By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—FORMER National Publicity Secretary of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN and close political associate of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mr Eddy Osifo, has described as shameful and unfortunate, the attacks on the person of the Esogban of Benin Kingdom and chairman of Benin Forum, Chief David Edebiri, over his comments that the Binis may not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.

He argued that Chief Edebiri, who was a Zikist and later the National Organizing Secretary of the Action Group during the Midwest era, is an elder statesman that cannot be influenced with money as he understands the politics of the Binis more than those attacking him over his comments on Jonathan.

He said “Edebiri has not exceeded his bounds at all and he has not said anything which he ought not to have said. We are in a democracy, he can claim that the whole Binis will vote for Gen Muhammadu Buhari and that they will all vote against Jonathan. It is the duty of those who hold contrary view to say they will vote for Jonathan and not Buhari and not to abuse Edebiri for any reason.”