Edo South PDP leaders shun Anenih’s meeting again

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN—FOR the second time in a week, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo South senatorial district who are loyal to the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Party, Chief Tony Anenih, weekend, shunned the meeting called by their political father.

The meeting was called to resolve the crisis that erupted following the nomination of Mrs Sarah Adetugbogbou, a former Commissioner for Environment in the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, as Ambassador-designate.

The PDP leaders, had last Wednesday, shunned a similar meeting called by Chief Anenih, insisting that he must, alongside key leaders in the zone, resolve the issue of the nomination of Mrs Adetugbogbou, before convening a meeting of the larger house.

The party leaders in Edo South, are not happy that they were not consulted before the name of Adetugbogbou, who is an in-law to Chief Anenih, was forwarded to the Presidency.

If they were given the opportunity, the leaders argued, they would have picked either the former Deputy Governor and the Edo State Campaign Coordinator for Jonathan/Sambo election, Mr Lucky Imasuen, Mr .Henry Idahagbon or the former Minister of Defense, Gen.Godwin Abbe.

The faction of the party led by Dr Samuel Ogbemudia/Admiral Mike Akhigbe is also battling Chief Anenih on the choice of Ministerial nominees from the state.

However, a source, who attended the meeting held at the residence of Chief in Anenih at GRA Benin City, told Vanguard that Chief Anenih justified the nomination of Onolemenmen, who is his first cousin as Minister, after he explained that President Goodluck Jonathan told him in Abuja, after he returned from his American trip that he needed more professionals in his new cabinet.

The source who craved anonymity, said,  “he told us that Onolemenmen was nominated because he is a professional. He said the President said that the list will be submitted on Tuesday (today) to the Senate and he has assured us that Onolemenmen will be given the Minister of Works portfolio.”