2023: IGUEBEN DESERVE FAIR TREATMENT, KEN IHENSEKHIEN, COME TO OUR RESCUE.

It is said that those that want Equity must come with clean hands.

The general Elections are scheduled for 2023 and the Political Parties and their Aspirants are positioning and repositioning to take over the respective slots in the Elections.

Chief (Hon.)Ken Ihensekhien (Esq)

In Edo Central Senatorial District, there have been what is known as gentleman Agreement on zoning. Since 1999, Igueben Local Government Area have never been considered in this gentleman zoning arrangements by any of the Political Parties. The Senatorial ticket was zoned to Esan West Local Government Area while that of the House of Representatives went to Esan Central Local Government Area. Igueben Local Government Area was not given any position. After Eight years, we were generally hopeful that the Senatorial ticket would leave Esan West and would come to either Esan North East, Esan Central, Esan South East or Igueben while that of House of Representatives for Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency would leave Esan Central and moved to either Esan West or Igueben.The Senatorial ticket as expected left Esan West to Esan South East, but to the amazement of all, the House of Representatives ticket remained in Esan Central, thereby leaving Igueben in the cold. 

Esan South East had the Senatorial seat for Eight years and Esan Central had the House of Representatives seat for another Eight years making it Sixteen years.

In 2015, the Senatorial ticket left Esan South East for Esan Central and while that of the House of Representatives for the Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency (Okpebholo) went to Esan West. 

In 2019, both tickets remained in Esan Central and Esan West respectively and by 2023, both Local Government Areas would have completed Eight years each. 

The summary of it is that since 1999, Esan West has served Eight years in the Senate, and Eight years by 2023 in the House of Representatives.

 Esan Central, Sixteen years  in the House of Representatives and Eight years in the Senate by 2023 and Igueben Local Government Area have nothing to show.

The 2023 Elections are around the corner and Igueben Local Government Area is not being considered  in line with the zoning arrangements either for Senate or the House of Representatives by any of the Political Parties. This neglect  is not only inimical, it is also undemocratic, it is against the spirit of oneness, equity, fairness and justice, it is retrogressive and it is condemnable.

We, the indigenes of Igueben Local Government Area inrespective of political affiliations is using this medium to advise the Leaders of any of the Political Parties to zone either the Senatorial or the House of Representatives for Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency to Igueben Local Government Area. Igueben has paid all the necessary political dues since 1999 by supporting other Local Government Areas. 

We say it boldly that the tickets especially that of the House of Representatives for Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency is due Igueben and not Esan Central or Esan West Local Government Areas and we are demanding for it.

Some eminent indigenes of Igueben Local Government Area extraction across all strata of endeavours met recently , took a critical review of the political development in Okpebholo and resolved that the ticket of any of the Political Parties especially for the House of Representatives be zoned to Igueben Local Government Area.

We also reviewed the political antecedents of the Political gladiators of Igueben Local Government Area and unanimously resolved and agreed that Hon. Ken Okoruwa Ihensekhien of the All Progressives Congress, APC is fit, qualified and competent to represent us in the House of Representatives in 2023 and therefore, we have nominated him for that position. We are  also advising that the leaders of the APC  formally ratify same.

This is not because of his exploits in Government, but it is because of his selfless services to Esan land and Igueben Local Government Area in particular on personal capacity.

 Some of the things that he has done that convinced us that he can do better if given the opportunity to serve in the House of Representatives are as follows;

**Provision of Micro-credit Scheme to hundreds of Market women in Igueben Local Government Area.

** Provision of Bursary Awards to students across Igueben Local Government Area.

** Provision of Employment for numerous persons as Teachers in Igueben Local Government Area.

** Completion of Idumowu Town Hall, Ebelle.

** Building of Primary Health Care Center at Okalo.

** Employment of Ebelle and Igueben indigenes in the House of Assembly Service Commission.

**Building of three Classroom block at Idumowu Primary School now Akugbe Primary School.

**Changing the name of Edo State University (ESU), Ekpoma to Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.

** Provision of Board membership to over 20 persons in Igueben, Irrua and Ekpoma.

** Provision of Motor bikes to Igueben Local Government Area indigenes.

** multiple grading of earth roads in Udo, Amahor, Ebelle, Ewossa, Okalo & Ugun.

** Renovation of Ebelle Secondary and Commercial Grammar School, Ebelle among others too numerous to put down here.

We therefore once again appeal to all the Leaders and Stakeholders of the Political Parties especially the All Progressives Congress, APC and the People's Democratic Party, PDP to stop the political enslavement of Igueben Local Government Area and zone the House of Representatives tickets to Igueben Local Government Area. A stitch in time saves nine.

God bless Esanland.

Signed:

Pastor Pius Ehimetie.

Dr David Iyare.

United Okpebholo Support Group for Ken Ihensekhien.