Edo 2024: Benin Youth Council condemns Imasuangbon’s actions against Olumide Akpata

Edo 2024: Benin Youth Council condemns Imasuangbon’s actions against Olumide Akpata

Joel Oladele, Abuja 

Ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, the Benin Youth Council (BYC) has again berated the action of Kenneth Imasuangbon against the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Barr. Olumide Akpata.

In a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Surv. Ugiagbe Omosigho, on May 1st, 2024,  titled “The Macabre dance of Ken Imasuangbon and his lucid cold-blooded intentions against the Benin Nation through his malicious attack against Barr. Osaigbovo Olumide Akpata will be constructively checkmated,” the group emphasized  the need for political leaders to prioritize the collective wish of the people over personal interests.

NATIONAL PERISCOPE recalls that  Kenneth Imasuangbon, was one of the six aspirants who contested the February 23, governorship primary election of the LP, where Olumide Akpata was declared winner.

Imasuangbon however was not pleased with the outcome and demanded that the party leadership declare him the winner.

The BYC therefore expressed concern over Imasuangbon’s alleged actions, stating that any attempt to hinder Akpata’s candidacy would be detrimental to the Benin Nation. They accused him of acting in line with a larger plot to frustrate Akpata’s candidacy and pave the way for a coalition candidate from Edo Central.

“As the saying goes, those who wish to ride on the back of a tiger definitely end up in its belly. For it is necessary for every man not to put his personal interest over and above that of the collective wish of the people. In our clime, every politician is seen as selfish eccentric and ego-centric but only a minute few are different. For every politician that puts his personal interest above that of the people brews and instigates a volatile political atmosphere that leads to chaos that orchestrates unrest, maladministration, fouled leadership and even monumental poverty of his people.

“A leader needs to know what to do and when. What are the qualities that we look for in a leader? How do leaders achieve their status, or lose it? What roles do political parties and citizens play in the evolution and choice of political leaders? These are questions Ken Imasuangbon and his cohorts need to ponder. This simply explains why his political odyssey has been conterkerous and disastrous because he seems not to know how to plot his points and draw his graph politically to achieve the desired result.

“The Benin Youth Congress wishes to state unequivocally that any attempt by Ken Imasuangbon to stop Barr. Olumide Akpata in any way is tantamount to upturning the apple cart against the Benin Nation because it is becoming clearer that he is acting the script of his puppeteer to frustrate the only Benin candidate in the 2024 gubernatorial race to pave way for their new coalition candidate from Edo Central,” Omosigho.

Furthermore, the BYC criticized Imasuangbon’s past behavior, describing him as a bad loser lacking sportsmanship spirit. They contrasted his actions with other candidates from other political parties who gracefully accepted outcomes and allowed internal party mechanisms to resolve disputes.

“Over the years, Imasuangbon’s political antecedents have shown that he is a bad loser who lacks the spirit of good sportsmanship. Each time contests fail to go in/his favour, he threatens fire and brimstone until he gets settled.

“It is pertinent and fundamental for us to state here that as Barr. Asue Ighodalo and Sen. Monday Okpebholo are candidates of PDP and APC respectively from the Edo Central Senatorial districts so also is Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo AKpata, the substantive candidate of the Labor Party (LP) from Edo South Senatorial District. 

“Those who lost out in the primaries of APC and PDP have since moved on and allowed their party leadership to exercise the internal mechanisms of crisis resolutions to take its course as good and loyal party men. We have it on good authority that Ken Imasuagbon and his cohorts are seriously out to play the ethnic card to frustrate the only vibrant candidate from Edo South and we shall invoke the numerical strength of our people to prevent this wholesome plot. 

“Be that as it may, we are using this medium to call on all Benin socio-cultural and political organizations, the Benins in diaspora and most importantly the Chief John Odigie Oyegun led Benin group to  jumpstart a robust ethnic politics in order to rally round and protect the Sanctity of the candidature of Barr. Olumide Akpata in the interest of the Benin Nation because for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction,” he noted.

The BYC also addressed broader issues, including alleged marginalization of Edo South in development projects and the diversion of infrastructural projects meant for Edo State to Edo North. They called for legal action against those responsible for these actions, emphasizing the need to uphold justice and fairness.

The group therefore  reiterated its support for Barr. Olumide Akpata, describing him as a star in academic qualifications and administrative diplomacy. They called on Benins in diaspora and professionals of Benin extraction to unite and safeguard Akpata’s candidacy in the best interest of the Benin Nation.

“We also wish to state here that the gang up against the people of Edo South due to our numerical strength and vast economic resources has become unprecedented and condemnable in its entirety. This explains why the five developmental infrastructural projects meant for Edo State were diverted to  Edo North and not a Single one to Edo South by the Minister of the Niger-Delta Ministry, Hon. Abubakar Momoh.

“ Suffice to say that the appointment of Abubakar Momoh as the Minister of the Niger-Delta Ministry was as a result of the vast oil wells and gas deposits in Edo South. Edo North where he hails from have no single oil well but has chosen to insult our intelligence and punish us by nichodemously diverting all the Five projects to his place. We are also using this medium calling on all Benins both home and abroad to reject this crime against our people and its entirety.

“In the light of the aforementioned, we wish to call on the Benin National Congress (BNC) Worldwide to immediately institute a Legal suit against the Minister, Hon. Abubakar Momoh and the Niger Delta Ministry for violating the NDDC Acts and for their crime against the Benin Nation “for there come a time in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current it serves, or lose our ventures”.

“In conclusion, we wish to state that dexterity is not something we can hide; it shines in everyone who has steadfastly earned it. In the inner recesses of those who seem to be opposed to the fluorescent of professional or vocational achievements, they unequivocally admit that Barr. Olumide Akpata is a star, both in academic qualifications and administrative diplomacy. Hence, any attempt at derogation of his personality will be met with fierce restraint. 

“It is imperative to emphasize the crucial need for the Benins in diaspora, as well as the well-meaning professionals and elites of Benin extraction, to take the lead in spearheading Benin groups. This initiative aims to kick-start a vigorous ethnic political movement that will unite and safeguard the candidature of Barr. Olumide Akpata in the best interest of the Benin Nation.” the National Coordinator stated.