by Ranti Joseph

The Esogban of Benin Kingdom and chairman Benin Forum, an umbrella body of all Binis in Nigeria and the Diaspora, David Edebiri on Tuesday, February 10 has declared that despite the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Binis will not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Edebiri declaration is a major blow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Jonathan because the Benin Forum, which he heads, is the mouth piece of the revered Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa. He said one of the sins committed by President Jonathan against the Binis was to take the only position given to them by late President Musa Yar’Adua, which was Minister of State Works, which was given to Chris Ogiemwonyi. “He took the position and gave to his (Ogiemwonyi) ex-wife Stella Oduah who comes from Anambra state and even made her a full Minister. So what was for the Benins was taken to Anambra by the present administration. Is that why the Benin people will vote for the PDP? Besides robbing the Benin people of the Ministerial appointment, the home of the former Minister (Engr.Ogiemwonyi) was completely broken by the action of the presidency. If they want to postpone elections 20 times the people are here waiting for them. The consequences of what Jonathan has done will be very grievous for him and his party,” he lamented.

He explained that the present administration has done nothing for the state in the last four years. “Nothing that the Federal government can come to point to in Edo state that this is what we have done in the last four years. We have a governor who is performing. We have a governor we all love because of his developmental strides. The same Federal government is starving the state government of funds, they don’t want the government to perform any more for us. How do we vote for people like that? The die is cast, whether they like it or not the defeat of the present Federal Government is imminent and irreversible,” he stressed.

Janeth J