joshua
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
An Edo north based political group, Concerned All Progressives Congress (APC), Etsako, has expressed concerned over the decision of the senator representing Edo North District at the Senate, Francis Alimikhena who will be 78 by 2023 to aspire for a third term.
The “Concerned APC in Etsako” , is led by the well known APC chieftain, Mallam Ibrahim Suleiman.
Senator Alimikhena, who became the representative of Edo North senatorial district in the Senate in 2015, is presently oiling his political machinery, preparatory to staging a third term bid for the job at 78.
The spokesperson of the group, Mallam Suleman said they are”perturbed and dissatisfied by the third term ambition of incumbent senator and his co-travellers, which we see as a “voyage of self discovery”.
According to Mallam Suleman during a press conference in Auchi, said “It is a fact that must be emphasized here that there is no third tenure in the political lexicon of Edo North; otherwise , those at the helms of affairs today clamouring for third term would not have had opportunity to take the first shot if others had perpetrated themselves.”
The group further stated that
“We can not afford to recycle someone a third time who will be 78years in 2023 and who has not given the needed voice to Afemai in the red chamber, otherwise, we shall witness heavy noise of snoring in the hallow chamber, if the unexpected happens”.
The forces ranged against the senator’s third term bid query the rationale and logic behind his qualification, insisting that Etsako is endowed with more colourful, resourceful and younger politicians and cited the likes of comrade Adams Oshiomole, Hon Abubakar Momoh, Engr Abass Braimoh and their likes as capable of making the difference instead of resorting to the recycling of old brigades.
On the zoning arrangements, Mallam Suleman offered a way forward, he said
” It is imperative to note that Edo North senate alternates between Etsako and Owan/Akoko-Edo and if the spirit of rotation is upheld, it would be the turn of Owan/Akoko-Edo to produce the next senator, if and only if the contending political parties are ready to zone their tickets there; otherwise it will amount to standing “logic on the head” for APC which is in opposition in the state to pick its candidate from Owan/Akoko-Edo when PDP picks from Etsako.”
The APC primary to elect its Edo North senatorial standard bearer will take place sometime this year while the election proper is scheduled for February next year.
