A former Edo State gubernatorial candidate, Earl Osaro Onaiwu has said that the state will not consider zoning to produce Governor Godwin Obaseki’s successor in 2024.
Onaiwu said this in reaction to the controversy over the Senatorial zone to produce the next governor of Edo State.
In a statement he issued on Monday, June 26, the politician said that the days of zoning power were over.
He stated that the only considerations for who would become the next governor of the state “must be based on capacity and competence.”
The statement read “It does not matter where we get a person with the competence and capacity.”
“We have always ‘zoned’ ministerial appointments and boards to the Esan people or people from the northern part of the state and what did we get?
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“Just a few days ago, the revered Oba of Benin roasted a former minister from the state for non performance. Oba Ewuare II reminded the former minister that he did not uplift Edo, while in office – especially after he (the minister), benefited due to letter written by the Oba of Benin to former president Buhari.
“That one will soon buy form and people will be shouting ‘zone’ for him. Is that what Edo wants in governance in the 21st century?
“I am from Edo South and I make bold to say we have the numbers when it comes to election in the state.
“I am also saying that if someone from Edo South has the competence and capacity, he should succeed Obaseki and not you giving us a mediocre because you are zoning.
“In fact, I insist Edo south will produce the next governor in 2024. We can’t throw our numbers away.
“We can’t continue to play zonal politics while Edo continues to remain as a glorified village. No, we can’t allow that.”
