Our loss in Edo painful —PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has yet to
recover from the loss of the governorship
election in Edo State to its major rival, the
Action Congress of Nigeria.
This was shown in the letters written by the
National Chairman of the party, Alhaji
Bamanga Tukur, to the PDP governorship
candidate in the state, Maj.-Gen. Charles
Airhiavbere (retd.) and the state chairman of
the party, Chief Dan Orbih.
The ACN candidate, who is also the
incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Adams
Oshiomhole, won the election conducted
penultimate Saturday.
Although Tukur said in his letters that he appreciated the efforts made by the leadership of
the party in the state to win the election, he, however, noted that it was painful that they
lost.
He said, “Though a painful loss, considering the quantum of preparation and mobilisation
which the party mustered towards the election, I identify with the spirited effort and
discipline demonstrated by the party under your good leadership.
“Reconciling all members of the party as a precursor to rebuilding the PDP is a task in which I
solicit your usual cooperation and support.
“I encourage you to keep the PDP family intact. We shall re-strategise and build on your
present commitment to reclaim Edo State for the PDP, God willing.
“Kudos to all those who laboured with you while the campaign and election lasted.”
Meanwhile, Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, has said the victory of Governor
Adams Oshiomhole and the Action Congress of Nigeria in the last governorship election
ended ethnic politics in the state.
Speaking in Benin, on Friday, Odubu, who retained his position for a second term, added that
the election erased the impression that politics in the state was all about money.
He said, “The election was a reflection of the wishes of the people. Our victory was sweet
because that is what the people want; a man that will perform, not a man that wants to be
the richest man in the world.
“You will understand that the Peoples Democratic Party couldn’t even get one quarter of the
votes in any of the seven local government councils in Edo south and we won the 77 wards in
Edo South, we thank God.
“We asked for sweet victory and we got sweet victory. Oshiomhole has demonstrated that
money can never make the difference again in Edo politics. People don’t fight over how
much you bring anymore but they are now fighting for which project has not been done in
their areas.
“Before, it was just ‘give us the money and you will get the votes’ but none of those hamlets
we visited asked for money. It was either they said they needed light, road or water.”
Odubu added that Oshiomhole had performed beyond the expectation of the ordinary Edo
man in his first term