public that they are vehemently against Senator Oshiomole’s second term. Although such a similar group has not been convocated in Akoko-Edo in recent times, the talk on people’s lips amd whispers in small groups happen to be the same with that of the Owan people.
Members(from Owan East and Owan West) of the Owan Conscience met in Benin last weekend and held a news conference. The likes of Richard Ofen-Imu, Chief Richard Ehimigbai, Mrs. Sabina Idowu-Osehobo, Dr. Victoria Amu, Chief Patrick Agbebaku-Izobo, Princess Yinka Alufohai, Prince Silva Alele, members, and Comrade Mike Igaga, Secretary, among other eminent personalities. From a reliable source, I am informed the group is partly being sponsored by some members of the APC who feel there have been lopsidedness in how Senator Oshiomole has been handling appointments within the party from the Federal Government.
The Owan Conscience, in its press conference, said they disassociated themselves from a purported endorsement of Senator Oshiomole for second term, calling it unjust and insensitive. “Edo North Senatorial District, otherwise known as Afenmai, is made up of three sub-ethnic groups, namely, Akoko-Edo, Etsako, and Owan. These three groups should, naturally, share the political positions that may be allocated to the area as an entity. Comrade Oshiomhole, like we all know, is of the Etsako sub-ethnic group, a group that has, over the years, dominated the senatorial slot to the glaring disadvantage of Akoko-Edo and Owan.
“The following is an analysis of senators of Edo North since the first republic: Chief E. A. Lamai (1960-1966), Etsako; Senator John Umolu (1979-1983), Etsako; Senator Franca Afegbua (Oct-Dec 1983), Etsako; Senator Albert Legogie (Dec 1992-Nov 1993), Etsako; Senator Victor K. Oyofo (1999-2007), Etsako; Senator Yisa Braimoh (2007-2011), Owan; Senator Domingo Obende (2011-2015), Akoko-Edo; Senator Francis Alimikhena (2015-2023), Etsako; and Senator Adams Oshiomhole (2023-2027), Etsako.
“The analysis clearly shows that while Etsako would have held the Senate slot for about 31 years by 2027, Owan and Akoko-Edo have held the same position for only four years each. This is not only unfair and unjust, but an act of wickedness of brother against brother, and it lacks equity.”
The organisation added that the current minister from Edo State, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, is from Etsako, as well as the previous minister, Prince Clem Agba.
“The immediate ambassador is an Etsako man. The current nominee for the same position of an ambassador is also from Etsako. Just to mention few positions zoned to Edo State/Edo North and being held by indigenes of Etsako.”
The group advocated for political parties, especially the APC, should as a matter of equity, zone the senatorial ticket to Owan that has been shortchanged. Perhaps before the 2027 election, the Akoko-Edo people might come up with a similar demand as the tonal value of political inward-looking has been set in motion by members of the Owan Conscience.
Other major complaints by the group and others against Senator Oshiomole is that since he was voted in 2023, no major senatorial project has been seen commissioned or facilitated by him in any part of Edo North, especially in Owan and Akoko-Edo. They made comparisons with other Senators who are on records for facilitating tertiary institutions to their senatorial zones, facilitate road constructions, water supply, vocational study centres, road constructions, healthcare facilities…even massive empowerment programmes. They gave examples of Senator Akpabio who distributed billions worth of empowerment items to constituents last year.
Senator Adams Oshiomole has yet to officially responded to this claims and press conference. I am aware from experience that no political development is taken for granted. After the bitter experience where Oshiomole was ousted as the National Chairman of the APC aided by one of his prodigies, Godwin Obaseki, Oshiomole will not take this political grandstanding of the Owan people for granted. The unheard voice from Akoko-Edo APC members is deafening too just as this one by the Owan people. Screams made in silence can be very dangerous.
Elempe Dele is a journalist, he wrote this piece from Okpe, Akoko-Edo, Edo State.
