Erstwhile Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart and currently chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kenneth Imansuagbon, speaks on 2016 governorship election in Edo and why Governor Adams Oshiomhole must ensure free and fair primary poll in the party. Special Correspondent, TITUS OISE, presents the excerpts.
Leaving PDP for APC
Recall very clearly that I was a founding member of the APC in Edo State, in the sense that we were in ACD from there it transmuted to Action Congress (AC) which later became Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) then APC. In 2007, I contested the AC’s governorship ticket, but stepped down for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole then. After that, I left for the PDP, which, as of then, was dead in the state. I was the one that resurrected the party. The injustice that characterised the PDP governorship primaries, which I took part in in 2012, was very glaring to the world.
I remained in the party, but the cabal that dominated the party then were not comfortable with my presence. You know the story of how Oshiomhole humiliated the party’s standard-bearer during the governorship election. Never in the history of the country had a party been so disgraced in an election, even up to the ward level. That was basically the way the people had to speak against the injustice that characterised the PDP’s governorship primaries.
I helped create and finance the party. Don’t forget that the first N2 million that was used to pay for the then AC’s now APC’s office space situated at Airport Road, Benin City, was got from me through a cheque. I gave the cheque to the then party chairman, Tony Omoaghe. There were lots of sacrifices we made. I was deploying every of my arsenal to campaign and make the party popular. But the party leaders felt that Oshiomhole was more popular than me, so they gave him the party’s ticket. Though I disagreed with their assessment, they had their way. Comrade Oshiomhole, who was my brother-in-law then, had my backing. The reason I actually supported Muhammadu Buhari in the last presidential poll and eventually returned to the progressives fold is because I cannot build a house and abandon it. It is spiritually and tactically wrong. I have always been part of the struggle. I am glad to be back home. I am back to base. I am a progressive. The values of the APC are in tandem with my values. What are my values? Helping the poor; providing food for them, providing good education for them and doing things for the middle class. I am a part of them. Those are my values and those make up the APC’s manifesto. Buhari represents that. He cares for the poor; loves the poor. All his life, he has struggled for the poor etc. Oshiomhole also loves the poor. Oshiomhole and I have a lot of things in common. His love for the poor is known. He has demonstrated that in governance with his good performance. Whether you hate him or love him, what Oshiomhole’s critics will always say about him is that he has performed. I have a lot of respect for him. My prayer for him is that God almighty should touch his heart to allow for a free and fair governorship primary next year, so that he can have a worthy successor. And he can only have a good successor if he allows the people and God to determine who succeeds him. Once that is done, then his legacies would be sustained.
Returning to APC after initial resistance
I needed to show to the world that I was a party man. I needed to show my character to the world that though I lost the primaries in an unjust circumstance, I needed to stay. After the then President Goodluck Jonathan appealed to me that I should be a party man, I needed to do that. I did that and I am glad that I did. But when I saw that the dividend of democracy was not given to Nigerian people by the PDP administration, I felt that it was time for me to retrace my steps from the political group called the PDP.
In any society where there is no justice, they’ll end in catastrophe just like the PDP has ended.
When votes count, the people win. And I assure you that what the Buhari administration will do is for the people to win. The Buhari administration has laid a foundation for the victory of the people. There are no more godfathers anywhere. What we have now is that the people are the godfathers. It is now the people’s power. After God, it is the people. No matter what you do, you cannot live forever, neither can you deceive people forever. It is only temporary.
Sabotaging PDP in March/April polls
We did not sabotage them, we only punished them for the injustice that they have been perpetrating. When you do injustice, its consequence is punishment. I’ll tell you the truth. In 2016, the party which will win this state will be the party that will be fair in its primaries and allow the will of the people to prevail. Yes, I am in APC now. The party must do a free and fair primary in 2016. Though I am no more in PDP, I’ll advise them to also be fair enough in their primary election. It is our country that is in context, not an individual. Where is the cabal now? Where are those who said that they were God yesterday? Where are they? They should bury their heads in shame. My advice to Oshiomhole is that he must allow the will of the people to prevail, for him to have his name intact and have a fine exit. That is the truth. He must allow a free and fair primary.
When you compromise the will of the people, you see the anger of God and that of the people. That was what PDP did.
Clamour by Edo South and threat to governorship ambition
That is the injustice that I am talking about. Those who are talking about tribe are weak candidates. If you see any aspirant talking about tribe, he is weak; the only credential they have is tribe. Why will you in the 21st century be talking about tribe? That is a big shame. Does hunger know tribe? Does unemployment know tribe? I defeated General Charles Airhiavbere in Edo South, where he hails from, in the 2012 PDP primaries. The people of Edo are not tribal. It is the godfathers, when they want to do their mischief, that they bring their houseboys and girls to become lords over the good people.
That, I can assure you, will stop in 2016. The people are ready for them this time around. Buhari’s victory is Nigerian people’s victory. The revolution has started.
