Ahead of the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Edo indigenes under the auspices of Edo Progressive Indigenous Association (EPIA), a.k.a. Edo Indigenous Movement Worldwide, has called on the candidates of various political parties to include in their manifestos the establishment of Edo Indigenous Commission or Ministry of Edo Indigenous Affairs in order to gain Edo indigenes’ support worldwide.
This call was contained in a press release signed by President of EPIA, Dr Omogiade Enoyiogiere Edokpolo.
According to the release, “this will help to prioritize the interest of Edo indigenes in the areas of employments, contracts, empowerment, and promotion of Edo heritage.
“This will also help in eliminating marginalisation of Edo indigenes in Edo lands by the State government and foreign investors in the State. It will also go a long way in promoting promoting the local content Act of Nigeria.
“So, we are calling on all political candidates of various political parties to take seriously, issues concerning the empowerment of Edo indigenes, thereby prioritizing Edo indigenes in their portfolio through setting up of the above Ministry or Commission.
“This is the only way that Edo indigenes will support them in the forthcoming governorship election, considering the fact that Edo indigenous people for decades have suffered so many setback in terms of marginalization of its indigenes and has also been less prioritised in the areas of contracts, employments, bursary, medical aids, and order benefits entitled to them, just to mention a few, both in government space and the various multi-billion foreign companies and investments in the state.”
The said ministry will help to monitor and serve the interest of Edo indigenes at large.
The press release also added that Edo indigenes need a technocrat that has promising track records and global exposure, and above all that has excelled in his chosen career to take over from Governor Godwin Obaseki. Culled from Info Daily
