Edo 2012: Anenih presents Airhiavbere to Esan rulers

FORMER Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday, presented the governorship candidate of the PDP, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), to Esan traditional rulers, saying the people of the state need change in governance in order to stop kidnapping and other violent crimes.

But in a swift reaction, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) urged the national leader of the PDP to “stop intimidating traditional rulers because we are aware that some of them were being coerced to endorse Airhiavbere because the traditional rulers have earlier endorsed Oshiomhole”.

Anenih, who spoke at the palace of the Enogie of Uromi and chairman of Esan Traditional Council, HRH Raphael Zaiki Eidenogie, expressed concern over what he described as the way campaigns are being run in the state ahead of the election but reiterated the readiness of his party to win the forthcoming poll.

His words: “We are here on a very important visit; very important in the sense that I have always believed in starting from home, not only when elections are here but also in every traditional event. We are here to seek the royal fathers blessing. The governorship election comes up on 14  July this year. The campaign that is going on now in Edo State is very very unusual in the method of approach.

“ When you read the papers or listen to the radio, you will think that the election is between Anenih, PDP, and Charles on one side and Oshiomhole on the other side. It is not supposed to be so. We play politics with respect of traditional rulers and elders. So my elders I need your blessings not only today even tomorrow and after the elections.

“There is no day in Edo people are not kidnapped, there is no day in Edo people are not robbed. There is no day in Edo girls are not raped, there is need for a change. Our candidate has seen it all. One thing I want to beg is that when we win the next election, the traditional institution will be highly respected. And we will not allow elders who have made their marks to be rubbish.”