2023 Elections: The G-14 Edo Legislators; The Option of First Refusal is Inevitable

By:John Osahon

Election fever is on in Edo State .Looking at the recent history of the State , the crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly and the tenacity with which the 14 APC Legislators stood on the path of truth and due process , against the night inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly , one will want to say any of the 14 APC Legislator that wants any position within their purview , should as of right be given direct access to same , as that is the way to go following the time honoured principle of party loyalty and the reward system that follows .

Some of the 14 Edo State APC Legislators are Hon Kingsley Ugabi-Etsako,Hon Chris Okaeben-Oredo, Hon Crosby Eribo -Egor ,Hon Washington Osifo-Uhunwonde,Hon Dumez Ugiagbe ,Hon Aghedo-Ovia,Hon Seid Oshomhole Etsako,Hon Ohio Ezomo ,Owan to mention, but a few. The case of Dumez Ugiagbe was even more dire , as there was an attempt to rubbish him in Court through a trump up charge that turned out to a case built on a hoax .These Legislators were also attacked by thugs unleashed on them by the other side They also Came under constant media attack ,but they all came out better and stronger .

These are heroes of democracy ,who damned the trappings of power and the emoluments of office , to stay within democratic frontiers to stand by what is right , removing themselves from the stereotype of an average Nigerian Politician ,who is known to follow trajectories that are a juicy .

Those who neither showed any interest in the protracted battle for the soul of Edo State , nor showed any commitments whatsoever in supporting the APC , during the political battle , are suddenly jumping up and down , jostling for Elective Office .They should be told that if the G-14 APC Legislators had not stood to be counted , by standing by the APC in Edo State , there would have been no APC in Edo State that is very vibrant and viable for them to contest in .It is the People make the party first ,after which the party will make the people .

There are even some diaspora aspirants, bouyed by the weakness of the naira ,they are jumping from ward to ward , with out even a word for those that kept the party intact before they came .They should reckon this Pidgin English Proverb , “Monkey dey ,Monkey dey try , na tree wey join tree o”. These diaspora aspirants that did not even know how Congresses was conducted , are
Capitalising on the weak Naira to sent Largese to A.P.C members because they think money will buy them elective positions.
They do not even qualify to contest for primaries ,having not meant the minimum years a membership of the party , threshold that is immutable.

It is an unassailable fact that the G-14 Edo Legislators have shown undisputed Commitment to Party Discipline .They are indeed the future of Edo State as in the nearest future ,you will see them in the inner recesses of Government at the State and Federal Level.Do not be surprised , because in life , you reap what you sow .They are there fore to be considered first for any elective office in the APC in Edo State , before any one else .They have paid dues and they are tested and trusted .