The chant of ‘Rice man’, ‘Rice Man’ reverberated across the five local councils in Edo Central senatorial district of Edo State, when the former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and educationist, Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon, formally dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC, last weekend at Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of the state.

By Simon Ebegbulem

Though Imasuagbon, who is popularly known as ‘Rice Man’ due to his annual rice sharing ritual to the less privilege in the state, left the PDP early this year and worked for the APC during the last general elections, he was yet to formalize his defection into the APC.

The event which was like a carnival commenced at his Ewohimi ward, where he was welcomed into the party by the leader of the APC in the area, Mr Victor Eboigbe and the APC chairman in the Local Government Area, Barr. Chris Aghughu.

Imasuagbon and his beautiful wife were handed the APC card and broom by Eboigbe, who regretted that the Rice Man left the party which he contributed in building for the PDP. After admitting Imasuagbon in his ward, the party leaders proceeded to Ubiaja, the Local Government secretariat of the party, where Imasuagbon was received by 18 House of Assembly members led by the Speaker, Victor Edoror.

Speaking at the well-attended occasion, Eboigbe said: “I was surprised that Imasuagbon left the house he built for others to inhabit. But we thank God that he is back to the house he built. He joined even before the elections and he worked for the party. So we call on elders of Ewohimi to pray for him so that he will not lose track again. He is a great son of Esanland and it is our belief that with his coming into the party, he will add value and with his energy, we will all come together to extinguish the presence of PDP in Esan Land”.

Extinguishing PDP’s presence

•Kenneth Imasuagbon formally dumped the PDP for the APC, at Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area of the state, recently.

On his part, the Edo Speaker described Imasuagbon as a dogged fighter, asserting that “there is no doubt that with you now in APC, PDP is dead in Esan land and Edo state. I want to beg the leaders of APC in Esan land to work with Imasuagbon because there are lots of people waiting to see celebration of this kind for them to join the party because PDP is not only in pieces, it is dead and we are ready to bury it. There was a time I was in darkness and that was when I was in the PDP.”

Edoror added that “inside that darkness I was kidnapped but thank God for his mercies today. It is very obvious that the APC government led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole has wiped our tears away. Today in Esan land we have water, electricity and good health care and these are things that the PDP cabal in Esan land said were not possible but yet they were enjoying those things in their homes.”

He continued: “That is why we are celebrating today with the coming of Imasuagbon into the fold of the APC. It means the PDP is dead completely and they will never resurrect in Esan land and Edo state in general. Let us all continue to support the administration that is giving hope to our people every day so that Esan land will continue to enjoy development as we have been witnessing since the coming of Oshiomhole”.

Speaking at the occasion, Imasuagbon expressed gratitude to elders and people of Ewohimi for the warm reception they gave him and appealed to the people of Esan to continue to support the administration of Governor Oshiomhole.

His words: “I joined APC since January this year but we have not had the opportunity to celebrate it due to the elections. But thank God we are celebrating today. I wish to reassure the people of my ward, local government area and Edo State in general that your sacrifices would not be in vain. I   promise to continue to sacrifice my time, energy and   resources as I have done over the years in adding value to the lives of Edo people. I am indeed proud of our Edo ancestry and the laudable works being done by our governor. Oshiomhole is our leader and mentor and we will continue to celebrate him for all he is doing for our people. My advice to Edo people is that we should remain steadfast in our belief in the creation of an egalitarian Edo State and that by so doing we will achieve the Edo State of our dream by the grace of God and good governance”.

Apparently dispelling the insinuation that people like him may destroy the APC due to their governorship ambition, Imasuagbon asserted that “you cannot destroy the house you built.   APC is my original home I am back. I am a progressive and a founding member of APC. Let me tell you,  PDP is dead and it is dead forever in Esanland and Edo state.”

On his mission to the party, he said: “I have come to build with you, I have not come to destroy this party. By the grace of God, we will support Governor Oshiomhole and President Muhammadu Buhari.”