Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has replied President Goodluck Jonathan on his recent claim that the defection of Chief Tom Ikimi from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would sway victory for PDP in the state.

Reacting to Jonathan’s boast, through his Political Adviser, Hon Charles Idahosa, Governor Oshiomhole said it was a tall dream for the President to think that the PDP would recapture Edo State in 2015 and 2016.

Oshiomhole added that it was unfortunate that the President was being deceived by PDP leaders in the state.

He stated that Jonathan should have checked how many persons defected alongside Ikimi to the PDP.

Oshiomhole noted that the Binis which constitute over 50 per cent of Edo population have been marginalized by the PDP-led federal government, adding it was a tall dream for President Jonathan to think that Esan godfathers would win Edo for him.

“Ikimi said he left APC because after cooking the food, people came and stole both the pot and the food away.

“But in this case, he forgot that it was Ize-Iyamu who cooked the food that those that left the APC for PDP took along. 

“Ikimi went to the stadium to hijack the show by introducing Ize-Iyamu instead of Ize-Iyamu introducing him to the President.

“Ize-Iyamu, who did all the cooking, was now a spectator. Dr.  Samuel Ogbemudia was never mentioned there, former Governor Lucky Igbinedion was seated there, his father Esama was seated and none of them were asked to speak, yet President Jonathan is boasting that PDP will win Edo. That is laughable.

“We will deal with them in February. As we speak today, there is no single Bini man or woman who is a minister, Permanent Secretary, CEO, so what is the PDP going to tell Bini people that will make the Binis vote for PDP?

And the days of rigging are over. We are going to deal with them. Every appointment is in Esan and Uromi in particular. It is a wild dream to say they will win Edo,” Oshiomhole said.

It would be recalled that President Jonathan reportedly made the statement during his visit to Benin, Edo State capital for a political held on Saturday.

The incumbent President was recently declared by the PDP in Abuja as its sole candidate for the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria.

A move the opposition party, the APC, has described as undemocratic.