By Isaac Eranga
Benin City: The President of Edo Progressive Indigenous Association (EPIA), Chief Dr. Bishop Omogiade J.E. Edokpolor, said the association is non-partisan and as such, does not endorse any political candidate for any electoral office.
He said the association only endorses candidates’ agenda.
Dr. Edokpolor made this known to newsmen in Benin City while disclosing the association’s readiness in ensuring that a credible candidate with a long-term vision wins the 2020 Edo governorship election.
“We want to send a clear message to all the candidates that are contesting in Edo State, that they should all roll out their agenda and put it on the bill boards across the State. Edo indigenes are no longer interested in faces, they are after developmental vision the candidates want to achieve in the next 40 years. We want to be the economic magnet of Africa.
“We want our governors within now and the future, to adopt this mentality of thinking; rather than thinking Nigeria at large, we want them to think Edo kingdom. We can synergize with all our scholars around the world to become the digital magnet of Africa.
“There is no reason why we cannot achieve it. We don’t have excuse if our forefathers in the 11th century could be able to achieve the first Street light in West Africa. What excuse do we have in this digital age if our forefathers could be able to achieve one of the most civilised settlement in Africa, and have the first high-rise building technology in Nigeria. Is there any excuse why we will not introduce block chain technology- a very highly uncorruptable form of technology.
“Like I said before, we don’t want to see faces any more; we don’t want to be hearing about political parties. The people are tired, they’ve been hearing about political parties for decades and nothing substantial has been achieved. It’s the same old faces. We don’t want to see those faces, all we want to see is your agenda.
“If you’ve not updated your agenda, go and update it now before Edo indigenes can consider you based on what you can offer- not because of name; not because of your political association.
“So, in EPIA, we endorses what you have convinced us in your agenda, those projects you will be able to execute for the development of Edo Kingdom and subsequently, should you not bring it into physical manifestation, this indigenous movement will not fail to seek justice. This is what we stand for; we are not here to joke”, said Chief Dr. Edokpolor.
