BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has urged civil society groups to be vigilant ahead of the governorship election in the state, next year, saying the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is perfecting plans to rig the election.

But the state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, described the allegation as untrue. “Everybody   knows Governor Oshiomhole as a propagandist; so we are not surprised  on  this latest alarm. We are aware that because he is no longer popular due to the poverty and suffering he has inflicted on the people of the state, he knows that the people has rejected him; so he wants to cry first before he will face reality come July 14, 2012″, Orbih said, yesterday.

Oshiomhole, who spoke at a grand reception organized for him in Benin City, by the civil  society organisations in the state on the conferment of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on him by President Goodluck Jonathan, said: “The favour I need from the civil  society is not to trust that these people believe in the principle of  ‘One Man, One Vote’, because, as we speak, they are printing fake result sheets to announce fake results even while people are still voting in the fields.

“The civil  society organisations must be vigilant to ensure that the rigging machines of godfatherism, which we have dismantled, but which they are struggling to rebuild, does not rear its ugly head”.

Speaking earlier, Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Justice (ANEEJ), the Rev David Ugolor, who spoke on behalf of the groups, thanked  Jonathan for bestowing the honour on  Oshiomhole, in spite of their different political party affiliations.

He used the opportunity to call on all Edo people to rally round the Comrade Governor at all times and ensure that “we sustain this ongoing transformation of Edo State through the commitment and selfless service of our own governor.”

Those who gave goodwill messages on the occasion include  the  governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, represented by the state deputy governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, who said “Oshiomhole has distinguished himself as a governor and we are all proud of him.”
Attack on PDP: ‘Governor wrong’

In the meantime, a  socio- political group based  in Benin City, Edo Good Governance Forum,  has, in  a   statement  by its  national coordinator,  Mr. RAMSON IZUANGBE, condemned media statements credited to the state governor, accusing him  of  using offensive words on the PDP gubernatorial candidates.

According to him, Oshiomole, in the statements, showed  his animosity at the PDP’s renewed vigour, unity and total commitment to wrest power from the Action Congress of Nigeria, wondering why the Comrade Governor should leave the high podium of governorship to engage in irrelevant statement and unprovoked mudslinging.

Izuangbe, who also frowned at the attack  on the PDP candidates including the former governor of the state, Professor Oserheimen Osumbor, said, “As the governor of Edo  between May 29, 2007 and November 11, 2008, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor was committed to the welfare and upliftment  of the average Edo indigene in the areas of corporate good governance, due diligence, accountability and sustainable development. He recorded verifiable achievements.

“The critical areas of infrastructure development, human capital development, healthcare delivery, education, agriculture, security etc were extensively tackled and suitable interventions and solutions applied within the resources accruable to the state.”