From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The intensity of horse trading for delegates by All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants ahead of the June 18 party primary has slowed down in the last few days, as many of the contenders have shifted their effort and attention to collecting nomination and expression of interest forms from their party secretariat in Abuja.
As at Tuesday evening, six aspirants of the party were said to have obtained the forms which cost N5.5 million. The aspirants are Kenneth Imansuangbon, popularly known as ‘Rice man’, Dr. Pius Odubu, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, Blessing Agbomhere, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Mrs Tina Agbarha. Nomination form for women is free.
Though aspirants on the platform of the APC are said to be about 15, it is clear that not all of them may pick nomination form. Indeed, some of them are said to be negotiating with other stronger aspirants to collapse their structure for them.
The next few days before the primary will determine whether some of the aspirants who have made their governorship ambition public would back it up by obtaining the party’s nomination form.
If they fail to do that, their ambition remains a dream and the wheat would have been separated from the chaff. It must however be noted that mere collection of nomination form does not make an aspirant a serious contender, as it is clear from the reality on ground that some of the aspirants for reasons known to them have proceeded to obtain the form even when they are convinced that they cannot get 20 votes at the primary, let alone winning the nomination.
Despite recent restoration of peace in the Edo APC by the Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola-led Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, there are indications that many party members are unhappy and dissatisfied with the manner the powers that be are going about the nomination of a candidate for the party, an issue which ought to be handled as a family affair.
Several supporters of an aspirant not disposed to by the powers that be, are being allegedly relieved of their positions in government, a development many party members have roundly condemned as unhealthy and capable of affecting the cohesion of the APC ahead of the governorship election in the state.
However, the National leadership of the APC has repeatedly assured party faithful that there will be a level playing field for all aspirants and that the party primary would be transparent, free and fair. The weeks ahead would tell if this would be the case to the satisfaction of party members.
On the part of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the situation is not clear yet. What is however clear is that the party has fixed its primary to elect the gubernatorial candidate for June 15.
Nevertheless, apart from the statutory delegates, the other delegates to take part in the primary are yet to emerge, as the date for the party congress to elect the delegates is yet to be determined.
Besides, it is not certain when the governorship aspirants of the PDP would commence obtaining their nomination and expression of interest forms.
The situation is attributed to the crisis rocking the national leadership of the party and no one knows how this will affect the aspirants and the party’s fortune in the governorship election in the state.
So far, the Edo PDP, unlike the APC has had less issues arising from its aspirants. This is understandable because apart from being the party in power in the state, the APC has more aspirants, making the struggle for power more competitive and therefore likely to generate more issues when compared to the PDP with only four aspirants on its platform.
The coming days will certainly be interesting as developments unfold toward the primaries of the two main political parties in Edo State.
Obaseki picks form, receives backing of APC NASS caucus
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s alleged anointed candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday formally confirmed his interest to run for the position when the state National Assembly caucus stormed the All Progressives Congress (APC) headquarters to pick the expression of interest form for him.
The caucus led by the Senate Deputy Minority Whip representing Edo North, Francis Alimikhene, told journalists after purchasing the form that artisans, the caucus and other supporters pulled resources together to purchase it.
“We are here to purchase the form for the man we trust can deliver Edo to the next level and the man is Godwin Obaseki. We believe in him, we trust him and we believe he will be the man to carry on where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole stopped, ” he said.
Speaking further, Alimikhene said: “The man Obaseki is a guru in management of resources and human beings and that is why we, members of Edo in the National Assembly deem it fit to purchase this form along with those who are following him back home, members of House of Assembly, market women, that contributed this money used to purchase this ticket for him today”.
Similarly, Deputy Minority Whip, House of Representatives and former Edo State SSG, Parry Iriase, said: “Obaseki is an embodiment of ideas that would take Edo from the current level to the next level. Obaseki is the midwife of the blueprint which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole donated extreme courage to make Edo what it is today.”
“If you are to mention two states that can pay salaries, Edo State is one and if you know what Obaseki wants in terms of industrialisation, Obaseki is the one who has the blueprint to take Edo State away from Civil Service State to an industrialised one.
“For the past eight years, this young man has been the chairman of the economic team of Edo State, probono, free of charge. By his foray into investment banking and business, he is a contented man, but what we saw in Edo before Adams Oshiomhole came on board got him thinking; he came over to donate his time, his intellect, his riches to make Edo what it is today,” he noted.
Imansuangbon tells delegates to collect inducements, but vote wisely
By Ojieva Ehiosun
A contender for the APC ticket, Kenneth Imasuangbon, has told party delegates not to hesitate to collect inducements from aspirants since they have resorted to the use of money to buy votes from delegates.
He disclosed this why addressing a group of delegates in his home in Benin city, adding that the money they are sharing is not their own, but tax payers’ money.
He also debunked reports making the rounds in some quarters in the state that he is under pressure to drop his ambition, stressing that it is the handwork of his political enemies who are afraid of his unblemished track record in the state.
According to him: “As delegates and supporters of my good vision, I will not say that you should not collect the money other aspirants are coming to give to you; you need the money to solve a lot of domestic problems in your various homes, so if they bring millions to you, collect it because it is not their money, it is the tax payers’ money they are giving to you; so take it and eat it. Also if I give the little I have to share with you, take and also eat it because it is my labour; it is from my heart and not stolen wealth or blood money; it is money I collected from school fees which students pay for the quality education that my school is giving them. When you eat it, it will not harm you or hurt you.
“I also want to debunk the rumour in town now that I’m under pressure to drop my ambition; there is nothing like that; I have been in this game for years, and I have contributed to the overall development of this state in all ramifications of human life.”
We will go to the polls and prove our popularity. If I lose the primaries under a free and fair situation, to God be the Glory, but God forbid I lose under fraudulent condition. I tell you that the good people of Edo will react because I enjoy total support across the state because of my unblemished track record. This is a time when rumour thrives in politics; I do not believe in blackmailing my fellow opponent, campaigns should be issue-based and not personality based. Among all other aspirants in this race, I’m the man to beat because they know that I have been there for the people; I have touched lives in this state, in all angles. So, I have done well enough to deserve the ticket of our great party”.
Friends raised fund for my form –Ogiemwonyi
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
An All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant, Chris Ogiemwonyi, has revealed that he depended on friends and well-wishers to raise the money to pick his expression of interest forms. Ogiemwonyi said he has the maturity, credibility and courage to do better than other aspirants jostling for the governorship seat of the state.
Speaking after picking his form at the APC headquarters in Abuja recently, Ogiemwonyi disclosed that his plan for the state if elected is hinged on a nine-point agenda. He said his administration would build on the foundation laid by Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the state.
“I am asking my people of Edo State to choose the best and I think that I am the best and most attractive person to be the governor. I am one of those unsung heroes in the state. Edo needs people like me, who have the capacity. I must agree that the governor has laid a good foundation, but today, you need somebody who can build on that foundation laid.
“I have one thing others don’t have and that is the courage to do what is right, the mental capacity, pedigree, track record and experience. I have the connections outside the state like US, UK and Japan to attract foreign investors. One thing ravaging Edo State is rural urban migration by the youths leaving the villages in droves.
“I have a programme that will take the youths back to the villages. One of the major factors propelling me to be governor is the issue of job creation. There are so many unemployed graduates. I will stop favouritism in job employment in the state,” he said.
Asked how he intends to fund his campaign competing with money bags in the state, he said: “Nobody talks about money because money in politics outside Nigeria does not exist. But because we have made it a tradition, it has become a cancer.
“If you check the people with me, 70 per cent of them are majorly from Edo North and that is why I am unique. They are the people that raised this N5.5 million for me to join this race.”
“They are all professionals, majorly lawyers. What we want to do now is like the issue of David and Goliath. The money bags are the Goliath while we are the David. We will win,” he insisted.