By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
A Concerned Group in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State chapter, has accused the State Secretary of the party, Lawrence Okah of alleged lopsidedness in political appointments in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
The Coordinator of the group, Osamuyi Osadiaye, made the allegation while addressing Journalists in Benin City.
He said almost all the juicy positions in Oredo Local Government Area of the state have been hijacked by him and given to his cronies in ward 7.
Osadiaye said that the local government Area has 12 wards, which are further divided into various polling units but the APC Secretary, Lawrence Okah, allegedly used his office to outrightly left the remaining 11 wards to wallow in absolute neglect in the present administration.
The coordinator of the group listed the appointments that are concentrated in the ward 7 to include: State Secretary of the APC, Local Government Party Chairman, LGA Assistant Treasurer of APC, Edo House of Assembly Member, representing Oredo West Constituency, LGA Publicity Secretary of APC, LGA member, Edo Produce Board.
Others are Member representing Edo South in Oil and Gas who happens to be the son of the state Secretary of APC, Mr. Lawrence Okah, three Senior Special Assistants and two Special Assistants to the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, 15 Oredo revenue collectors and the Supervisory Councilor, Oredo and many more.
He said the group frowned at this development where only ward 7 has taken the aforementioned positions and still agitating for the chairmanship position of the local government where 12 wards exist, describing it as undemocratic and an affront to the principles of equity, justice and fair play in the scheme of things.
He said most worrisome is the boasting aspect of the secretary, saying the governor has his ears and listens to everything he says reason is about picking one Gabriel Iduderi also known as Gabros from ward 7 as the sole candidate for Oredo Local Government chairman in the forthcoming election.
He further appealed to the state governor to allow other wards in the council area to also have a representation in the council as well as at the state government level.
He expressed optimism that the governor, following his track records of strictness, would listen to them and correct the one sided appointments as they further appealed to him to use his good office to allow any other wards to produce the chairman for equity and fairness.
However, efforts to get the state secretary of the party, Lawrence Okah’s views proved abortive as calls made to his phone were left unanswered.