By Gabriel Enogholase
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State has called on its members not to see the 16 January 2010 re-run election into Etsako-Central Consti-tuency in the state as one between its candidate, Mr. Chris Umogbai, and his Action Congress, AC, counterpart, Mr. Johnson Oghuma Eguakhide, but between the PDP and Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The party, therefore, enjoined its faithful to work as one family in order to ensure victory for the party during the election.

Edo State chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who gave this charge at the party’s end of year get together held at his country home in Ogbona, Estako-Central weekend, said with commitment and dedication among party leaders and members, PDP would emerge victorious in the by-election.

“Let me use this opportunity to speak to our many supporters that the re-run election is not about Chris Umogbai, It is about PDP and Adams Oshiomhole,” he said.

He urged all loyal members and leaders of the party to rise up to the challenge, saying that “for once, we will fight this man and all the talks we have been hearing on television that AC owns the will come to an end”.

Orbih assured the party’s numerous supporters that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure PDP won the election, adding, however, that  all that was required was to remain committed like never before and say no to Adams Oshiomhole in the election.

He thanked members for coming together once again; pointing out that it is a mark of their commitment, loyalty and dedication to the party in the past one year.

Orbih said: “I can’t but thank you enough for what you have done. I cannot thank you enough for all that we have seen in the past few months and coming here today to Ogbonna have conveyed more than ever before that the major party in Edo state is PDP. All other parties put together including the government in Edo state are in the opposition.

“So, today’s occasion is for us to thank God for piloting the affairs of our great party in the past one year. It is also an opportunity to showcase the stuff we are made of”.

He further used the opportunity to tell members of the party gathered that in past one year, the state has received over #52 billion but all that can be seen was plating of flowers at the Kings Square, Benin.

Edo PDP boss who placed the blame at the door step of the state government, attributed the lapses on lack of concentration on the art of governance by Oshiomhole, whom he said channel all his concentration on winning over those who had left the party instead of concentrating in the art of governance.

“Let me tell you this. I have taking taken pain not as chairman of the party but as a citizen of the state to watch the event in our state in the past few months and I have seen in my observation the politics of condemning everything PDP stand for in our state.

“But what people have failed to recognize is that while this man is busy condemning PDP, he is also sending the word that some members of PDP are joining him. If he is saying PDP is bad, why is he celebrating even those we don’t even want in PDP who are defecting to him?

“If they have support, why are they going from one Local Government to the other, asking councilors and chairmen to join them? They say PDP is bad yet they are asking PDP members to join them.

Present at the occasion was Chief Tony Anenih, Chairman of NPA; Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon, Businessman and a PDP financier; Senators Ehigie Uzamere, Odion Ugbesia, Yisa Braimah representing Edo South, Central and North senatorial districts respectively, House of Representatives members, members of the state assembly and other party stalwarts.