Kassim Afegbua was a Special Adviser on Media and later, Commissioner for Information to the former Edo State Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. In this interview, Afegbua says he has the energy, intellect, grit and courage to govern Edo State in 2024. Excerpts:
Edo 2024 is by the corner, and you have indicated interest to run. What’s your motivation?
First and foremost, I am in love with utility-driven leadership that can deliver results and respond to the greater needs of our people, by thinking outside the box, to generate ideas that would confront existential challenges of development, growth and unemployment.
Secondly, I am moved by a strong passion to reunite the Edo collectives and build them into a homogeneous entity with shared vision and commitment to deepen the feeling of oneness and neighbourliness that we are known for.
The present administration in Edo State has disconnected and fragmented us by needless squabbles and political turmoil that are at best, time wasting.
We need to re-ignite the Edo spirit, the can-do spirit which will naturally propel us to pick up the gauntlet and chart a new roadmap for the overall good of our people.
Every day we wake up, we are confronted with one negative news or the other. Edo is in the news for the wrong reasons. When they had finished demolishing the mental wellness of the people, they descended on the Benin Kingdom, and tried to ridicule the monarchy by attempting a balkanisation of an institution that is so dear to our hearts.
They tried to impose their whims and caprices on a kingdom headed by a suave, cosmopolitan and highly exposed Oba who has served this country meritoriously before ascending the throne of his forefathers.
So, for me there is so much work to be done, and I am convinced that I have the energy, intellect, grit and courage to engage the process and deliver service to our people in the area of health, education, infrastructural development, and general wellbeing of the people.
“The idea of trying to blackmail other zones to cede the position to them does not arise. APC is still work in progress in Edo Central, but with time it will be fully entrenched”
People from Edo Central Senatorial District are asking for the position for the sake of equity and fairness. Do you have a different thought?
Well, I am covered under the law to seek any public office insofar I am qualified for the position sought. Again, Edo State does not do zoning of positions before now, except you want us to discard a practice we are used to.
When Comrade Oshiomhole came on board in 2007, he rode on the crest of his national popularity to seek public office, using a new party, ACN to pursue his ambition. He won the election but was manipulated out until he got his mandate back through the law courts.
At that time, the Minister representing Edo was from Edo Central Senatorial District, yet they still produced the Governor in Senator Osariemhen Osunbor, who served for 17 months before the tribunal showed him the exit door.
Edo Central has produced three ministers in the last 24 years, and also a governor that lasted 17 months in office. Aside from that, Professor Ambrose Alli who served in the Old Bendel State as governor was also from Ekpoma, in Edo Central.
The current Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (Fidet Okhiria) is from Edo Central. So, in terms of representation, Edo Central has had a fair share of political recognition across the state and the Nigerian nation.
The idea of trying to blackmail other zones to cede the position to them does not arise. APC is still work in progress in Edo Central, but with time it will be fully entrenched.
Is that why Edo South is also seeking the same position, even though Governor Obaseki, a Benin man, would be finishing his eight years in office next year?
Well, there are a lot of people from Edo South who feel that the reign of Governor Obaseki has not attracted the kind of growth they wanted in the state.
They also raised the point that Governor Obaseki has not represented the zone well. It has been one of colossal failures in terms of governance. So, another Edo South governorship would mean to correct certain misgivings espoused by Governor Obaseki.
But that argument is being punctured because, give or take, Obaseki remains an Edo South person. So, having a governor from Edo South in such quick succession will not augur well for the stability I am trying to push.
At this time, the floor is open for the two other Senatorial districts and we will try and see how to navigate the process.
I have fought political battles for people and I feel it is “emilokan” to be so appreciated by all those who are seeking the position presently.
A lot of people don’t stick out their neck to fight based on principles, but they rather wait to profit from the fight, when the dust of political contestation has simmered. In my own case, I don’t hide my sentiments when confronted with situations.
You will always know where I belong on any issue and that is what separates me from others.
How do you intend to sell your aspiration on account of the present realities and agitations by Edo Central?
You see, I am very conversant with the dynamics of Edo politics and the persons and factors that make the process thick. I have been in active politics for more than 20 years and have gained tremendous experience from the process. I don’t quarrel with Edo Central aspirants at all. They are all my friends but my point is that they have never been denied the opportunity to contest in previous elections. During the days of Chief Tony Anenih, may God bless his soul, Edo Central dominated the political fray. They had three ministers and other prime positions. They also had Professor Osunbor. Edo North, where I belong, was left like an orphan, nothing substantial was given to us. Comrade Oshiomhole came into the fray on account of his personal political network having gained national prominence by his labour union activities.
He contested and defeated the PDP candidate, Professor Osunbor, who later spent 17 months in the saddle before the Court of Appeal invalidated him. The rest as they say is history.
The point must be made that nobody stops any aspirants from the Senatorial districts from contesting primaries from time immemorial, so why do you suddenly want to introduce new dimensions into the political realities in Edo that have dictated our participation for long? So, nobody is disadvantaged. Trying to blackmail the system does not augur well for anybody. Let us all participate and robustly engage ourselves. What is crucial is being able to deliver governance to the people.
There are indications that the PDP may field a candidate from the Central Senatorial District. How do you react to that?
I am not a member of the PDP anymore; hence I won’t be able to know what they are thinking of. What is visible in the PDP is the fact that there are three factions presently, depending on who is pushing your narrative.
There is the Legacy PDP coalition, there is the Government Faction and there is the Deputy Governor faction. All three are going to try to exert their influence to see what side of the umbrella falls into their hands.
They have more in their hands to chew on. And bringing in “strangers” to preside over the state won’t be the best idea for either of the factions.
Do you have any message for the people of the state?
My message is very simple. Let us unite Edo once again. During the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, there was unity in the state. We venerated the royalty across board and placed the Benin monarchy on the right pedestal for the right reasons to sustain our traditional ingenuity.
Our Oba of Benin is an attraction to all of us who cherish our common history. Our historical heritage is situated in the undiluted history of the Benin Kingdom.
We need to re-enact those years of homogeneous leadership and followership. We need to build coalitions across the board to celebrate who we are. The present deliberate effort to undermine the monarchy will be resisted and our highly revered monarchy must be protected and his status restored.
All other traditional rulers in the state must also be given their pride of place in the affairs of the state. We should as a matter of priority integrate our traditional rulers into the governance process to accord them their rightful place in the affairs of the state.
Their roles must be secured to help address several issues ranging from security to cultural heritage. I am praying to God to guide me right and also wishing all APC leaders to consider me as a candidate for all in order to create the right nexus for leadership and governance.
I am hopeful that I will secure the ticket of the party by the special grace of God to give me an opportunity to re-enact those good old days when the people could feel the presence of governance in their locality. Edo deserves solid leadership.
