By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—A socio-cultural group, Ikolo Esan Organisation, in Edo Central senatorial zone, Edo State, has said that in the interest of equity and fairness in the state, it was now the turn of Esanland, as bonafide citizens, to produce the next governor of the state.

Oshiomhole

Already, four Esan sons from Edo Central senatorial zone are aspiring for the September 2016 governorship election in the state on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC. They are Prof. Oserhieme Osunbor, Ken Imansuangbon, Casley Omo-Irabor and Austine Emuan.

The group, in a communiqué by its chairman Prof. Gabriel Oteze, at the end of its meeting in Benin, urged Esan political leaders to extend their hand of fellowship and remain friendly with all contestants in the coming governorship primaries with a view to explaining the Esan agenda to them.

It described as shameful, attempts to deny a level playing field for all persons vying for the ticket of a particular political party by sponsorship of hooligans and street urchins, who lock up the party offices and try to deny other aspirants the opportunity to interface with party functionaries.

On the alleged marginalisation of Esan people by the Adams Oshiomhole administration, the group urged the people of Edo Central to counter any attempt to marginalize, side line and relegate them to the background being the second largest ethnic group in the state.

The group noted that the construction of the Teaching Hospital for Ambrose Alli University Medical School should not be compromised at any cost, adding that the refusal to build a teaching hospital for the institution, whereas another is being built for the university at Iyamho even before its formal opening, was the height of injustice by the state government.

It frowned at the disregard and disorderly behaviour of agents of the state government to embarrass and humiliate Esan people, saying that the Esanman has never been successfully intimidated and will never be intimidated but will be fully mobilised to counter any insinuation of weakness.