Edo LG polls: We must support Anenih – Asekhame

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN CITY—FORMER Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Mr. Dan Asekhame, Monday, urged members of the party in the state to complement the efforts of Chief Tony Anenih in rebuilding the party in the state by ensuring victory for the party in the forthcoming April 20, 2013 Local Government elections.

While describing Chief Anenih as the undisputable national leader of the party, Asekhame who was two-time chairman of the council, reasoned that the party will benefit from what he described as the brewing crisis in the state Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, as a result of the disagreement among some leaders of the party over choice of chairmanship candidates, to clinch party victory in some council areas.

According to him, “ it is sad that a party that is preaching one man one vote is today imposing candidates in all the Local Governments. That is why I want to encourage our chairmanship candidates and members of our party to put in every thing possible in this coming local government election. The problem the PDP had in the state before now is what we can describe as political wreckage because there are too many people on board.

“PDP stands a chance of winning many councils because of the crisis in the ACN today. Our candidates should disregard the fears that the ACN may manipulate the process because this is a local election only popular candidates will be accepted by the people. Our candidates must come up with rich manifestoes like we had at the Federal level where President Goodluck Jonathan is doing all he can to create employment for the youths.

“We are capable of shocking the ACN. Any body who tried to underestimate the PDP in the forthcoming Local Government elections in the state will be doing so to his own peril. Like in Owan West my Council, we are going to ensure that power is handed over to a PDP chairmanship candidate that is God fearing because what we want is good leadership” he stated.

While commending the appointment of Chief Anenih as chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA),  he added that “ the only way we can appreciate all Chief Anenih has done in Edo PDP is to work hard in this local government election at least to let the people know that PDP is not dead in Edo state”.