By Gabriel Enogholase

BARRISTER CALSEY Omon-Irabor is a Warri based human rights activist and legal practitioner. In an interview shortly after declaring his intention to contest next year’s governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he unfolded his plans. Excerpts:

What is the inspiration behind your campaign?

I am aspiring to lead Edo State not because of self aggrandizement or for cheap popularity and if it is popularity. I am a council member of the World Bar, I belong to the Commonwealth Law Association and I am currently the National Chairman of the National Human Rights Defenders. So, I am not looking for fame now. It pains me every day that my people are suffering in the midst of plenty and we are looking for leadership.

BARRISTER CALSEY Omon-Irabor

Our former governor, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia said that he is looking for a successor to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, so I want him to discover me now.

I want him to know that we must throw away all our primordial sentiments and move out. Don’t always say oh he is my brother, he is from my town, he is from my tribe but we should look for   the real man, the real candidate who can deliver and I know that I have the antecedence and I have been in leadership; I know what it   takes to lead the people of the state. I am going to rely on Internally Generated Revenue to run the state and I will run the state in such a way that nobody will be unemployed.

Today our youths are in the streets and they have become like Roman soldiers with their own swords because nobody has engaged them. They must be constructively engaged.

They must be neatly dressed and happy on the jobs that they have been engaged. When you give a man a job and you under employed him and he is not happy, then you have not employed anybody.

So, I am going to do all I can within the limit of the law to ensure that Edo state has a good leadership. Remember, I am only talking of being a governor; I am going to have a team; somebody will be the Deputy, Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service, Commissioners, etc and with that team that would be assembled, we are going to deliver Edo State.

Given the seeming determination of Bini stakeholders to secure the governorship, how do you intend to realise your plans?

Let’s  put it in this way; I do not think that there is a general statement or sweeping statement noting that the Binis have sat down or addressed a press conference that they are going to produce the next governor of the state. I think it is just speculations. The fact you must know is that we are all together.

The Oba of Benin is the father of all Edo people and I give recourse to him. Every Edo person comes from Benin and it is a matter of time, miles and separation and overtime, people begin to change their dialect.

So, Edo state is a homogenous state. If the Binis are saying that it is their turn to produce the next governor, it is imperative that people should fight for their rights. Chief John Odigie- Oyegun is from Benin and he ruled for two years; Chief Lucky Igbinedion also from Benin ruled for eight years.

And our brother Prof Oserheimen Osunbor came in and within one year it was taken from him. And now Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North and he is expected to spend eight years. But within the period of his administration so far, the Esan people have been marginalized.

The governor, deputy, Speaker of the Edo State   House of Assembly, Chief Judge, SSG etc all are from Edo South and Edo North Senatorial zones and none from Esan land. And now that we have come home to roost, somebody must rise to take up the challenge and you must stick out your neck to take a place. In the wilderness that is hot, you either use your head to break the coconut and partake in it or you go forever.