BY simon ebegbulem
BENIN—political tension heightened in Edo State, weekend, when thousands of youths in the state held a rally in Benin City calling on the former Commander Corps of Army Finance and Accounts in the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), to join the 2012 governorship race in the state.

The rally commenced from Ring Road down to Airport Road, disrupting vehicular movement for several hours.

The placard-carrying youths, numbering over 5,000, lamented what they described as the high unemployment rate and alleged over taxation of both workers and operators of businesses in the state.

According to them, Airhiavbere, who recently joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will provide them succour.

Former Editor-in-Chief/Chief Executive Officer of the Insider Magazine and a chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr. Osa Director, who addressed the youths, commended them for recognising the qualities of   Airhiavbere, predicting that the 2012 governorship election in the state will be a titanic one if the call was heeded by the PDP chieftain.

He expressed disappointment on the performance of the ACN-led government in the state, adding “that was why I am glad to attend this wonderful rally because the youths had seen that there is no democracy in Edo State. The youths are unemployed.

“Even those employed were recently relieved of their jobs. The youths were deceived to assist the ACN during the elections but after the election they were sacked.”