Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in 2012 Edo governorship election, General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd.), who later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), speaks with Special Correspondent, TITUS OISE, on his reasons for leaving his former party and his chances of picking APC ticket in 2016 governorship election in the state and emerging victorious at the poll.
Exit from PDP immediately after the presidential election
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 centre by advocating that my state aligns with the centre. From my experience in the PDP, our state was in opposition for a period of six years. I know what we lost because everything meant for Edo State was given to just one person. At every level, PDP deferred to him. It was a defective process.
So, it was easy to take a decision. Immediately former President Goodluck Jonathan lost at the centre and Muhammadu Buhari came on board, it was clear that there was going to be a change. And that change was going to be effective. 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. Above all, things had been in place in the event of Jonathan losing.
Dumping PDP after going for governorship on its ticket
First and foremost, PDP should be grateful to me for coming to rescue it, because as at the time I joined the party, there were two factions: the Sunny Uyigwe faction and the Dan Orbih faction. I merged them. I used my influence, my political dexterity, my grassroots movement of that particular time to bring them together. As at the time I came out into the PDP, I had already visited 18 local government areas of the state on my own non-governmental organisation (NGO) platform. I had to rebrand it as the new PDP.
Even during my first interview, the reporters said I was coming in with two baggage; the first baggage is the PDP and the second baggage was coming from the military background. I told them that the PDP we were building at the centre was to ensure that it had a muscle. But as it were, I later discovered that it was a party of impunity.
After the election, I was in the court. They left. Even 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 (in the country). 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. 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. But for me, through the grassroots, I made sure that we visited the 192 wards in our campaign. That was how PDP came on board in Edo State. They were gone. As at today, they are gone. PDP would not cough in Edo State.
PDP’s good outing in the National Assembly and presidential elections.
That was before I moved. After I moved, what happened in the House of Assembly election? It was clear. It was crystal clear that my movement caused that loss.
Chances of picking APC’s governorship ticket amid other former PDP governorship aspirants currently in APC
Where were 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 it to the next level. Governorship of Edo is not for the weak. Edo is a very highly sophisticated 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 and 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. These are things that qualify me. As you can see, I am the candidate to beat in the two parties (APC and PDP).
Making it on APC platform amid growing disenchantment against the party
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 the APC. 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. 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 you that people (that matter) will collapse into the APC. That, I can assure you.
I know the two parties. I was fielded as 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 behind mine. The last election in Edo between the governor and I exposed the political game. It took the stakes higher.
You had 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’s why it is politics. I don’t see the challenge. I don’t see it as unsurmountable task. I believe that when the chips are down, only the tough will keep going. You watch what will happen in a few months.
Defecting to PDP if APC loses presidential election in 2019
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 had come in as a messiah and I know Nigerians would give him a chance to bring the change that they had been yearning for. I can assure you 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 Buhari contested four times on different platforms. So, he will consolidate on power. You have seen his actions in the last few weeks in creating a new platform for everybody to fly. By May next year, he would have done a year and there will be a lot to talk about. You will see him from January when the new ministers are going to start operating with a new budget. That, I think, will prepare him for 2019. So, I don’t see APC losing out. I also don’t see myself moving out of APC.
Agenda for Edo electorate
Well, I will just give you a graph of an institution. You have a point of entry and you have a point of exit. My point of entry is my covenant with the people of Edo, 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. There is no reason I cannot collaborate with the Federal Government to do federal roads which are within my state.
I am excited to be in the next election. It is an excitement for me. As I said earlier, I am the candidate to beat.
