‘Oshiomhole can’t impose candidate on Edo APC’

•Ogiemwonyi

Chris Ogiemwonyi, an engineer, is a former Minister of State for Works  and governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. He spoke with BEN OGBEMUDIA  on his ambition, conditions for credible programmes and preparations for next year’s poll.
What motivated you to join the governorship race in Edo State?
I am motivated to render service, and don’t forget, I did this successfyully for 34 years at the central government, 34 years. I worked for the NNPC and having done that to the satisfaction of my people, I think the remaining part, when I am still strong, I should equally come to render that same service to my people.
What do you have to offer differently?
Because of who I am, I have my characters. One thin g I market today is my name, which is a brand, in terms of integrity and accountability, good governance. These are things I cherish seriously and I market them as a brand then my experience, exposure for 34 years in a key sector of our economy, which oil and gas, my pedigree as a hard working person, everybody knows that; so if you look at these attributes, by the time you accumulate these things, you will see a fine gentleman coming out for this course.

There is this insinuation that you didn’t have the structure in the party to win the primaries. What will you say about this?
I hear that and I laugh when I hear it; structure, what is structure, these are human beings. What is going to play out now and tomorrow in Nigeria is not how deep you are in politics, but people are going to respect the character of the person. As things are evolving, it will get to a point where even the party is not going to be the determinant, but the person when you talk about this issue of structure, the delegates in their quite moments at home, they are human beings, they will keep on analysing who is the best among us, people will on their own make up their minds who to vote for based on the charcter of that person I promise you the parties we belong to now is not going to be too serious  about those considerations, people will be looking at the persons and whatever structure that is ground, because they are human beings, they will be very analytical in reaching their decision.
We have an outgoing governor, who will be leaving a big shoe behind. Do you think you have that character to step into those shoes?
I wish you will have time to ask about me when I was in the NNPC. If it is possible, you interrogate the people I worked with in my last three to four years in the NNPC, you will get a better judgment if you do that. Why was this man so highly respected by everybody in the oil companies, in the NNPC. Let me save time by not saying who I am but I expect you should go out and find who Chris Ogiemwonyi is, my name is synonymous with courage to do what is right, that is my name.
What are your plans for the state, in terms of job creation, considering the number of unemployed youths and graduates?
On the average today in Edo state just like in other states, in every house, we have a minimum of two to three unemployed graduates, the situation is like that in all homes, not only in Edo state so the issue of job creation is something every incoming government need to think through in Nigeria. My take on this is that I must commend Comrade Oshiomhole for what he has been able to do but I think it is an area we should look deeper to find out how we should address this. I must commend the state government for rebranding the Okpella Cement factory. I was in NNPC, I was part of those that worked in Obajana because the gas pipeline to Obajana was done when I was the CEO of NGC. The first day I went to Obajana, when I saw the number of people working in that Cement Company, we can re-create more of Obajana here. But why I will not talk too much on this is like me reeling out my manifesto but believe you me,  think the in-coming government should do a feasibility of all mineral resources in Edo state and me coming from the oil and gas, it is one thing that I will do, to put a strong team to quickly do the feasibility.  Do a feasibility of the whole and quickly identify these resources and then pursue foreign investors and I already have some. Some people have told me, Chris if you come in, we need some amount of land for car assembly, they want to come to Edo state for that, I have some friends from China they have told me already, that plant can employ about 3,000 youths, all they need from me is to provide the land. This state will be a place for industry destination i this part of the country. People believe me, they trust and that there will be sanctity of agreement, I will respect the content of that agreement and I will not go round to ask for favour in terms of equity interest, they know me already, I have established my name, my name as a brand.
What is your reaction to the allegation that the APC government is fithing a selective and corruption battle?
You see, every process when it is starting, people hold different opinion, I hate to generalise. He is selective, but I haven’t seen him do that. What I have seen is that this is a regime preaching change and so far, being led by somebody who is an apostle of change. With what we are seeing with mr president and because of who he is I am 100 per cent sure that this philosophy will come down gradually. Don’t forget there may be one or two Judases but it is the generality that we should look at in the various sectors that he is doing and don’t that some of the people who are in APC today came from the PDP so we will expect some of these things, but with time, I see perfection.
There are insinuations that the governor may anointed one or two aspirants and the issue of people actually voting may not arise. How do feel about this?
When you hear things like this, many people prepare to discuss things they don’t know. Oshiomhole preached one man one vote four five years ago and we saw what happened in this state, things have changed to that philosophy, as a person like to commend people; this guy destroyed godfatherism that in our state here before now, we have about  three people deciding how things are shared but today, godfatherism is buried and our prayer is that it will never rise again in Edo state so when I hear about that governor has anointed somebody, all APC is going to do is that we are going to the field, there will be an open primary. It is the people that decides. He has promised that there will be a free and fair primaries. How will anointing come into that? If he is anointing, it is the people you should blame because the only way you can exibit democracy is through open ballot and that is what the man is preaching. I have left my base in Abuja so that I can participate in the process and since I joined the APC last year, I have been following the process by process. I have not seen where this man has defaulted. I hate to join people to just condemn people, he has done well. But, don’t forget that I am an apostle of transparency and what you are saying, if I sense it, I will go to the streets, I will protest. I don’t want to join people to say that, who was there when he did the anointing? Let us try and destroy rumour mongering, that thing has destroyed so much in Nigeria.
What is your reaction to the controversial land use charge?
These people complaining, how many of them have seen the government gazette on the charge? People are just doing this bandwagon effect. My friends are crying and you want to join the cry. By my training, I prefer to go to the Ministry of Justice, get a copy and study it. Is not for the whole state, it is not for the whole city. It is for the low density area that they are talking about and the question you will ask yourself is it new, does it exist in other parts of the world. Byt the time you answer this questions, it is not new. Those that have flats in New York as compact as the city is, they still pay. I think we should commend him for being creative in the IGR and I think what people should ask is the usage of the money.
What is the way out of the perennial fuel crisis in Nigeria?  
I will advice Mr President to take a serious look at that price. My question is, what constitutes that landing price of the PMS?  I want a proper check on this.
During my period in the NNPC, we tried to look into the issue, the structure in the supply chain. I must tell you one thing. Until Nigerians are prepared to do things courageously, we may never see an end to this. Several governments have tried to see what the major problems were. One area they want to identify is that decision will be based on the landing cost of the product in Nigeria. What is the landing cost? We must check that thing seriously. Are there inefficiencies? Are there corruption practices. I will expect again, President Buhari should get those that knows the business to study the process line. The product arriving at Apapa, what is the actual landing cost? My take on that is that there are issues, some wastage. We have heard of demurrage being paid for some ships just at the Wharf and they will all account for this landing price.
They can do that. The NPA charges for example, we must do a serious review of these charges in order to arrive at the actual landing cost of the product.
On a global scale, my take on this is to deregulate. Let us pay for the proper price of this product. Open the market, let there be more participant, more players.
If we deregulate, the subsidy we are doing now for our neighbours, Ghana, Benin, Toko, Mali Chad and others will see us paying less price for the product. Because of the porous nature of the Nigeria borders, most of the product that have been heavily subsidized by the Nigeria government, find their ways into these countries.
Our borders are very porous. We are subsidising the products for our neighbouring countries. When I was Minister, go to our borders and you see trucks crossing over with products.

TheNation

Chris Ogiemwonyi Cautions Edo Delegates Not To Allow Their Conscience To Be Bought In Edo Governorship Election

One of the major contenders on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the Edo State September 10th governorship race, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi has advised the delegates who will elect Governor Adams Oshiomhole's successor to critically scrutinise the credentials of those jostling to govern the state.

Engr. Ogiemwonyi made this assertion while addressing the delegates in Owan West Local Government, Saboggida-Ora; Owan East Local Government and at the headquarters of the oldest Local Government, Akoko-Edo.

"I am here to solicit for your votes as a brother, friend and political party advocate who believe in due process. I am aware many of my contenders in the race have visited you almost twice. It is not out of hatred that I am visiting late. I was only obeying the governor's directives to wait till the ban on campaign is lifted.

"I want to tell you that I am a different kind of politician because of my background as a technocrat. When I left school years back, I had three jobs. Now, thousands of our youths are being turned out of schools on a yearly bases without jobs and it aches my heart.

"As governor of Edo State, if you give me your votes, I will not only create jobs for the teaming youths who are graduates, but will also provide hooks with which you can fish by yourself; especially those who have contributed immensely for the development of our dear party, the APC.

"My major reason for seeking to be the governor of Edo is to eradicate poverty because the statistics has shown that more than 60% of our people are living below poverty line. As governor of the state I will build on the legacy of governor Adams Oshiomhole who have laid the bases for concrete governance", Ogiemwonyi said.

At the various points of his campaign consultation, spanning through the entire Edo North Senatorial District comprising six local government from Owan West; East, Akoko-Edo, Etsako, West, East and Central the people received Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi with fanfare and glitz. They lauded his unblemished record for serving the nation in various capacity without faults.

Barrister Abubakar Yusuf, former students union president, University of Benin and chairman A Y holdings and APC political leader in ward 3, Etsako West local government said the people of Edo State are blessed to have Chris Ogiemwonyi aspiring to consolidate on the good work of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

"I am indeed pleased that Edo State has the likes of Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi as one of the foremost contenders for the September 10th governorship race. With his bold entrant Edo State can now separate the boys from the men. The person who is said to be anointed by the governor and the anointer now have serious battle to fight", Barrister Abubakar said.

19: Aggrieved APC, PDP leaders begin merger talks

By Donald Ojogo

• They are desperate, spoilers –Oni

Less than one year into the life of the current administration, politicians of the major partisan divides have commenced secret moves to realign forces ahead of the 2019 general elections, New Telegraph has gathered.
The talks, said to be causing ripples within the Presidency and a cross section of the All Progressives Congress (APC), cut across a sizeable portion of the ruling party and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The move, according to a source close to the leadership of the ruling party, is ostensibly triggered by the emergence of a new power cartel in the Presidential Villa that appears to have sidelined some founding fathers of the APC.
“Such leaders are aggrieved, but have resorted to remain calm and keep their cool even in the face of glaring subjugation to the background by those young Turks who have formed a new cartel in the villa to corner the spoils of war,” the source told our correspondent in confidence.
New Telegraph could not get reaction on the development from the Presidency as a text message sent to the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, was not replied as at the time of going to press.
But the deputy national chairman (South) of the APC, Engr. Segun Oni, has described such politicians as desperate spoilers who have nothing to lose any longer. “We are aware of all the antics of these so-called politicians. I am sure they are more in the PDP than they are in the APC.
Even if there are some in our party, they must be acting in ignorance and perhaps misinformed by their contact travellers in the PDP. “In this country, people have failed to realise that losing election itself is an opportunity for self-reassessment and reinvention. It is an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and see what could be done to salvage your party.
“You don’t just wake up one day and say because you lost, everything should be lost. It is absolutely impossible the way they view it. Like in America, once the Republicans or the Democrats lose, they concentrate more on what led to their defeat and not to immediately explore possible means of bringing down a government.
“As far as we are concerned, such elements are desperate and you the media should expose them, we know what they are up to, but we are more prepared to bring the dividends of change to the ordinary Nigerian who voted for our party than spend time trying to stop them,” Oni told New Telegraph.
The source said several attempts have been made by the APC leadership and the Presidency to placate those aggrieved party leaders who have lost out in their various states or geopolitical zones since the inception of the present administration in May last year. “The issue of politics is first to see how secure you are to further the national interest. If it is only national interest, it means that some leaders did not need to contest against incumbents to heat up the polity.
“Some specific leaders made sacrifices to bring about the change we are seeing today and where are these people? In most cases, they are either sidelined or relegated to the background because some new cartel boys have emerged to corner everything and have built walls around the villa against some of the real leaders.
“For now, we are keeping our strategies close to our chest, but I can assure you that in the course of time, things will start unfolding gradually because we can’t pretend that all is well among us. The real leaders of the party are watching developments and will give specific directives when the time comes. “The change we got was not the destination; it is just a bus stop and another vehicle can take us to that destination.
So, we are looking at various options, including two hard ones whether to go for a fresh party or revitalise the ailing PDP,” he said. The source, who was a member of the interim national executive committee of the APC, disclosed that the secret talks among the political class are being facilitated by two serving PDP governors and two former Senate presidents even as the tentative understanding is to scout for a less controversial presidential candidate from the North-East.
He said, the outcome of the March 19 Area Councils election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will determine, to a large extent, the direction of the realignment talks that are currently ongoing.

NewTelegraph

Nigeria’s Central Bank Illegally Hired, Sons, Daughters And Relatives Of Former VP Atiku, IGP Arase, GMD Of NNPC, Minister Of Internal Affairs, Other Top Officials

by SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK Mar 15, 2016

SaharaReporters has obtained a list of at least 91 people tied to influential or highly placed Nigerians who were recently offered juicy appointments by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a hiring process that was highly secretive. 

The list of beneficiaries of the CBN’s job largesse include a daughter of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, a son of Mamman Daura, a nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari and one of the closest members of the president’s inner circle, a son of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, a daughter of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’aba,  also daughter of of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, a since of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Abdurahman Danbazzau and at least 86 others.
The highly controversial recruitment, seen as peddling of influence, first came to light a few weeks ago, but SaharaReporters just exclusively obtained the names of the beneficiaries.
The leaking of the irregular hires by the CBN caused significant embarrassment for the government and the bank. The CBN’s Director of Human Resources, Chizoba Mojekwu, was reportedly redeployed as the bank’s Director of Capacity Development and IT after CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, accused her of being behind the leaking of the list.
However, a top official of the CBN told our correspondent that Mr. Emefiele had arranged the hiring of relatives of top party leaders and powerful government officials as a strategy for saving his job.
Even though the list obtained by SaharaReporters has 91 names, our sources at the CBN disclosed that the CBN Governor had started the practice of using job offers to woo top government officials since Mr. Buhari came into power on May 29, 2015. One source revealed that, in September 2015, Mr. Emefiele had hired Claire Arase, a daughter of Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.
SaharaReporters learnt that the CBN often went to great lengths, including tweaking the names of recruits, in order to hide the identities of beneficiaries of politically motivated recruitment. Often the CBN used the beneficiaries’ first names and their father’s middle names to hide their real identities. For instance, the bank listed Maryam Atiku as “Maryam Abubakar.” In another case, the bank entered the name of the son of Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, as “Nagode Abdulrahman.” In other instances, the bank used the maiden names of hired persons instead of their married names.
 The recruitments are deemed irregular because the CBN failed to advertise the vacancies in order to allow opportunities to all qualified Nigerians to apply for the jobs. In addition, the bank’s “political” recruitments did not follow principles of federal character set out for employment by government agencies and other public institutions. “Jobs were just handed to the children of ministers in the current administration,” one bank official stated. The source added that many of the new hires were asked to pick their department of choice after their irregular employment was concluded.

Tussle for BoT chair resumes

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, had resumed work monday amidst speculations that his position may still be shaky.

Ahead of next week crucial meeting of the major organs of the party, there are indications that the struggle for the chairmanship of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) is resurfacing again.

But Oyegun said contrary to speculations, the issue of leadership change is not on the party’s agenda.
The APC leader who spoke to journalists in his office, was beaming with confidence, saying he was taken aback by reports of plots to oust him from office, and that what the party was planning to do was to set in motion a process to organise congress in order to fill vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC).

“I’m glad to be back. I told you I was going on a break because I needed it. I had a good break; I had a bit of rest and I am back to the office,” he said.

On whether the meetings of the major organs of the party will go on as scheduled, Oyegun said: “Yes, all the scheduled meetings of the party will run as planned; the caucus on March 21, the BoT on the 22 and NEC on the 24 of this month. Everything will go as planned.”
The APC chairman however said the party is experiencing a challenge in getting the right replacement for its former spokesman who is now the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

According to Oyegun, the search for a qualitative replacement has been on but that it appears the party may have to ignore the existing zoning arrangement in order to appoint a good hand for the job.

“I think arrangements have been completed to hold the necessary congresses to nominate the spokesperson. I think that should be done very shortly. In fact, the issue of getting somebody who can be as close as possible to the outstanding performance of Mohammed has been a major challenge.

“I think that has been the issue. As a matter of fact, if it means making adjustments, a good match is priority number one and afterwards, you can make adjustments in zoning subsequently,” he said.

However, there are indications that moves to effect leadership change in APC cannot be entirely ruled out as feelers from some party members showed that the chairman and members of the NWC were strategising on how to counter such plot.

THISDAY gathered that ahead of next week’s meetings of key organs of the party, the NWC has mapped out plans to ward off any plot that may put their job in jeopardy by making sure that the agenda of the meetings are controlled.

It was also learnt that the choice of a chairman for the party BoT is still giving the party’s leadership sleepless nights. A highly reliable source in the party said of the party organs, it is the BoT that is presently posing a serious challenge on how to handle the various tendencies seeking to hijack it.

“This explains why the party had for long kept the inauguration of the BoT in abeyance to see how things can subside, but at the moment, it seems the tussle can no longer be swept under carpet. We have to face the issue frontally,” he said.

There has been brewing controversy over who among the political gladiators in the APC will clinch the BoT chairmanship seat with several groups canvassing competing interests. Among the likely contestants for the position are the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; protem National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Abubakar Baraje.

ThisDay

Engr Chris Osa Ogiemwonyi, A Blessing To APC and Edo People

By: By EGHAREVBA IGBINERHA

The coming of Engr. (Dr.) Chris Ogiemwonyi into the All Progressives Congress, APC on Friday 28 November, 2014 is quite significant not only to the party, but to Edo State in general. barely two years to the end of the second term of Comrade Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s administration in Edo State, the declaration of Engr. Ogiemwonyi for APC is quite germane, because Edo People are already thinking and scouting for who will take over from Comrade Oshiomhole, especially in the continuation of peoples oriented projects and transformation of Edo State, already started by the Comrade Governor. Therefore, the coming of Engr. Ogiemwonyi into APC is a sign of good things to come in Edo caliber of people who declared with Engr. Ogiemwonyi into APC, including a cross section of Palace Chief led by Chief Obaseki, Chief Osula, the Arala of Benin Kingdom, some former chieftains in the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Youths and Women groups. the stage is set for that to be achieved. Besides, the entry of Ogiemwonyi into APC has assumed public debate, with majority of the, people supporting his declaration urging him to aspire for the number one seat in the state, which is the Governorship position. According to the people, including Hon. Edoba Asemota, Hon. Osbert Agho, Hon. Emy Eke and Mr. Gold Idehen, Engr. Ogiemwonyi  will make a good candidate for APC in the 2016 gubernatorial elections. They said Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi shares the same idea, vision and mission with the Comrade Governor, and he would be able to continue from where Oshiomhole will stop. Indeed, there is no vacuum in governance, and the most important thing is the transition process. Continuity of government policies and programmes is very crucial in order not to have myriads of abandoned Projects, which had been the bane of previous administrations in the state.
For the Comrade Governor, Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, the formal declaration of Engr.. Chris Ogiemwonyi is a plus for the APC in Edo State. He described Ogiemwonyi as a technocrat whose wealth of experience at the NNPC and as Minister of’ State for Works will no doubt add value to governance in the state. Comrade Oshiomhole disclosed that Engr. Ogiemwonyi is a selfless man, \\ho has been supporting the party even before he became member of the party. He commended Ogiemwonyi  for taking a bold step to dump PDP for APC and urged Ogiemwonyi to join forces with him to develop Edo.
The APC Chairman in Edo State, Barrister Anselm Ojezua said the coming of Engr. Ogiemwonyi  into APC was quite significant as it will boost the winning capacity of the party in the state.
Across the three senatorial districts of Edo State, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi seems to be their choice to succeed Comrade Oshiomhole. According to the people, this is because of his humanitarian disposition, leadership qualities and experiences, entrepreneurial and managerial skills, political competence, humility, accessibility and open handedness. These are indeed the good qualities a leader should possess, especially in a democratic setting such as ours.
Since the declaration of Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi on 28 November, 2014, many individuals and interest groups have been paying solidarity’ visits to pledge their support for him and the APC. Engr. Ogiemwonyi on his part has been engaging in series of consultations and talks with the APC Leaders in the state to determine the next line of Action and the way forward for APC in the state, especially as it concern the 2015 general elections. Engr. Ogiemwonyi is very passionate about APC and ensuring victory for all its candidates in the 2015 elections. According to him, he is ready to do everything possible and within his powers to secure victory for APC in the state. Towards this end, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi mobilized voters during the last round of voters registration exercise. He has equally gone to his ward (Ugboko ward 5) in Orhionmwon Local Government Area to formally meet with his people, party leaders and supporters where he was officially issued the APC membership card. The Chairman of APC in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Hon. Matthew Ehigie led other party executives and leaders to receive Ogiemwonyi. According to our local parlance, a masquerade must dance at home before going to dance outside. That was demonstrated when Engr. Ogiemwonyi met APC members in his ward. He did not only receive the blessing of his people, he equally got their support, and he was certified fit and proper to represent them and the good people of Edo State.
In a game of politics, where you have many people aspiring for the same position, there is no doubt that the coming of Engr. Ogiemwonyi into APC has caused panic in the spine of some aspiring politicians. Many feel threatened and intimidated by the unbeatable credentials of Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, to the extent that they have began to cast aspersions on his character and personalities.
Such politicians are feeble minded and lack the maturity to play politics according to the principles of fairness, honesty, equity and justice. This time around, Edo people are wiser by the purposeful leadership and outstanding performance of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and they are not ready to compromise good leadership for mediocrity in 2016. It is going to be a case of who the cap fits, let him wear it if it is Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi that will be better for APC and Edo State, so shall it be. The Comrade Governor himself would not want less a person to take over from him, he would not want a person who will come and lower the standard of leadership and development after he has completed his 8 year tenure. He could not want anyone who will destroy the foundation he has laid for development to thrive in Edo State. Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi is the change that Edo people would seek for in 2016. He is the one who will be able to wear the ‘big shoes” of Oshiomhole in terms of actual development of Edo State. He is the one who will be able to continue with the campaign for “one man, one vote. He is the one that will not relegate the people to the background, but ensure that the .people continue to lead in line with democratic principles. Engr. Ogiemwonyi is a man with impeccable character, with a vision and mission for a better Edo State for all to enjoy.

No regrets dumping PDP –Gen Airhiavbere (retd)

BY NDUBUISI ORJI
When General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) dumped the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for the All Progressives Congress(APC) immediately after the last presidential election, not a few was shocked.Airhiavbere was the PDP governorship candidate in Edo State in 2012 and remained in the party since until April this year.
But why did he have to abandon a party that gave him its platform to contest , a gubernatorial election, almost immediately he retired from the army? In this interview, the retired soldier turned politician rationilises that decision. Airhiabvere, who is seeking to contest next year’s Edo State governorship election on the platform of his new party, APC also speaks on his chances of clinching the party’s gubernatorial ticket. He also gave a peep into his programmes for the state if elected governor.
Excerpts:
You left the PDP immediately after the presidential election, what exactly happened?
Let me start this way. In Nigeria, we have political alignment. And what influences my political alignment is not the political ideology, but the platform with which you can showcase what you have; the leadership structure you have for your people. Now, with my background as a soldier, an army general, it is easier for me to reach the center by advocating that my state should key in to the centre. From my experience in the PDP, our state was in opposition for a period of six years. After the court case victory to ACN. I know what we lost. Because everything meant for Edo State was given to just one person. At every level PDP deferred to him. so, it was a defective process.
So, it was easy to take a decision immediately Jonathan lost at the centre. President Muhammadu Buhari came on board; it was clear that there was going to be a change. And that change was going to be effective, because the then president-elect, as the time I moved was a former Military Head of State even though he was there for a period of a year and eight months. It was clear he was coming to do justice and to effectively change the political structure in our country. So, it did not take me time, and above all things have been in place in the event of Jonathan losing, I have a new commander-in-chief to whom I will be 100% loyal.
Many perceive you as not being grateful to PDP as a political party, because you joined the party not long after the party fielded you as a candidate in the last Edo governorship election, then at the onset of trouble you jumped ship, probably to advance your own personal interest of governing the state.
First and foremost, PDP should be grateful to me for coming to rescue them, because as at the time I joined the party there were two factions; the Uyigue faction and the Dan Orbih faction. I merged them, I brought them together. I used my influence. I used my political dexterity, my grassroot movement of that particular time. And as at the time I came out into the PDP, I already visited 18 LGAs of this state on my own NGO platform. And I have to rebrand it as the new PDP. Even during my first interview aired by AIT, I told them, I made it clear. They said I am coming in with two baggage’s; the first baggage is the PDP and the second baggage was coming from the military background. It was well cleared. And I told them that the PDP we were building, the platform we are building for the PDP is because of the PDP at the centre was to ensure, as at that time, that the PDP has a muscle. But as it were, I later discovered that it was a party of impunity. I was in the court, they left. And as a candidate of the party, PDP Edo State didn’t deem it fit that I should be the first to be a national delegate. They left me out. I stayed with them, because PDP was the party at the centre. And immediately they lost the centre, I didn’t have any one second to stay further. There were a lot of things that were wrong there which we should leave for the historians. And don’t forget that PDP is the most monopolistic party. The monopolistic graph of super profit is always difficult to break but I broke it and I was there. So, they can’t tell me that. They should look back at how I took the PDP through the 192 wards. So,many of their former candidates didn’t even know their wards. They didn’t know where they came from, because they were injected from the top. And me, through the grassroot, I made sure that we visited the 192 wards in our campaign and that is how PDP came on board in Edo State. They were gone. As at today, they are gone. (cuts in) They were gone as in?
PDP would not cough in Edo State.
But they did well in the National Assembly and presidential election… That was before I moved. After I moved what happened in the (state)House of Assembly? It was clear. It was crystal clear. That my movement caused that lost.
What are your chances of picking the governorship ticket of the APC for the next governorship election, viz a viz the fact that most of the governorship aspirants in the PDP are now in the APC?
Where were they, the candidates you are talking about when I faced the incumbent? You, see Edo State needs a vibrant leader. A focused one. A dogged and prepared leader, who can take Edo State to the next level. Governorship of Edo State is not for the weak. Edo State is a very highly intellectual state, rich in human, material and even natural resources. We need a leader who can think outside the box, and that is where I come in. I always tell people, I have a rich family heritage. I have heritage of a profession that I started at the age of 11, I rose to the rank of Major General. I have experience of having been a diplomat; having worked at the embassy. I am an Accountant. I hold MBA from the University of Ibadan and I led my corps for three years. So, these are things qualify me. Of all of them, I have been the only governorship candidate that took a party to second position in the last election. As you can see, I am the candidate to beat in the two parties(APC and PDP).

Do you think that as good as you are that standing on the APC platform you can make any headway in the election, owing to the fact that many people on the streets are not happy with the APC?
I am working very hard right now. That is why I am coming into the field to make sure I win the APC primary. It wasn’t easy for me to move my followers from the PDP, to move them to the APC even as I stand. If you look at the result, the two weeks we had between the presidential election and the House of Assembly election, the result was clear that we made an impact. Because as at that time the people in the field were already getting disgruntled about what was happening. But I can assure you , I am working hard. By the time we hit the ground running for the campaign and I pick the ticket . I can assure that once I get that ticket, people will collapse into the APC. That I can assure you. I know the two parties. I was fielded as their (PDP)candidate and I would like to refer you to the results of the (2012) governorship primaries. I came a distant first. the person, who came second was over 200 votes below me. So, Edo State, the last election between me and the governor exposed the political game. It took the stakes high. This was a major general, and a very popular, well established labour leader, who had always confronted government. So, it raised the stake in Edo politics. That is where we are. It is going to be a difficult terrain for so many people to play and to understand. Things can always change. That why it is politics. I don’t see the challenge. I dont see it as insurmountable task. I believe when the chips are down, only the tough will keep going. you watch what will happen in few months.
If you become the governor and by paraventure in 2019 , the APC loses the presidency, are we going to see you moving to another party as it seems you detest being in opposition.
It is not that I detest being in opposition. But I can tell you, I am not the man that saw tomorrow. I can tell you that President Buhari has come in as a messiah and I know Nigerians will give him a chance to bring the change that they have being yearning for. I can assure that his credentials will work for him in the second term. Let me remind you that PDP was in power for 16 years and every other person was in opposition. Don’t forget that General Buhari contested four times on different platform. So, he will consolidate on power. you have seen the action of the last few weeks he is already creating a new platform for everybody to fly. By May, he would have done a year and there will be a lot to talk about. You will see him from January next when the new ministers are going to start operating with a new budget. I think that will prepare him for 2019. So, I don’t see APC losing out. I also don’t see myself moving out of APC.

What would be offering the people if you emerge as governor?
Well, I will just give you a graph of an institution. You have a point of entering and you have a point of exit. my point of entry, my covenant with the people of Edo State, which I call my contract with them. Once I win, I have signed a contract with them to create jobs, using agriculture, our natural resources, strengthening industries, and creating an enabling environment and a very secured state for investors to come. I can’t do it alone. I have always told people that I don’t have a reason going to Lagos through Ore,when from Ekenwan Road you, can hit Gelegele port and collaborate with other states and do another road, which is a state road, you can toll it if you want to. there is no reason why I cannot collaborate with federal government to do federal state roads which are within my state. I am excited to be in the next election. it is an excitement for me and as I said earlier, I am the candidate to beat.

Credit: The Sun