By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – A socio-cultural organization, the Afemai Descendants Forum (ADF) has called on the candidates ahead of the governorship election to ensure that the people and their welfare is their priority and to also ensure security of lives particularly the activities of criminal herdsmen to enable the people go back to the farms to check the imminent hunger in the land.

Addressing a press briefing in Benin City , the President General of the Forum, Comrade Aidenomo Idogho said the forum formed in 2018 would officially launch its activities later this year which would majorly be in the area of agriculture hence their security in the area to enable their people go back to the farms.

He said though are not affiliated to any political party or organisation, they are not oblivious of political activities as the state prepares for election in September.

According to him, “Afemai Descendants Forum is a social cultural organisation from the Edo North extraction of Edo State, only poised for the unity, growth and development of Afemai, even as the name implies.

“A non-political movement but with full interest in good governance, quality and exemplary leadership of the state, towards building an egalitarian Edo, and by extension, Afemai region-Edo North.

“Though the Afemai Descendants Forum is apolitical, we wish to unequivocally State that our leaders and politicians in Edo State should upgrade their scale and raise their bar in terms of building a State that the dividend of democracy will outlive them.

“We shall at every election period, as it is already so currently, make a demand that all candidates present their manifestos for scrutiny, these will shape our belief and support for parties and their candidates.

“It is our hope that ADF will play their role as a political watch entity in Edo civil society.”

He urged the political parties and whoever would become the next governor of the state just like the Forum is planning to do, should engage community leaders, traditional leaders, local people to come out with strategies that would ensure security in Afemai land for the people to go back to the farm.