By Clifford Ndujihe

ONE of the leading governorship aspirants in Edo State, Barr Kenneth Imansuagbon, does not see the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stopping his All Progressives Congress, APC, from retaining the  state when Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure ends in November. However, to make victory certain, he has urged leaders of the APC to ensure free and fair primaries so that the best candidate will emerge as its standard bearer.

Those aspiring for the APC ticket include the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu; former governor of the state, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor; Oshiomhole’s Works Commissioner and political son, Osarodion Ogie;  former Minister of State, Works, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and General Charles Airhiavbere, who was the PDP candidate in 2012. Insisting that he is the best among the long list of aspirants fighting for the APC ticket, Imansuagbon, who is into agriculture and education and fondly addressed as the Rice man by supporters, said he would ensure agricultural and educational revolution in Edo, if elected.

The aspirant, who owns the Pace Setter Group of schools in Abuja, shared his thoughts with journalists in Lagos, last Saturday. Assisted by his Political Adviser, Dr Isaiah Osifo, who was chief of staff to Professor  Osesrhiemen Osunbor before the latter’s governorship election was annulled in 2008, Imansuagbon, also backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war and promised to ensure transparency and accountability, if elected.

Why APC primaries must be free and fair

On fears that Governor Adams Oshiomhole and National Chairman of the APC, who are also from Edo State may not support him and that the primaries may not be fair, he said: ‘’Quiet honestly, I have my fears. That is the Nigerian factor. But I also have my hope and faith in the Buhari factor. The Buhari factor will help to checkmate the Nigerian factor. I don’t think Buhari will watch and see wrong primaries done in Edo State. Never! At 73, one time head of state brought back to power by his people after many years; he suffered what I am suffering now.

Thrice he was robbed but by twist of fate and strong will of the Nigerian people he came back to power. I think Buhari will allow for free and fair primaries. ‘’The APC national chairman is a man I have tremendous respect for and he has promised us that there is no zoning, that the party will organize a credible, free and fair primaries. The governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has resolved for us to have free and fair primaries. He is a man of integrity and it is clear that the strength of the party can only be seen in a free and fair primaries. APC will be better strengthened in Edo State and the Nigerian democracy and ordinary people in Edo will benefit.

If we allow the tyranny of the few we will be going back to those dark ages and ugly past. It is only through credible, free and fair primaries that Governor Oshiomhole will have a good and capable successor. My prayer for the party chairman, governor and the party is form them to have the courage to organize a free and fair primaries. We will not negotiate a credible, free and fair primaries in Edo State. We cannot have anything less than a free and fair primaries. It will help us to defeat a formidable opposition like the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

I am not aspiring on the basis of zoning, Edo needs the best

Although, the power sharing arrangement in Edo favours his aspiration since he is from Edo Central that has not tasted power in the last 16 years, Imansuagbon said he wants to emerge as the best candidate for the job. ‘’The apostles of zoning are weak politicians. Let us emphasize credentials and potentials. Even if zoning is relevant and in our constitution, for the sake of equity, fairness and justice, it favours me. Ordinarily, the governorship should come to Edo Central where I come from. Chief Lucky Igbinedion from Edo South did eight years and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North will be completing his eight years in November.

So, the question is where is Edo Central? But I believe in merit. The question is who is the best man for the Edo governorship job? Who is the most qualified person, who is that candidate that has been with the people giving scholarships, ipads to students? Who is the candidate that can deliver dividends of democracy, build roads, schools, create jobs? With all humility, and respect for other aspirants, I am the best man for the job.’’

Why I want to serve

Asked why he is running for the governorship, he said: ‘’I want to serve because I bring hope to the ordinary Edo person. The governor has done well and given his best but we can do better by creating jobs. The younger generation needs to be taken care of. Young school leavers leave school and there are no jobs. ‘’When you create jobs, you address the issue of insecurity because when people are engaged you cannot see them loafing on the streets. The insecurity situation in our state today is as a result of unemployment. When I become governor this year, by God’s grace, attention will be on how to create jobs, to take the bad boys and girls off the streets.

Our schools will take my focus. I am from the private sector. In Abuja, through the Pace Setter group of schools, we have been able, through the help of my wife and others, revolutionized the school system in Abuja. I will bring my experience in Abuja to bear in Edo State when I become governor. ‘’The governor has done his best, I will improve on what he has done. Is it possible to have free education from primary to university in Edo? Yes, it is possible. If I am governor this year, I will give free education from primary to university levels.

‘’You will ask, where will I get the money? I will get the money from blocking leakages. When you block leakages, you push the savings into the benefit of the people. We will ensure that internally generated revenues and taxes don’t go into the pockets of individuals. The problem in our country is corruption. Corruption has been our bane. It is sad that our leaders have failed the country. That is why I call on all on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to fight corruption. It is a monster we must fight and defeat. When I see people saying Buhari is too hard on corruption, I laugh. If I am governor in Edo, I assure you in the name of God and I make this solemn promise, there will not be corruption in my time.’’

I will diversify Edo economy

On how he will ensure discipline and get the those in public service to key into his programme, he said: ‘’My experience in the private sector will be of immense benefit to Edo State and her people when I am governor. The indiscipline of the old past will be consigned to the dustbin because as governor, there will be accountability, things will be done the way it ought to be done, I will live by example. I will make sure there is fiscal discipline. ‘’We will address the economy of the state. And the way to address it is to diversify our economy. The way to address it is to diversify our economy. We are tired of dependence on mono-product where we wait until Abuja gives us cheque before we can run the state.

‘’ My experience in the private sector will help the position of the state, for example, agriculture. What I will do in my first 100 days in office is we will all go back to the farm. Edo is blessed, you don’t need  fertiliser to plant anything in Edo State. I will turn Edo  State into farm plantation where every young school leaver instead of being on the streets doing nothing, will go to the farm.

I will open up Edo, and we will have farm plantation in each senatorial district. That takes me to rice plantation. I have been sharing rice in the past 10 years using my hard earned resources to buy rice and share in all the nooks and crannies of Edo State. When I am governor, we will have three rice plantations where we will have enough to eat, enough to sell and enough to export. Edo will export rice when I am governor.

‘’We will engage workers to produce rice. The Vietnamese example is there for us to take lessons from. We must stop depending on oil allocation from Abuja. What about the tomato and juice industry? We can have tomato plantations and cottage factories where we turn the tomatoes to paste. We can guava juice. Agriculture is a big point for us to be able to create jobs in my first 100 days.

To be able to do that, we need security. We must have a secured state. When I become governor, I will give amnesty to all criminals in the state with a proviso. I will say look: No more crime. You have committed crimes in the past, we will forgive you. As soon as I am sworn-in we will make sure that if you commit crime you will face the consequences of your crime. We will have a crime free state so that we can attract investors to invest in Edo State. Edo will be a destination point for investors. We will make sure that taxes are low. We will cut taxes to  attract investors to Edo. My contact with corporate America will be a blessing to Edo.’’