A group, the Organization for Greater Edo Project (OGEP), has faulted the call for the disqualification of Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odubu and Leader of the Economic Team Godwin Obaseki from the governorship race by some Benin chiefs.
Other stakeholders who condemned the call said it was offensive and barbaric, urging the traditional chiefs to refrain from nefarious comments.
Odubu and Obaseki have formally declared their intentions to contest for the governorship. They are mobilising delegates for the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The shadow poll holds on September 10.
The resolution of the dispute arising from the primary will be done between June 2 and July 4.
Some chiefs have allegedly urged the APC to ban the two aspirants from taking part in the exercise, following violence allegedly involving their campaign organizations.
However, OGEP, in a statement signed by Coordinator, Mr. Godwin Osakwe, described the move by the chiefs as “misplaced, ridiculous, dubious and misleading.”
It added: “More importantly, we insist that the most revered traditional institution in Africa must not (be) smeared with mud by inordinately ambitious individuals.
“This must be resisted by well-meaning and peace-loving citizens of Edo State, all genuine members of the teeming population of our great the All Progressives Congress and highly respected members of the Benin Traditional Council.”
.....The Nation