By SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLESE BENIN CITY

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole yesterday unveiled the incumbent deputy governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, as his running mate for the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state.

The Governor who disclosed that Odubu’s choice was the decision of the entire leadership of the party based on his performance so far as Deputy Governor of the state.

The Governor, who spoke at his Campaign Office in Benin City, also took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over their reactions toward the attempt by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the state to scuttle the Thursday solidarity rally organized in support of Oshiomhole, describing them as cowards.

Flanked by the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, State chairman of the party, Thomas Okosun, South South Vice Chairman of the ACN, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Oshiomhole challenged the PDP to come in the open and fight rather than using individuals to fight due to their unpopular stance in the state. According to him, “you would have noticed some conflicting statements and the very angry reactions of the PDP to the massive rally that took place yesterday.

Those who allegedly went to the National Industrial Court, we have not heard any comment fromthem, it is the PDP that is crying wolf that the court order has been disobeyed. When they were not a party to the suit.

“ So you can see the point I am making that some of these guys are cowards, rather than come out on their feets and answer their father’s name for what they are doing, they seem to hire mercenary politicians of no consequence to file cases for them while they pretend they have no hand in it. So my question to the PDP is that are you the one who allegedly went to court so why are they crying more than the bereaved?

“Now it shows they were cowards because they know what they are trying to do does not make sense. Secondly, whose interest has been injured by the fact that people voluntarily assembled. People had the right to protest against me, they had the right and they have enjoyed the right to go in strike against me. Why will they be denied the right this time around to celebrate with me and to reaffirm confidence in me. These are the questions an objective media should ask them” he stated.