Former Director- General of the Centre for Democratic Studies, Prof. Omo Omoruyi, is worried over the location of the Edo State governorship campaign offices of the Action Congress of Nigeria and that of the Peoples Democratic Party on the same street in Benin.
The Adams Oshiomhole (ACN) governorship campaign organisation headquarters and that of the PDP governorship candidate, Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd), are located close to each other on Iguobasinmwin Street.
Saying there could be clashes between supporters of both parties, Omoruyi advised Aihiavbere to relocate his campaign headquarters from the area.
He said, "I am speaking as a senior citizen. You don't allow two political parties' secretariat to be so close. The ACN secretariat has always been there and if they go there to hold meetings at the same time, it is the PDP that is obstructing.
"I want the police to call on the PDP candidate to move to another section in Benin City. There are many other places in the city; we want to hear him, the people want to listen to him, he should move to another location in the city."
The Director-General, GC campagin organisation, Mr. John Yakubu, however, said the PDP office was not Airhiavbere's campaign secretariat but a volunteer organisation office.
He said, "Is Omo Omoruyi a card-carrying member of the ACN? Is he the chairman of the party? The party has not complained. Besides, it is a volunteer office and not the campaign secretariat of the PDP candidate. But Omoruyi as a senior citizen should preach peace, we have been living together in this state? We are not at war with each other."
Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has rejected the offer of deputy governor to Edo North by the PDP, saying Oshiomhole had performed creditably in office.
Speaking in Etsako East LGA, Ozekhome said the July 14 Edo governorship elections in Edo would not be about political party.
He said, "It is an insult to the people for the PDP to canvass for votes when the state already has a governor who has a track record of performance. Irrespective of whatever political party the people belong to, they should vote for Comrade Oshiomhole.
"This is not because he is our son; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has performed so well that he has turned Edo State into a construction site in Nigeria. He is an unusual governor. He is a blessing to Afemai, Weppa Wanno, Etsako people, Edo nation, Nigeria, Africa and to the entire mankind."
The Punch