By Igbinosa Rhoda
Tensions are brewing in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, as some APC members say they’ve had enough of what they call unfair political appointments under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s watch.
The complaints are coming from a group called the Edo Concerned Group, led by Osamuyi Osadiaye. According to him, most of the key positions in the area have been handed to people from just one ward—Ward 7—while the other 11 wards are left with nothing.
Osadiaye didn’t hold back. He pointed fingers at APC State Secretary, Lawrence Okah, saying Okah has been using his position to favour his own ward. “We have 12 wards in Oredo, yet almost everything is going to one of them,” he said.
He gave examples: the APC State Secretary himself, the local party chairman, assistant treasurer, publicity secretary, and the member representing Oredo West in the House of Assembly—all reportedly from Ward 7.
But it doesn’t end there. Osadiaye claimed that a member of the Edo Produce Board, the person representing Edo South in the Oil and Gas sector (who he said is Okah’s son), three Senior Special Assistants, two Special Assistants to the Speaker, 15 revenue collectors, and the Supervisory Councillor are all from the same ward.
He called the situation unfair and dangerous, saying it goes against what the APC is supposed to stand for—equity and fairness.
Osadiaye then called on Governor Okpebholo to take action. “The governor must step in and make things right. People in other wards have worked for this party too,” he added.
He also warned against allowing Ward 7 to produce the next local government chairman, arguing it would only worsen the current divide.
Despite efforts to hear his side, Lawrence Okah declined to comment on the allegations.
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