The leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo, begged a chieftain of the party in the area, Chief Mathew Emiohe to rescind his decision to quit partisan politics.
The leaders were led by Mr Aselm Ojezua, a former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and an ally to Governor Obaseki.
Ojezua who said they were jolted by what he described as “a sudden decision” by Emiohe, begged that it was neccecary to reverse the decision as he was still needed to help reposition PDP in the council area and state in general.
“We are here because it is significant to have him back, he decision is not expected and acceptable to have abandoned the house he helped to build ita foundation.
“Chief Emiohe is part of the people that helped in redefining politics in the state, he has a right to his decision but we have reminded him of what he will be doing to his followers and supporters should he refuse our plea.
“But that God that he has listened to us and we have also promised to bring to the attention of the government those things he said informed his earlier decision to quit politics.
In similar vain, another leader of the party in the Local Governmen, Mr Macaulay Shaka-Momodu, described Emiohe as a strong mobiliser and supporter of the party that cannot be allowed to quit active politics now.
According to him, “Like they say, a tree does not make a forest but there are some trees that can make a forest, Emiohe is such a person.
“He is a born politician, he is at home with his people and a great mobiliser that we cannot allow to go like that.
“We need him to play partisan politics because there are many battles ahead.”
Mr Jonathan Aigbiremohen, a former chairman of the council area, said Emiohe was responsible in bringing several people into PDP from APC and streased that these people still need his support.
“Whatever muat happened in government, you don’t quit the system because you are angry. You need to stay back to correct the abnormally of the system,” he said.
In his response, Emiohe who commended the party leaders for the visit, corrected the impression that his decision to quit politics was because of the dissolution of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University which he was a member.
He attributed lack of government presence in his area to the reason why he announced hia decision to quit partisan politics.
He listed among others, lack of teachers in two government owned schools and road in his community.
According to him, “I must first of all appreciate their coming because it is the level of respect they have for me and same i do for them.
“I have listed to them and decided that i cannot change things from outside, i need to be inside to be able to make things happen.
“It was never a personal thing but things that affects my people and my community.
“For instance, a school of about 200 students in my community does not have teachers while another one with same population has only two teachers. We do not also have road.
“All this i have written severally to the relevant authority without success.”