The Minister of Works under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Arch Mike Onolememen, and Gideon Ikhine, a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who stepped down for Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020 when he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, were both received by the APC on Monday.
Receiving the two heavyweights and their supporters in Uromi, headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area, the APC leader in the zone, General Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd) said their presence in the party was a precursor to victory for the APC in the 2024 governorship election, adding that the senatorial district would produce the next governor.
He said: “These are great personalities, they are well known in Nigeria and political circles so what this has shown is that the APC is the party to join. Their presence is very significant because as we prepare for 2024, it is clear that Esan will produce the next governor. So for this calibre of people to have joined us, you can see that with them the push is on and we will get there by the grace of God.”
On his part, Ikhine said he joined the party to ensure that APC takes over the government.
He stated: “This is to let the people understand that come 2024, the APC will occupy Government House in Osadebe Avenue. There is peace in APC, and there is no wrangling, I had been in the PDP, and it was a wonderful party but today it is no longer so.
Speaking, Onolememen said they must move with the current political realities in the country, noting that APC is now the ruling party.
He noted that there was the need to support the Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, who is from the South-South and the leader of the party in the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who he said was coordinating the lawmakers from Edo State in the National Assembly to bring development to Edo State.
“We have come into an unusual time and that was why we started talking to each other that things are no longer the way they used to be. What that means is that it was about time for us to move out and look for a better place for our people.
“Whether you like it or not national politics has changed, and there is no point deceiving oneself. We know there is a new era and we need to align with the ruling party, the APC. If we want progress in this senatorial district we need to re-order our steps. That is why I have met with my people several times and told them to get ready, it is time we move en masse to the APC”, he stated.
However, the PDP in Edo State seems to be on a path of irreconcilability as the polarisation of the party into Legacy Group and New PDP remains.
