By Uche Amunike
Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association and governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has kicked off his campaign with a visit to the palace of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare 11, to inform him of his ambition to run for governorship and official commencement of his campaign.
Speaking, during the opening of his campaign secretariat, Saturday, Akpata stated that his party is strong and vibrant enough to overpower the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
He said that he would deliver the dividends of democracy to the 18 local government areas in the state if he is elected in the September 21 governorship election.
He maintained that his reason for visiting the palace of the Oba of Benin was to inform him of his ambition to run and also to let him know that he had commenced his campaign, as it would be improper not to do so.
His words: ‘The LP is strong and vibrant to wrest power and deliver the dividends of democracy to the 18 local government areas of the state.’
‘We are ready to go to every part of the state to sell our manifesto to the people and let them know that we have the capacity to develop the state.’
‘It will be wrong to start the campaign without visiting the palace and letting the Oba know of my intention’, he stated.
The senator representing Edo Central in the National Assembly, Neda Imasuen, on his part, stated that Olumide Akpata had the capacity to govern the state, judging by his track record.
The lawmaker who cut the tape during the inauguration of the Labor Party Campaign Secretariat, urged the people of Edo State to give their votes to Akpata, as he would take the state to an enviable height. His words: ‘Our party’s candidate has the wherewithal to govern the state going by his track record. Akpata’s action over the months has shown that he is ready for the job and I believe the electorate should give it to him.’
‘I am sure he would take the state to an enviable height that everyone will be proud of,’ he stated.
Before then, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, went on a roadshow to introduce Olumide Akpata to the people, even as he led a party delegation to the palace of the Oba of Benin to seek his blessing.
Meanwhile, the Benin Monarch has publicly corrected Olumide Akpata for claiming to be a ‘son of the palace’.
Akpata had repeatedly referred to himself as a ‘son of the palace’, while recently in a meeting with the Oba of Benin.
The Monarch has, however, quickly dismissed his assertion with the explanation that he had asked one of his chiefs to verify the claims made by Olumide Akpata.
He said that his investigation showed that has no direct or distance link to the palace. His words: ‘You are an industrious son of the soil but to say you are a child of the Palace…I am not aware that any of my children is contesting or is a politician. So I need to make that clarification for the sake of the public and the fourth estate of the realm.’
In response, Akpata acknowledged the distinction, saying that while he might not be a child of the palace, he is a child of the kingdom.
