By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City
FORMER Director General of the Center for Democratic Studies (CDS), Prof.Omo Omoruyi, has described as unnecessary and sad the crisis rocking the Edo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) over who becomes Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s running mate for the July 14, 2012 governorship and warned against imposing a running mate for the Governor.

Insisting that it remains the prerogative of the Governor to pick his running mate and not that of the party leaders, he declared that “those who are asking for an activist deputy governor has some thing in mind.

They are looking for some body who will be challenging Comrade every second. Where has that happened? In my view, Comrade should determine who become his deputy.

“If one is talking getting some body who is more active, you are then suggesting split executive. Again for those who are talking about succession, I want to make it clear that for the fact you are Deputy to Comrade does not guarantee you that you must be the one to succeed him. And people should stop thinking that if Odubu is made the deputy for another term he will be the next governor, no. So leave Comrade alone. Why are they protesting to the palace? That was wrong” he stated.

He added that “ I believe the major problem is succession, who comes after Oshiomhole’s eight years. Why are they worried about that, in my view, if I am still alive by then, I will support the use of inter play of political forces and my number one choice will be the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Osayuki Oshodi.

“Another person could be Senator Ehigie Uzamere and the third Odubu. But we have to now subject these three people to what I call the inter play of political forces, then come to the fore with what they have achieved and what they can do for the Benin people since every body knows within the ACN that after Comrade the Governor will come from Edo South.

“But who will be that person, inter play of political forces will decide. May be Osagie (Pastor Ize-Iyamu) wants to but he has never told me. Technically, in terms of what the Benin people are talking today, the number one person to take over from Oshiomhole should be the UNIBEN VC because he has shown that he has Edo people at heart and he is an honest person. Uzamere is also a forthright defender of the Benin cause” he stated.