Ex-Edo governor, Lucky Igbinedion

By Jethro Ibileke/Benin

For allegedly saying that his political family will produce the next governor of the state and that the PDP will win the forthcoming gubernatorial election with a wide margin, former Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo state, has come under knock by Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Osaro Onaiwu.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday in Benin City at the 84th birthday celebration of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Governor Oshiomhole told his predecessor to simply go and rest and not worry about the outcome of the September 28 governorship election.

He said it was not in the enlightened interest of Lucky “to say his political family will produce the next governor,” adding that he has made up his mind not to talk about his predecessor but that God got Lucky under alcohol to make the comments.

He said it was now for Edo people to choose whether they want the House of Igbinedion as represented by Pastor Ize-Iyamu to continue or they want to sustain the break from the House of Igbinedion, adding that they had to break the House of Igbinedion to deliver on all of democracy dividends across the state.

“The people have clear choice to make. You want Igbinedion era back because Ize-Iyamu has been straight forward on it that they want to Change this change to the Igbinedion era. Lucky has confirmed that one of their own would be use to reverse the clock back.

“Edo cannot return to the House of the Igbinedion. Ize-Iyamu said Igbinedion birthday will now become state sponsored birthday. They want use tax payers money to celebrate a man who has never serve Edo State. I am proud to speak to Ogbemudia record. He is worth celebrating because everybody can point to what he did in every part of the state.

“Edo people have seen the light. They cannot go back to the dark era which the Igbinedion house represent. They will consolidate the present gain and raise it to a higher level by voting for Godwin Obaskei who is not and will never be part of the Igbinedion,” Oshiomhole declared.

On his part, the APGA governorship candidate, Osaro Onaiwu, while reacting to Igbinedion’s comment, urged him to stay away from electioneering campaigns if he (Lucky) does not want people to insult him.

He said Edo people have forgiven him but warned him to be prepared to accept any attacks from the people if he does not stay away.

“Lucky is my friend. He has govern this state for eight years. He should stay away from the political terrain because the candidate he is promoting does not have integrity. Edo people have forgiven Lucky Igbinedion. If he wants people to go back to history, whatever attacks he gets from people, he should accept it.

“Does he control people’s PVC for him to say the PDP will win with a wide margin except he has decided to clone people’s PVC. He should stay away so that he does not get bullets. Ize-Iyamu does not have integrity to govern Edo State,” Onaiwu said.