Fresh Drama As Obaseki’s Anointed Successor Struggles to Speak Local Language, Uses Interpreter

• Ahead of the 2024 governorship election in Edo state, PDP aspirant Asue Ighodalo faced scrutiny over his cultural identity, his Esan root
• Ighodalo, who is being considered the anointed successor of Governor Godwin Obaseki, has responded to critics who labelled him a "Lagos boy" rather than a "homeboy"
• Meanwhile, Prince Kassim Afegbua, a former spokesman of ex-military president Ibrahim Babangida and Obaseki's deputy, Philip Shaibu, declared interest in the Edo race

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Edo state, Benin-City - A fresh drama played out in Edo state as a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, got the attention of many.

Obaseki's successor battles to speak Esan languages

This came after Governor Godwin Obaseki's supposed anointed successor, Ighodalo, declared that he was a “true Esan boy”, an indigene of Edo central district of the state but was unable to address his kinsmen in his local dialect.

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As reported by PM News, Ighodalo, the economist and banker, who spoke in front of his family home in Ewohimi, Esan South East local government area of the state, could not speak his Esan language, so he ended up using an interpreter.

Speaking through an interpreter, Ighodalo said:

“I do things in Esanland because we are not noisy, my brother is here, I am here, my parents were here. I am a true Esan boy, I am not going to use home boy because they have used it badly. I am an Esan Boy."

Edo guber 2024: Kassim Afegbua joins race

In a similar development, Kassim Afegbua has declared his intention to run for the Edo state governorship election on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

Afegbua said he was offering himself to serve the good people of Edo state.

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According to the former commissioner for information, Edo people are presently disoriented by the politics of highhandedness.

Obaseki lists those who will decide Shaibu’s fate

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Obaseki reacted to the governorship ambition of Philip Shaibu, his deputy.

Speaking in Bauchi state on Thursday, November 30, Obaseki said only PDP members would decide if Shaibu would emerge as the party's gubernatorial candidate.

Obaseki's deputy, Shaibu, apologises to Oshiomhole

Meanwhile, Shaibu earlier tendered an apology to the former governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

Shaibu, on Tuesday, November 28, while speaking as a guest on Channels TV breakfast show, Sunrise Daily sought the forgiveness of the ex-governor.

He stated that his actions and words during the last election cycle in Edo state were merely for the election moment.

Source: Legit.ng