Adams Oshiomhole

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The pressure group, Edo Accord Initiative, EAI, has thrown its weight behind the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, over his perceived decision to present a candidate to run for this year’s governorship election in the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is even as Benin Leaders of Thought last week warned Governor Oshiomhole against imposing any candidate on the state, adding that the era of godfatherism and imposition is over.

National Chairman of Edo Accord, Mr. Denis Idahosa, made this prouncement last weekend at a meeting with coordinators of the group from across the 18 local government areas of the State.

Idahosa who made clarification that Oshiomhole’s support for an aspirant “does not in any way amount to imposition,” expressed the readiness of the group to give support any governor Adams Oshiomhole’s proffered candidate for the APC.

He however hinged their support on the credibility of whoever the governor is presenting as his successor as governor of the state.

His word: “As a pressure group and a bridge between government and the people, our mission statement is to ensure continuity and sustainability of the governor’s developmental stride.

“EAI has not adopted any candidate, but we are working with governor Oshiomhole because he has surpassed his predecessors’ achievement.

“As a leader of the party, the governor can advise on who will best serve the interest of the State… It’s now left for us to do an assessment to see if the person is credible.

“If that is done, then we will support. But if we discovered that the person is not credible, we will advise the governor,” he stated.

Some aspirants in the governorship election had kicked and expressed displeasure over rumours that the Governor Oshiomhole had ordered his aides to ‘go and market’ the Chairman of the State Economic Team, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, popularly referred to as Dangote man, to the people of the state.

([email protected])