I won’t apologise to defectors, says Oshiomhole

                                                  Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday said that he would not apologise to former members of the All Progressives Congress in the state who defected to an opposition party.

Oshiomhole, who made this known at the presentation of staff of office to Alhaji Jackson Etokhana as the Oghieavhianwu of Avhianwu, stated that he “will never share the state’s resources, meant for developing the state, to them.”

He added, “So, those who defect because I do not put money in their pockets, let them continue to defect; no apology. Everybody will be remembered when they write the history of politics in Afemai land.”

The governor stressed the need for traditional rulers to educate their subjects on ways to distinguish and support only politicians who stood for the interest of the people, rather than personal interest.

He also urged the electorate to be mindful of politicians who were out to capitalise on the plight of the people to perpetrate their selfish intentions.

Oshiomhole said, “We must use every opportunity to educate our people. This afternoon, your Royal Highnesses, I am not asking you to go and carry party cards. I only ask you and your chiefs to educate our people to distinguish politicians, who will stand only when it is good for their family, not when it is good for the larger community.

“I want it to be said that when I left office, our people started distinguishing thieves from real politicians. Our people must learn to begin to interrogate all manners of political miscreants, who come wanting to cash in on the poverty of our people. I always say that to be poor is not to be crazy. So, we must be clear.

“Those who called for Afemai Agenda believing that when an Afemai man becomes the governor, he will carry state money and share to them. And once they do not get it, they abandon Afemai Agenda and now they have turned only to the agenda of their stomach infrastructure.

“You will always be governed by politicians, whether you like it or not, but you must carefully select your politicians on the basis of those who understand that state power is not for the private comfort of those around the state operators.”

Oshiomhole assured traditional rulers in the state that his administration would “never interfere with traditional matters.”

The governor, who said that he would not “sponsor anybody to write a petition against any royal father,” stressed that fictitious petitions would be dismissed.

He assured the newly installed royal father, Alhaji Jackson Etokhana, as well as the entire people of Avhianwu Clan, of government’s continuous support in the provision of infrastructural facilities to the community.