Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has reacted to the postponement of the February general elections by six weeks, saying that the May 29 hand-over date of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led Federal Government to the All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot be postponed as no one can postpone Christmas.
Speaking while receiving some defectors from the PDP in Benin City, Oshiomhole, said: “You heard what happened. They said they have postponed the elections. Few days back, they called us for a meeting of the Council of States and we said they should go ahead and conduct the elections. In any event, we are not the only country with security challenges. Even in Afghanistan and Iraq, elections were held.
“So, whether they postpone the elections or not, we won’t fight. They can’t postpone Christmas. I want to appeal to all of you, nobody should be angry because I know you were ready for Saturday’s elections. Only a debtor thinks tomorrow is far. Everybody has seen they don’t want elections. They sponsored discussions on television, Prof Attahiru Jega said that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was not the issue, so they came up with security.
“If they like, let them keep coming up with issues. The elections will hold. So, I urge you, just take it easy. The six weeks will cost us more resources and time because we thought we would contest the elections in February, get through with them and get on with our lives but they decided to postpone the elections. But let me ask you, a child that is due to arrive after nine months, how long can you prevent it from birthing?”
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