Our attention has been drawn to a publication on Thisday Online Edition of 04.04.2008, captioned “Indigenes in Diaspora Laud Osunbor” and signed by President, Johnbull Agbontaen Osawe; Secretary, Fataday Ebose and Public Relations Officer, Charles Utubor Akhigbe on behalf of Edo Indigenes in Italy.

While we acknowledge the right of individual perspectives on political developments in Edo State, no matter how subjective they may be, it must be said that the subtle attempt by the publication to create the impression that it represents the views of an organized body of Edo indigenes living in the Diaspora is misleading, and a calculated attempt to pre-empt an objective assessment of Professor Osunbor’s stunted reign as the governor of our beloved state.

For the avoidance of doubt, there is only one authentic and credible body of all Edo Indigenes in the Diaspora, and that body is EDOKPAMAKHIN.  Professor Oserheimen Osunbor is aware of that, Comrade Adams Oshiomole is aware of that and all Edo indigenes home and abroad are aware of that. It is obvious therefore that the publication is nothing more than a failed publicity stunt contrived by a few individuals who represent no known association of Edo indigenes but whose only claim to speak on behalf of Edo indigenes is derived from a selfish attempt to protect their paymaster.

It is preposterous that any true Edo Indigene, living in a democratic country like Italy, no matter how flawed the Italian democratic process may be, will be credited with the following statement “commended Professor Oserheimen Osunbor's performance and urged the people not to be demoralized by reacted to the judgment of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, as they believe that such verdict will be set aside at the Appeal Court.” (sic). Are they advocating the setting aside of the will of the Edo people as manifested in the worldwide ecstatic jubilations that attended the tribunal judgment reversing the “daylight robbery” of Comrade Adams Oshiomole’s mandate? Or are they simply consoling their paymaster with the kind of false assurances which a drowning man who sees the tail of a big fish and thinks he can grab it and be brought out of the river gets?

Whatever their intentions, the obvious truth is that eleven months of Professor Osunbor’s reign was characterized by infighting , accusations and counter accusations within his own political party, which made meaningful development of the state impossible. The judgment of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal apart from being an electoral victory, should also be seen as God’s own way of saving the struggling masses  of Edo state from more years of acrimony, gangsterism and the unabashed looting of the public treasury which are the most polite trademarks of the Peoples Democratic Party of which Professor Oserheimen Osunbor is an unrepentant member.

The leadership of Edokpamakhin worldwide is holding consultations with all Edo indigenes in the Diaspora on the proper response to political developments in Edo State, and as soon as those consultations receive the endorsement of all concerned, a unanimous position will be advocated.

Meanwhile we call on all true Edo indigenes in the Diaspora to rally round Edopkamakhin, especially at this juncture in the political history of our state when we are on the verge of having the kind government that we have always worked and prayed for. We should resist the temptation to give audience to self appointed “Latter Day Apostles” who are out to redefine the word “Development” simply to maintain the status quo of feeding on the crumbs that fall from their master looters table.

Victor Oshioke

On behalf of Edokpamakhin Austria

Robot  # 1 | 07.04.2008 09:28

Our attention has been drawn to a publication on Thisday Online Edition of 04.04.2008, captioned...Read the full article.

RAYNOSA  # 2 | 07.04.2008 09:43

I start any comment on this thread. Because of certain friends. see you later

thekingsjester  # 3 | 07.04.2008 10:30

“commended Professor Oserheimen Osunbor's performance and urged the people not to be demoralized by reacted to the judgment of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, as they believe that such verdict will be set aside at the Appeal Court.” (sic). The psychophants are at it again! But how else can they be certain of their daily crumbs?

molue  # 4 | 07.04.2008 22:08

Any ***** can send a signed letter to Thisday newspaper claiming to represent the interest of so and so just for them to get some silly attention. The said letter to thisday newspapers shows these PDP-sized midgets will never wait for this whole charade to run it's course before making unguarded comments like the infamous Ikpasaja! True, Osunbor as proven belatedly that he wants to work for the interest of Edolites but, so does Oshiomhole! If at the end of the day, Oshiomhole is the rightful winner of the April 14 2007 election, Osunbor should do the honourable thing and simply ship out and let Oshiomhole carry on with the business of serving the people of Edo State. Edokpamakhin et al should support whoever is proven to be the winner. This is no time for jostling for crumbs, we need to fix that state....it's a mess! Molue:cry:

AISAGBON OMOGIADE  # 5 | 08.04.2008 12:07

The article that prompted this rejoinder is news to me.However,as an Edolite,I must state that Iam at a loss to read that there is an organised "union" or "club" of Edo indigenes existing in Italy.I am hearing for the first time too about the EDOKPAMAKHIN mentioned by the authur. While I can excuse myself for not knowing the existence of EDOKPAMAKHIN in Austria,or any where in the world,what I know existed in Italy till now are regional Edo communities.The one in Rome is called Edo Cultural Union. Professor Osunbor could be lauded for being a handsome academic and not as the governor of Edo State.As a professor of law, he donned the toga of a renegade by accepting a stolen mandate.To think that the Appeal Court will over turn the decision of the Election Tribunal is utopian though it has been reported that some of the judges in the country have accepted bribes. The unstable democratic system in Italy may not have influenced members of the so-called Edo indigenes in diaspora in Italy, rather, they are political praise-singers who have no regards for the will of the people.While I welcome genuine moves to form a formidable Union of Edo indigenes in diaspora,those already "existing" in the Austrian and Italian capitals are not true representatives of the Edos in diaspora.

Enforcer  # 6 | 08.04.2008 15:16

This union of Edos in dispora is news to me. But I do know that the few months that Prof Osunbor has been in power, he has achieved a lot more than what Igbinedion achieved in eight years. However, the most pressing question for me is where were this Edo union in the eight years that Igbinedion bankrupted Edo state.

AISAGBON OMOGIADE  # 7 | 08.04.2008 16:18

=Enforcer;4295003040>This union of Edos in dispora is news to me. But I do know that the few months that Prof Osunbor has been in power, he has achieved a lot more than what Igbinedion achieved in eight years. However, the most pressing question for me is where were this Edo union in the eight years that Igbinedion bankrupted Edo state. The issue at stake is not whether Professor Osunbor has so far performed better in few months than Igbinedion's eight years as governor but whether Professor Osunbor has the mandate of the Edo people to be the governor. Even if Igbinedion had done well, he already invoked the wrath of the binis because they thought him responsible for the mass deportation of their daughters engaged in prostitution in Italy.Igbinedion is currently facing trial in an Enugu Federal High Court for corruption. Our national interests should be above personal, financial and political interests.

RAYNOSA  # 8 | 09.04.2008 05:35

I have always advocated for good governance,As we all know the bad state in which IGBINEDION left EDO STATE. However my main concern is for whoever is given the responsibilty to manage the affairs of the STATE should do it to the best of his/her knowledge and deliver SIMPLE. I don't care if the mandate was stolen,nicked,thiefed or whatever as long as the person is able to deliver. Talking about stolen mandate who cares? Lucky Igbinedion was duely elected yet he messed up EDO STATE. We have had Military Administration that had done far,far better than these so called civillian government.Visit EDO STATE you will weep, i often ask myself why why any right thinking person still refer to the capital as CITY EDO STATE need to be salvaged,the situation is so bad that its like a man that is drowning and does not care who comes to his aid. I am neither a fan Prof O OSUNBOR nor ADAMS OSHIOMOLE all i am concern and after is good governance. ENFORCER asked one good question:However, the most pressing question for me is where were this Edo union in the eight years that Igbinedion bankrupted Edo state I am very sure they were busy hailing him MY GOVERNOR MY EXCELLENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enforcer  # 9 | 09.04.2008 08:09

=RAYNOSA;4295003189> I am neither a fan Prof O OSUNBOR nor ADAMS OSHIOMOLE all i am concern and after is good governance. ENFORCER asked one good question:However, the most pressing question for me is where were this Edo union in the eight years that Igbinedion bankrupted Edo state I am very sure they were busy hailing him MY GOVERNOR MY EXCELLENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RAYNOSA Thank you a million times. You spoke my mind. I am particularly thrilled by the last sentence. I have close relations and friends in leading positions both in PDP and AC. It is immaterial to me who wins the governorship election because either way I am represented. If it comes to fair play and the people mandate, both PDP and AC have admitted that they were involved in electoral malpractices during the governorship election. They are as bad as each other. So what matter to me is who will deliver Edo people from the misery of collapsing infrastructure, poorly equipped schools, non-payment of civil servant salaries and decaying hospitals. That is the choice Edo people want to make but the political class aren't allowing them the freedom to decide their own fate.

AISAGBON OMOGIADE  # 10 | 09.04.2008 14:07

=RAYNOSA;4295003189>I have always advocated for good governance,As we all know the bad state in which IGBINEDION left EDO STATE. However my main concern is for whoever is given the responsibilty to manage the affairs of the STATE should do it to the best of his/her knowledge and deliver SIMPLE. I don't care if the mandate was stolen,nicked,thiefed or whatever as long as the person is able to deliver. Talking about stolen mandate who cares? Lucky Igbinedion was duely elected yet he messed up EDO STATE. We have had Military Administration that had done far,far better than these so called civillian government.Visit EDO STATE you will weep, i often ask myself why why any right thinking person still refer to the capital as CITY EDO STATE need to be salvaged,the situation is so bad that its like a man that is drowning and does not care who comes to his aid. I am neither a fan Prof O OSUNBOR nor ADAMS OSHIOMOLE all i am concern and after is good governance. ENFORCER asked one good question:However, the most pressing question for me is where were this Edo union in the eight years that Igbinedion bankrupted Edo state I am very sure they were busy hailing him MY GOVERNOR MY EXCELLENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The jubilations that greeted the ruling of the Edo State Election Tribunal is a clear indication that the people of the State are now jealous of their votes even if they have not shown this in the past.From the market women to the okada riders. All were seen on the streets of Benin City Jubilating.The students of UNIBEN were all in festive mood. Some armed robbers in Benin-City in the 80s shared their loots with market women and those they considered down-trodden of the city after killing or maiming their victims.Can such actions be considered philanthropic?The answer is a capital NO.They were only trying to buy the sympathy of a few people. I respect profossor Osunbor as an academic.I expected him to exhibit a corresponding sense of responsibility.A man or woman that rules with a stolen mandate is selfish no matter how laudable his achievements. "Vox populi vox dei"

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