REVELATION-EDO 2016: EDO APC LEADERS ENDORSES ARC. ILENRE AUSTIN EMUAN.

Efosa Igbe reports.

Arc.Emuan & APC state leaders

In Edo State, there is anxiety in the camp of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following alleged adoption and denial of the chairman of the Edo State Economic Team by the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Some are believing him while others are saying is a puppy trap for other aspirants in order to relax their fights.

In all happenings now, the most discussed political issue in Edo State lately is the perception that some APC state leaders over the weekend have settled for the Arc. Ilenre Austin Emuan ambition as the person they will rally supports for to emerge as the candidate of their party, the APC, in the state governorship election slated for September 10th of this year. From journalists, who try to be on top of happenings in the state, to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, who should naturally be interested in the matter on what comes out from the APC primaries, and to the highly politically conscious people of edo state; the APC state leaders’ open- secret endorsement during the weekend topped political discourse in every beer parlor, motor parks and most especially among youths.

Arc. Emuan started gently his ambition to become the next edo state governor like a potential wildfire a couple of months ago. By January this year, Arc. Emuan had gained so much currency that it moved from mere words of the mouth to the media, with some people and groups expressing their approval to the plan publicly, and some others are offering material or tacit supports to his ambition. Many especially edo central political leaders thought that his ambition could died on arrival either based on lack of faith or personal interest but surprises he pulls daily before their very eyes. This has created a deep divide within the party’s hierarchy in the state, as the aspirant and his loyalists are looking forward to a win under a free and fair primary election.

Those with Arc. Emuan who officially endorse him during the weekend are Prince Musa Braimoh, a tactician and strategist from the same zone with the incumbent governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Aiyegbeni, Mr Okosun Imanfidon, Alhaji Usman Dauda, Mr. Ogiuwa and other APC heavyweights who appear to be preparing for an onslaught with other aspirants` delegates at the party primaries. They look fully prepared to deliver their candidate.

Speaking to our correspondence, Prince Musa Braimoh assures delegates to the primaries to feel safe and protected as enough federal and state security apparatus will be on ground to oversee the whole affairs and promises enough supports from the edo north delegates.

“I decided to endorse Arc. Emuan because he is a new breed, very bold, vibrant, he is not coming into the race because one godfather wants him to contest and remain loyal to the godfather to the detriment of the state. Am from the same zone with our governor, naturally, people will expect me to follow his directives but my action today shows that am fully independent and all my supporters, party members and those that have seen and read about Arc.emaun in our edo north will surely nominate and vote for Arc.Emuan at the party primaries. One thing I love in him is that he is humble and purely professional who can take edo state to the next developmental level”, he said.

Also speaking to our correspondent, Mr Ogiuwa from Edo south;

“Am from edo south, we have endorsed Arc.Emuan because we believe in him. No single edo state so called godfathers will be bold enough to say today I brought him to us and must listen to him or share our state money with him to the detriment of the state development. He is our hope not those who have ruled and are still in the government and have nothing to show to our people, they have used us before but this time around, they cannot use us again”, he said.

Could it be that these APC leaders who decided to come as one body believe that any other aspirant is incapable of defeating their candidate? Many political analysts think so. It appears that unless the aspirants form a collective front, they are no match for Arc. Emuan again. One among other factors that favors Arc. Emuan is the zero possibility of an alliance among the leading aspirants. They are all after the same trophy and see no gain in working together. This situation, according to political analysts, will ensure that some delegates’ votes are divided among the other aspirants, while the targeted votes of Arc.Emuan remain intact, though, these aspirants are fully aware of the odds against them and are ready to make up with their financial resources but that seems to be hard if this new development for Arc.Emuan continues as other strong APC state leaders in the state are yearning to support Arc.Emuan so that they will not be caught between the fire and the deep sea if he finally becomes the next governor of the state. 

According to associates of Arc. Emuan, many APC state leaders including very influential APC women leaders are calling on Arc Emuan for public endorsement, expressing their dissatisfactions on the part of some APC state leaders who want to sideline them and secretly endorse Arc.Emuan before the party primaries, thereby making them enemies before him as he becomes the party candidate as power will no longer be with the incumbent governor Adams Oshiomhole after his tenure as the state governor. They vowed not to be the last to endorse him.