By Ben Agande & Henry Umoru

…As Anenih, Ogbemudia, Abbe, Orbih, others reconcile
ABUJA – AHEAD of the July 14 gubernatorial election in Edo State, President  Goodluck Jonathan has urged Edo chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to work hard to ensure that the state becomes a case study for one-man, one- vote.

President Jonathan, who spoke at a meeting with leaders and chieftains of the party from the state at the Presidential Villa, Sunday, also advised them to play politics according to the rule.

The meeting, Vanguard learnt, was to reconcile feuding chieftains of PDP in  Edo State. It was gathered that the elders had resolved their differences before going to the Presidential Villa.

A source at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors,  said the fueding elders,  former Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, former governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, have also undertaken to work together to ensure the success of PDP in the forthcoming governorship election.

The source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the three  members of the party in the state decided to put their differences behind them and  work together in view of the perceived wrongdoings of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, especially his alleged lack of respect for elders of the state.

He added that the perceived disrespect from Oshiomhole was the glue that is cementing the trio in order to unseat the governor.

A rather relieved President Jonathan, was, however, said to have expressed his concern over the growing insecurity in Edo State and stressed the need to tackle the problem.

The  source of disagreement in the PDP in the state is said to be traceable  to former Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor, who, it said, was unwilling to work with the party men, causing them to throw their support behind Oshiomhole.

The source said: “But they have now realised that backing Oshiomhole is like riding on the back of a tiger. So, it can never be safe. Everybody has come to realise who Oshiomhole is. Somebody who has said he was going to ensure that his work would speak for him; today he is the one whose talk has filled up everywhere.”

The party elders reportedly later met at the residence of Chief Anenih at the end of the Villa meeting, where they worked on strategies for the way forward.