———– says Akoko Edo and Owan clans are marginalised
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City.
The Seriki Muslumi of Afenmai Land and former Senator, Yisa Braimoh has decried the continued marginalization within Edo North Senatorial District and called for a power shift to give the senatorial district a sense of belonging.
Senator Braimoh opined that such political shift will help in assuaging the dissatisfaction of majority of the people of Owan and Akoko Edo clans over perceived and real marginalization of the zone
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The former Senator, who represented the district in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007, appealed to H.E. Rt. Hon. Philip Shuaibu, Comrade Deputy Governor of Edo State and the Etsako speaking people in the senatorial district to concede the Senate Seat 2023 and support the Owans or the Akoko-Edos in producing the next senator for the district
The Senator made the appeal while addressing journalists as part of the anniversary to mark his 79 years birthday at his country home in Ihievbe, Owan East local government area of Edo state.
Senator Braimoh celebrated his 79th birthday in a solemn form with visits and sharing of fellowships and prayers with inmates of orphanage homes across Edo North. He is reputed for his philanthropy and several other outreach initiatives which impacted positively on the downtrodden in both his immediate constituency and beyond.
One of his notable projects is the School for Physically Challenged Persons at Auchi which he personally built and donated to the disabled, a feat yet to be rivaled by any Senator across Edo State.
. He also used the occasion to appeal to the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, to establish a faculty of the Edo State University Iyamo, in Afuze, Owan East LGA, to make education accessible to the people at the grassroots.
Senator Braimoh during the press conference reviewed the polity of Edo North and Edo State in general where he made some landmark declarations
He disclosed that the Owan/Akoko Edo clans have never had a fair share of principal political office holdings in Edo North Senatorial District.He further expressed displeasure with the reality that a good number of the people of Edo North Senatorial District feel disenchanted with how the zone has been schemed out of the political equation in the state.
The senator who holds the record of being the first person from Owan axis of the district to be the Senator to represent Edo North District at the Senate, lamented that the Estako people have by design deliberately dominated the district’s Senatorial seat for over 25 cumulative years out of the last 35 years and still counting.Starting from the late 60’s of Senator Ekpomoriri Lamai, to the 70s/80s and beyond period of Senator John Umolu, Senator Franka Afegbua, to Albert Legbojie, Senator Victor Oyofo and presently Senator Francis Alimikhena.”The Edo North district is made up of six local government areas with Etsakos occupying 3 of the local governments, Owan 2, with Akoko-Edo occupying 1. The Etsakos have a 44% voters population advantage to the Owans 26% and the Akoko – Edo’s 25% of voters population”, he stated.
According to Senator Braimoh, “The utter and highly dismal performance of Senator Francis Alimikhena, an Etsako chieftain and presently representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, who recently openly voted against the Electronic Transmission of Election Results in the INEC amendment bill at the floor of the Senate is part of the reasons the Etsakos should opt for a candidate from the Owan axis. “The Senator Alimikhena disgraceful act makes it more imperative for the Etsakos to concede the Senate seat to the minority people of Owan/Akoko Edo once again”
.He listed some of the positions being denied the Owan/Akoko-Edo people which is being occupied by the Estako people to include the state deputy governor, Edo North, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader, PDP National Vice Chairman South-South, PDP BOT Member,.Others are PDP National Deputy Women Leader, PDP State Secretary, Chairmen, Local Government service commission. House of Assembly service commission.
He however, noted that the unprecedented 12 years loyalty and support of Owan/Akoko Edo Clans to former governor, Adams Oshiomhole and the current state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu need to be reciprocated by conceding 2023 Senate seat once again to them.“In order to sustain peace, fairness, justice and equity in the polity of Edo North, the Senate Seat should now go to Owan or Akoko Edo people”, he concluded.