BY OSAS IDEMUDIA
Political leadership is clearly the problem of Nigeria/ Edo State.
I’m desperate for effective political leadership for my country and for my State.By the grace of God, providing health, energy and the resources,I will continue to fight for good political leadership in my State and in my country.I was privileged to school in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom, and I know that the main factor that is responsible for development in the developed world and the backward trend in Nigeria/ Edo State is leadership.The British man or woman is not more intelligent than an Edo man or woman.If you make efforts to convince me that Edo man and woman cannot refine petrol,you are only wasting your time because I will not believe you.If Iam elected as governor of Edo State,the Dons in UNIBEN, AAU and Auchi Polytechnic will refine petrol in my 100 days in office.We cannot continue with a litre of petrol for almost 900 Naira.
Not even one (1) out of the 109 Senators in Nigeria rejected the 160 million Naira jeep for the interest of their Constituency.Not even one(1) out of the 360 House of Rep members rejected the 160 million Naira jeep for the sake of the suffering people in their Constituency.
The APC gubernatorial candidate is a Senator and his running mate is a member of the House of representatives.They collected the over priced jeep at the expense of Edo people.In a truly democratic nations,no political party will present such characters as candidates of the party.In any case , they were not elected by the delegates of the APC ,but were nominated by godfathers that are determined to loot the resources of Edo State.They should be rejected by Edo State voters.
In 1999 , Edo State ministry of local government and Chieftaincy affairs arranged for a higher purchase of 18 brand new peogeot 504 Best Line official cars for the newly sworn – in local government Chairmen in Edo State.I was the ONLY Chairman out the 18 local government Chairmen in the 1999-2002 set that rejected the official car.You can verify from my colleagues,or any official of the ministry of local government and Chieftaincy affairs in 1999.I politely rejected the new car for reasons that it was not the priority of the people of Uhunmwode Local Government Area that elected me into office and I didn’t want to add my official car to the financial burden of the local government.
My contest for the governorship of Edo State is based on my confidence that I have verifiable patriotic past records and previous achievements in public office that I am proud of and ready to improve upon.
I have not said that APGA is the only good political party in Nigeria, but I have evidence to show to the good people of Edo State that APGA has records of producing good characters and performing governors.Peter Obi was governor of Anambra State for two terms on the platform of APGA.Nigerians appreciated his performance as governor of Anambra State and gave him the support for good governance in Nigeria.
The present governor of Anambra State,Prof Chukwuma Soludo was elected on the platform of APGA.While Edo State is sinking with a huge debt burden,Prof Soludo in his two years plus as governor of Anambra State has not borrowed a kobo.
I share in similar background of University of Nigeria, Nsukka Alumni with governor Peter Obi and Prof Soludo.Our political ideology is similar and I will work to surpass the records of the APGA governors in Anambra State.
I’m the first elected Chairman of Uhunmwode Local Government Area to reside in Ehor, the headquarters of Uhunmwode Local Government.The Council quarters that I built in Ehor is the largest Council quarters to be found in any part of Edo State .Anybody can go to Ehor to verify.
Let no governorship candidate hide under the platform of any political party,or boast with the factors of incumbency.Edo State voters should demand all the candidates to come forward with their history and past achievements that impacted on the lives of their communities or the State.
Peter Obi left PDP for LP because of the high nomination fees for presidential primaries.It is not an offense for me to move to APGA if I believe that the nomination fees of my former political party is too high for the common man and that my former political party has been hijacked by one man for the purpose of advising his personal interest.
Edo voters should ignore the migration of PDP to APC, and APC to PDP, and elect a candidate, not a political party platform that will work for the people of Edo State.
It is obvious that the godfathers are determined to steal the resources of Edo State and they should be disappointed by rejecting their nominated candidates.
Dr Isaiah Osifo,
APGA Governorship Candidate.
