The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has accused All Progressives Congress members who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of preferring to share money rather using such monies for developmental projects across the state.
Oshiomhole, who made this known at the presentation of staff of office to Alhaji Jackson Etokhana as the Oghieavhianwu of Avhianwu, where he stated that he “will never share the state’s resources, meant for developing the state, to them.”
He added, “So, those who defect because I do not put money in their pockets, let them continue to defect; no apology. Everybody will be remembered when they write the history of politics in Afemai land.”
The governor stressed the need for traditional rulers to educate their subjects on ways to distinguish and support only politicians who stood for the interest of the people, rather than personal interest.
Oshiomhole further said, “We must use every opportunity to educate our people. This afternoon, your Royal Highnesses, I am not asking you to go and carry party cards. I only ask you and your chiefs to educate our people to distinguish politicians, who will stand only when it is good for their family, not when it is good for the larger community.
“I want it to be said that when I left office, our people started distinguishing thieves from real politicians. Our people must learn to begin to interrogate all manners of political miscreants, who come wanting to cash in on the poverty of our people. I always say that to be poor is not to be crazy. So, we must be clear.
“Those who called for Afemai Agenda believing that when an Afemai man becomes the governor, he will carry state money and share to them. And once they do not get it, they abandon Afemai Agenda and now they have turned only to the agenda of their stomach infrastructure.
“You will always be governed by politicians, whether you like it or not, but you must carefully select your politicians on the basis of those who understand that state power is not for the private comfort of those around the state operators.”