Two Benin Socio-cultural groups, the Idu Descendants Renaissance and Uyi Edoiwi Cultural Reawakening have called on a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu not to be a pawn in the hands of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole ahead of the Edo State congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for December this year.
In two separate statements signed by Omobuogie Osaremwinda and Collins Egonmwan, the Chairman and Secretary respectively of Idu Descendants Renaissance; Johnbull Edosomwan and Ekhoragbon Irogbetin, both Chairman and Secretary respectively of Uyi Edoiwi Cultural Reawakening, wondered why the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District and former Governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole always see Edo South people as his puppets to be used during his political struggles and dumped when it’s time to share the booty, and appealed to Odubu and other APC members of Benin extraction not be willing tools in the hands of Oshiomhole and his Edo North gladiators.
The groups who were reacting to a news features published in the Sunday, 2 November edition of the Daily Monitor, titled “Cold War Brews Between Okpebholo and Oshiomhole Over Control of APC in Edo”; questioned Oshiomhole’s criteria for choosing Dr. Pius Odubu, a former Deputy Governor of the state to be his candidate for the Chairmanship position of Edo APC, a man they alleged he ensured was schemed out of contention ahead the 2016 governorship election and repeated it in 2024.
In it’s statement, Idu Descendants Renaissance counseled Odubu not to be Oshiomhole’s tool in settling any political differences he may have with Governor Monday Okpebholo, noting that he would only use him to negotiate for his Edo North brethren, adding that when they resolve their differences, the Edo North Senator would only remember his Senatorial constituents and leave Odubu in the lurch.
“Our attention in Idu Descendants Renaissance have been drawn to the news feature article authored by one of Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s media hirelings, published in the Sunday, 2 November edition of the Daily Monitor, titled ‘Cold War Brews Between Okpebholo and Oshiomhole Over Control of APC in Edo;’ where the author, obviously one of the Edo North Senatorial District media practitioners Comrade Adams Oshiomhole empowered during his tenure as Governor, tried to skew the political narratives in Edo State in favour of Oshiomhole and also portray Benin politicians as those who can be used by the Edo North Senator as proxy in the emerging political war the former labour leader is trying to wage against the incumbent Governor, Monday Okpebholo.
“When the article under reference came to our notice, we wanted to immediately send our reaction, but we decided to tarry awhile to give our brother and one time member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu, the opportunity to send his own rebuttal, denying his intention to be used as a stooge by his former principal, Adams Oshiomhole to fight Governor Monday Okpebholo; so that it doesn’t look as if it’s our group that’s prodding him to do so. However, we decided to come up with this statement now since he has not deemed it necessary to redeem himself from the obviously demeaning image that article is giving him; hence we’re calling on Odubu not allow himself to be used by Oshiomhole as a negotiating tool to extract more appointments for his Edo North brothers by debasing himself to be angling to be a state chairman of a party after serving as Deputy Governor for eight years and earlier as a member of House of Representatives for eight years.
“While we’re not trying to deprive Pius Odubu of his sovereignty, freedom of political thought and choice, we wish to ask him if he has willingly made himself available to be used by Oshiomhole to fight incumbent Governor Okpebholo and if his answer is in the negative, why has he not deemed it fit to issue a disclaimer to the feature article under reference?! And if his answer is in the affirmative, how much was he paid by Oshiomhole to do his dirty jobs for him? This is because the Edo North Senator’s belief that every Benin man has a prize and can always be bought is not latent and it’s undisguised.
“We wish to advert Odubu and other Edo South politicians in the APC who maybe disposed to being Oshiomhole’s political collateral ahead their party congresses to the fact that the author of that article clearly states that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will never be a willing tool for Oshiomhole in his fight with Governor Okpebholo, which he has started with the features article anchored by one of his foot soldiers in the media.
“We urge Odubu to rally his Edo South brothers in APC with a view to uniting them to be able to negotiate for the wellbeing of Edo South Senatorial District, rather than becoming an Oshiomhole’s lackey and boot licker. “
In their separate statement, the Uyi Edoiwi Cultural Reawakening urged Odubu to ask Oshiomhole why he doesn’t want his kinsman, Hon. Abubakar Momoh to resign his position as a minister to take up the Chairmanship position of APC and cede the ministerial slot to Edo South, and make him pick the slot; recalling that when the late Chief Tony Anenih was the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and Senator Oserheimen Osunbor from Edo Central was Governor; General Godwin Abbe from Edo South was the minister and made Minister of Defence during the tenure of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
“We call on our brother, Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu not to be Oshiomhole’s cat’s paw in this present political dispensation. We wish to state categorically here that Oshiomhole doesn’t like you – Odubu. He is only drafting you into the APC Chairmanship race as an experimental Guinea pig to prove his age long belief that we Benin people are like chickens, once given corn, they’ll always come to eat the corn, irrespective of the ill treatment meted out to them in the past.
“Odubu, tell Oshiomhole to make Abubakar Momoh resign his ministerial position, draft him into the Edo APC Chairmanship race and nominate you or any other Benin man for the ministerial position.
“We are not politicians and doesn’t want to question how the APC chooses it’s state Chairman, but we want to ask those who are planning to use the Benins as their cannon folders what is wrong in allowing the incumbent APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe who led the party to victory continue for another term in office? Or is it another case of use and dump?
“We also wish to remind our brother, Odubu that he was born and raised in Esan land and should not be an instrument to distabilise the government of an Esan Governor. Don’t be used to fight a proxy war Oshiomhole has waged against Esan people.
We refer our brother, Odubu to our time tested parable that says, ‘AIGBOBOH N’ ONOKPE N’ NOMWAN.’ (DON’T BITE THE FINGERS THAT FED YOU). Please be wise brother”, the statement concluded.