By Gabriel Enogholase

Traditional rulers from Esan land in Edo Central have adopted the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on the basis of what they alleged as the sustained marginalisation of the people of the area by the outgoing APC administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

No fewer than 30 traditional rulers from the area, who made the endorsement of the PDP candidate at the palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi, HRM Anslem Eidenojie, lamented that Esan people had been made second-class citizens in a state they said belonged to them all.

Besides the Ojuromi of Uromi, others who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers were HRM Ehidiamen of Opoji and HRM Izuware of Ujiogba. They both appealed to Ize-Iyamu to correct the imbalance once he gets to office.

Addressing Ize-Iyamu, the Ojuromi of Uromi, said, “We know you very well. You are a man, who has a direct relationship with every Enigie (traditional ruler) in Esanland. You are a son of the former Esogban of Benin Kingdom. You are a son of tradition. Your father served in the palace without blemish. He did not betray the palace.

“We the Enigie in Esanland believe that if we give you our support, you will not betray us. With the caliber of men and women behind you, we know you will not come to Esanland to deceive us. We want to say that Esan Nation is part and parcel of this state. We know how much we have been relegated in our own state, and we are very unhappy about it.”

He expressed gratitude to Ize-Iyamu for accepting an Esan son as his running mate, saying “our saying thank you to you will not just be by words of mouth, we will use our PVCs to thank you.”