Ahead of September’s governorship election in Edo State, the influential Otu-Umagbae Socio-Cultural group on Sunday endorsed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo; and his running mate, Barrister Osarodion Ogie.
Led by its President, Chief Bright Ogbebor; and General Secretary, Osagie Agbonwaneten, the endorsement happened during the April meeting of the group, hosted by Col. Victor Ogbomo (rtd.), at his Lekki, Lagos residence.
A source close to the meeting said the group took time to ask Ighodalo fundamental questions about his plan and vision for the state. It added that the gubernatorial hopeful, in his usual brilliant and unassuming style, left no one in doubt about his preparedness to lead the state, to which he got a unanimous approval.
“Dr Asue Ighodalo, in his usual brilliant yet unassuming manner, was able to convince the group that he possesses the requisite competences, the capacity, strength of character, sincerity of purpose and, above all, that he is driven by compassion for the generality of the people of Edo State. So, that was it in a nutshell. And I think they generally discussed the way forward for the state and they were all satisfied”, the source further said.
The group, which parades political and economic heavyweights, is said to wield enormous influence such that important political aspirants always court its endorsement.
It boasts of the likes former Governor John Odigie Oyegun; Ighodalo’s running mate, Ogie; the state Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Hon. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor; and former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of the state, Chief Wole Iyamu, among others.
The source said that Ogbebor, who has been the group’s President in the last five years, was highly instrumental in facilitating the meeting between Ighodalo and the group.
The source recalled: “In the past, Governor Lucky Igbinedion and Adams Oshiomhole went to address the group during their campaign times. That was those days”.
The PDP candidate has been notching up endorsements upon endorsements from influential groups across the state since the beginning of the new year, and they range from academics, youth, women and socio-cultural groups, community development associations and artisans.
