Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has given a clear indication as to how the race to succeed him will pan out.
Oshiomhole said he would not be “neutral” on the matter of his successor, a hint that he would have a hand in picking the person to succeed him at the Government House in Benin.
In a meeting with leaders of the party from the three senatorial zones of the state, the governor, whose second term in office comes to an end this year, said it would be unnatural to expect him to keep a distance in the matter.
According to him, he would expect his successor to carry on his legacy and diversify the revenue-generation base of the state with the aim of discouraging the unhealthy habit of depending on allocation from the Federal Government.
The governor said: “Should I as a governor have no such right to have a voice and a say on the choice of my successor? I cannot be neutral in matters affecting my environment.”
“Even people who are not from Edo state will always tell me to guide them so that Edo will not go back to the past. I will never be afraid to take a position and to explain my position on the basis of my conviction. In a democracy whether matured or growing, endorsement is legitimate. What I owe Edo people is very clear to me.
“I have heard several things about my person, some said he has anointed one of the candidates, some now call me god father. There is no question that the governorship candidate of this party will be produced through primaries. In the last elections, House of Assembly, National Assembly and presidential elections, we held primaries.
“So when people make those statements I just laugh. So this governor has no powers to impose any body on our party and certainly anybody on our state. I am proud to say that we have more than 60 political parties, why is it that everybody wants to run on APC platform? Why not Labour Party or PDP? It is on the strength of the performance of the government that I am privileged to head.”