Benin, Edo, Nigeria – By Sonde Ojeikere.
As the battle for who succeeds Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State in 2016 continues, a group known as Chris Ogiemwonyi Movement for Edo is lobbying the former Minister of State for Works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi to run for the exalted position.
The President of the group, Mr. Osberth Agho made this plea in Benin during the week at a forum put together by the association to formally make their intention known to the former Minister.
Mr. Agho said that they have carefully x-rayed the personality of Engineer Chris as an NNPC Staff who grew to the position of Group Executive Director before he successfully retired and that there was never a time issue of embezzlement of funds and fraud were recorded against him.
More so, when he was the Minister of State for works, he was able to initiate Federal Projects to the State.
Osberth pointed out that what the state needs at this moment is the man with the experience who could be entrusted with public funds, one who is born with the desire to serve humility and not to be served.
He adding that these are the qualities found in the Ogiemwonyi and as such should be elected to govern Edo State come 2016.
Also speaking, the State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Party (APC), Comrade Godwin Erhahon, described the calling of Ogiemwonyi to serve the State as the Governor come 2016 as the one that goes beyond party politics and owing to that, the people should vote for him massively to achieve his success at the poll.
Responding, Chris Ogiemwonyi thanked the organizers of the Chris Ogiemwonyi Movement for Edo for the honor done him.
He however said though he has not declared to the public the party of whose platform he is to contest the position of the governorship, but said that this time around, people should work out for person of credible character that could be entrusted with the position of a state governor.
Said he, “I want people to see me as Chris Ogiemwonyi not whether APGA or this.
I just gave my number to them, let them Google my number to see the purity of Ogiemwonyi.
I don’t want to hide under the cloth of a party. I want to be on my own, let people assess me, evaluate me as a person for whom I am.”
The Engineer noted that the time has passed when governorship position is left to non-professionals, who believe that theirs is to learn on the job, stressing that the position is too sensitive and should be run by those who have held various positions in the public sector and were found credible in all ramifications.
