Edo 2024: Ogbeide-Ihama Notorious Rules of Engagement
By Odianose Francis
Although Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama Omoregie represented Oredo Federal Constituency for two terms without nothing to show for it, he is poised to contest the gubernatorial election come 2024 when performance while in office ought to be the watchword. It is a futile journey to nowhere as far as stakeholders in Edo State are concerned.
No doubt, Omoregie is a brainchild of Chief Dan Orbih, something the former lawmaker denies vehemently, it will be difficult for the PDP South South Vice Chairman to support him for this path to perdition he has choosen to shortchange the Esan nation. The reason for this are numerous but the most important reason is that Omoregie has no moral right to come to Edo State to distort the zoning arrangement having fought Atiku at the national for also distorting the same zoning arrangement.
During the last general elections held on the 25th of Febuary, 2023, it is on record that Omoregie supported the All Progressive Congress, APC, candidates, from President Tinubu down to members of House of Representatives in Oredo Federal Constituency. He cannot deny this fact. This was the instruction that was generally accepted within the Wike/Orbih faction because of the problem the G5 had with Atiku over zoning. It will therefore be a notorious, selfish, greedy…rule of engagement to now come to Edo State to want to profit from the mantra, No to Zoning. Where is his morals? Is his politics so dirty? Why the desperation?
The arrogant, selfish and self-serving former lawmaker should know it is the turn of the Esan senatorial district to produce the next governor after Obaseki, who is even from the same Oredo LGA.
It is alleged from the governor’s camp that Omoregie collected over 150 million Naira from Governor Obaseki as a compensation for the ticket which was yanke off him even when it was obvious he was not going to win the election. This compensation is basically the reason the governor has no respect for him. He denies this allegation because he knows the governor will never be able to assert this fact. However, within him, he knows he cannot deny how he gave part of the funds to one late PDP female stakeholder to share to his followers.
In Oredo Federal Constituency, the pumpous ex-lawmaker has no single signature project to show for his 8 years in office. Recently, Albert Obazee, a social media influencer, challenged him to show his projects in the constituency, over 6 months after the challenge, he hasnt been able to show anything.
It is on record boasting he does not need the Esan votes to win the gubernatorial election under PDP. It is obvious that he hates the Esan people. He has accused and insulted their leaders of supporting Obaseki during the last state house of assembly election. He calls them sell-outs. He also claims when it was the turn of the Benins to contest election, two Esans; Bar. Ken Immasuagbon and Engr. Gideon Ikhine also contested, and that no one should tell him not to contest this election even if he fought against Atiku for not agreeing to zoning.
Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama Omoregie is wasting his time fighting zoning that has come to stay in Edo State.
Odianose Francis wrote from Ekpoma.
