The Esogban of Benin Kingdom and chairman Benin Forum, an umbrella body of all Binis in Nigeria and the Diaspora, Chief David Edebiri, Wednesday, declared that despite the shocking postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Binis will not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Esogban’s declaration will come as a rude shock to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Jonathan because the Benin Forum, which he heads, is the mouth piece of the revered Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa.
Edebiri said one of the cardinal 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 for Works, of which Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi was appointed, saying “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.
“Is that what they have done for the Benin people that will make us to vote PDP? Impossible. 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.
You met a man who was appointed half Minister by previous administration, his people in Benin voted massively for you during the elections, you now want to compose a new executive, you dropped him and took his wife who comes from across the Niger.
“Consequently this home became divided and irretrievably broken.
Robbing Benin of their Ministerial appointment, destroying their son’s home for the interest of some people in Abuja.
“And this time around you are coming to campaign here that we should vote for you, it is not possible, that we will vote for such people because the Benin nation has been side lined with ignominy in the present arrangement”.
He added: “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.”