Political stakeholders in the Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State have decried marginalisation of the council in political appointments, the ministerial slot for the state in the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
During an emergency meeting at the party’s secretariat in Fugar, attended by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and stakeholders in the local government area, it was agreed that the systematic marginalization of the area in terms of appointments will no longer be tolerated.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, tagged the “Malotse Declaration (IT’S OUR TURN)”, the APC leaders in Etsako Central resolved that a committee of eminent leaders should meet with the leader of the party in the State and the Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, to address the recurring injustice done to members of the party in Etsako Central.
The APC leaders in the local government observed that Etsako West who has the Senate slot also has its sons and daughters occupy various top offices such as the Deputy Governor, Federal Road Management Agency, (FERMA), Benin Owena River Basin, Police Service Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ambassadorial slot while on the other hand, Etsako East has the House of Representatives slot just after eight years in the Senate and a Ministerial slot under the previous administration, leaving nothing to Etsako Central.
The leaders, therefore, insisted on the need for the inclusion of Etsako Central citizens in the first batch of federal appointments including the ministerial slot in the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
It was also resolved that the party should actively participate in the forthcoming Local Government elections in Edo State with the sole aim of clinching all the seats.
To achieve the objective, it was agreed that a campaign council be formed after the councillorship and chairmanship candidates had been presented to the leaders.
Leaders present at the meeting were the APC South-South Zonal Organizing Secretary, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere; the LGA Executives led by Chairman John Saliu; Zonal Leaders, Ward Leaders, Ward Chairmen and candidates for the local government elections.
Other APC leaders present at the emergency meeting were Chief Richard Okozi, Hon. John Ughioke, Chief Richard Lamai, Mrs Geano Abdala, Alhaji Waziri Oshioma, Suleiman Bagudu, King Mayor Omoba, King Benji Igbadumhe, Elder Fred Alemho, Alhaji Aliyu Umaru, Alhaji Dr. Buddy Mustapha, Ms Vera Sado, Hon. Oshiogbele, Pastor Osugbo, Hon. Ahmed Waziri and many others.
