By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon Douglas Iyike, on Wednesday lauded the emergence of former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie as the leader of the party in Edo South Senatorial District saying it was a sign that the party was ready to win election in the district, the state and the country.

In a statement issued in Benin City and made available to journalists, Iyike said it was like bringing Owie, an elder statesman from retirement to come and lead the people to victory.

He described Owie as the most experienced politician in the state today with his experience as a member of the House of Representatives between 1979 and 1983, Chief Whip of the Senate from 1999 to 2003, governorship candidate of the ANPP (All Nigeria’s Peoples Party) in 2003 and a foundation member of the ADC.

He said “I want to use this opportunity today to appreciate and to congratulate our leader, Distinguished Senator Rowland for his new position that was given to him by the people of Edo South Senatorial District at the ADC secretariat.

“I am happy that we are celebrating him today because he deserves the position. He will be able to bring all good people together and rescue this country from the hands of the ruling party, who do not mean well for this country.

“I want to use this opportunity to tell those who are trying to cause disunity in ADC to be careful, they are nothing but agents of the ruling party, we know them, they do not want democracy to grow. They are agents of the APC.

“We want to build our party and also to make this party win the coming election in 2027 to unseat the ruling party. That is our aim, that is our vision and that’s why we came together as a coalition. So these persons who do not mean well for Nigerians who do not mean well for our party should not bother themselves to even try to do anything funny.

“I want to use this opportunity to disabuse the mind of our members. ADC in Edo South and Edo State in general that these persons are selfish.”