Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has denied the claim by a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih that he (Oshiomhole) marginalised the Esan people in the state.
Anenih, a former chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, had at a flag off of his party’s campaign for Edo Central Senatorial District, which held at Uromi, at the weekend, alleged that Oshiomhole had consistently marginalized the Esan people.
According to the PDP stalwart, the governor refused to pay N300 million counterpart fund for Ugbalo Water project which he (Anenih) had used his influence to secure the sum of N1.2 billion from the federal government.
But reacting to Anenih’s claim yesterday, Special Adviser to Governor Oshiomhole on Political Matters, Chief Charles Idahosa, described it as a misrepresentation of facts, saying rather it was the former PDP BoT chairman who marginalized his own people.
“It was very interesting seeing Chief Anenih speaking at the rally in Uromi. I was very impressed because I got worried because he did not speak when they flagged off at the state level but I thank God for his good health”, he said.
The political adviser, however, expressed dismay that Anenih came out as a local government leader of the PDP, to attack the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Oshiomhole, by claiming marginalization of Esan people.
“But looking at the facts on ground”, Idahosa said it was Anenih who marginalized his own people “because when he was the Alpha and Omega, and the Mr Fix it of Nigeria politics, he refused to make an Esan man governor. Because he wanted to be a lone star, he did not want any competitor so that people will worship him”.
He continued: “When a graceful in-law of the Esan people, in the person of President Obasanjo, wanted to compensate his people, he gave the governorship seat to Prof. Osariemen Osunbor, Anenih refused because he wanted Ugbesia.
“Immediately the Appeal Court sacked Osunbor, who is an Esan man, Anenih went into partnership with Oshiomhole and gave him four commissioners after celebrating Osunbor’s sack with Champagne”.
“When he wanted to go to his old tricks, he found a hard nut to crack in Oshiomhole; they fell out and Oshiomhole sacked his four commissioners and that was the end of PDP in Edo State”, Mr. Idahosa added.
