A socio-cultural and political organization, composed of Owan sons and daughters from the two local government areas of Owan East and Owan West in Edo State, Owan Conscience Group, has opposed the endorsement of Senator Adams Aliyu Oshomhole for a second term in the National Assembly.

There has been agitation by stakeholders in Edo North Senatorial District for power shift in 2027. .

The Edo North caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had endorsed Oshiomole, senator representing the Edo North Senatorial District in the Senate, for a second term in 2027.

However, stakeholders in Owan, are urging the Etsako to support their demand for power rotation in the spirit of justice and equity.

The Owan Conscience Group, therefore, expressed strong opposition to the purported endorsement of Oshiomhole for another tenure in the senate, insisting on power shift.

The Owan comprises of two of the six local government areas in Edo North senatorial district; the Etsako has three LGAs; and Akoko-Edo has one LG, but with two state constituencies.

The Chairman of Owan Conscience Group, Richard Ofen-Imu, in a statement in Benin City, dissociated the Owan nation from the endorsement of Oshiomhole for a second tenure; declaring that “it is the Owan nation’s turn to take over the senatorial seat in 2027.”

Ofen-Imu in the statement, protested: “the Etsako axis has dominated the district’s senatorial seat to the detriment of the Owan and Akoko Edo axes, which together form the essential tripod of the Edo North Senatorial District.”

Ofen-Imu, accordingly, declared: “We read in the media recently that the Edo North caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed Comrade Adams Oshiomole, the senator representing the Edo North district in the Senate, for a second term. The so-called endorsement was said to have taken place at a meeting of the APC leaders in the country home of the senator at Iyamho.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear and without any iota of doubt that the Owan nation completely disassociates itself from the unjust and insensitive endorsement. The Edo North district, otherwise known as the Afemai, is made up of three sub-ethnic groups, namely Akoko Edo, Owan and Etsako. None of the three is superior to the other. These groups should naturally share political positions that may be allocated to the area as an entity.

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“We thanked the revered elders of Edo North, the Rt. Hon. Col. Tunde Akogun (KSC), Senator Yisa Braimoh, Senator Victor Oyofo, and High Chief Raymond Dokpesi (of blessed memory) who vociferously canvassed a rotation of the senatorial seat to Owan in order of rotation precedent.

“Other prominent leaders of the Owan nation include Chief Richard Ehimigbai, Dr. Victor Amu, Mrs. Sabina Idowu-Osehobo, Chief Patrick Agbebaku, Princess Yinka Alufohai, and Comrade Mike Igaga.

“They also warned the Edo North APC against taking any actions that could threaten the delicate peace in the district, stressing that Edo North is not solely about Etsako.”

The group argued that by 2027, the Etsako would have held the senatorial ticket of the zone for an uninterrupted period of 31 years. It protested that both the Owan and Akoko Edo regions have only held the position for four years, respectively.

The group, protesting the skewed power distribution, declared: “It is important to note that the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, is from Etsako, as is the immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba.

“A former Ambassador, from Etsako, current nominee for another ambassadorial appointment, also from Etsako.”

The group noted that some other appointments have also been allocated to Etsako.

Ofen-Imu, therefore, demanded “it is time to award the Owan nation the district’s senatorial ticket in 2027, having previously served only four years from 2007 to 2011.”

The group enjoined the various political parties, particularly, ruling APC, to allocate the senatorial ticket to the Owan nation in the interest of equity and fairness.