RIGHT OF REPLY:

I HAVE no doubt that the people of Edo state, will reward the philanthropy of their noble son, Barrister Ken Imansuangbon with victory in his contest for the governor of Edo state in   this year.

Edo people are enlightened, rational and their political behaviour has a clear index of a people that are appreciative of good gesture.This is validated by  the outcome of previous elections in Edo state where the electorate voted for verifiable positive antecedents,as against sentiments,bogus claims and other parochial considerations.The expected  victory of Ken Imansuangbon in Edo state APC governorship primaries and the general election in 2016 is anchored on this background.

It is only an evil mind that will grudge generosity. These evil minds that are unhappy with the kindness of man to humanity are found in all soce ities. Blessedly for the human race, God, was perfect in ensuring that these evil minds are always in insignificant minority in all societies.

In the Vanguard of Wednesday, 24th February, 2016, page 18, an article,titled:Edo Politics and the Perennial pretenders,  Nosakhare Osahon,the author of the article expressed his grudge for the distribution of rice by Ken Imansuangbon to the people of Edo state.

The philosophy of government is ultimately connected to generous and compassionate  minds. At a time in human evolvement,there was no government.It was a life of everyone to his or her self without a consideration for the feelings or survival of the other person.It was the survival of the fittest.The famous Thomas Hobbes ‘State of Nature’ was a philisophy that explains the evil of insolated individual self interest.The spirit to give or to extend a helping hands to those in need is the beginning of civilisation and a responsible government.

Osahon failed to mention to mention the better or preferred person for Edo governorship in 2016. It is  unfortunate and unpatriotic to devote an article to begrudge the kindness of Ken  Imansuangbon without suggesting an alternative personality that is preferred. If  Osahon had a better choice,the name would have been mentioned without hestiation.

The sermon of my church Bishop will continue to be my reference point and a reply to all envious persons of good gesture.In his sermon,he challenged all other aspirants to show evidence of their past kindness to their neighbours.He added,”if you say Ken Imansuangbon has be throwing 1 kg of rice to the people,show us where you threw 1 cup of rice to the beggars on the street”. According to the Bishop,those who will use their personal resources to assist the needy in the society are doing the work of God. It is only the evil mind that will castigate the generous minds.The children of God always pray for generous minds.

The annual rice sharing by Imansuangbon has no direct link with his gunernatorial ambition. He has repeatedly told the story behind his rice sharing. It is an appreciation of a woman who gave his widow mother and his siblings rice to eat during a christmas celebration many years ago when his family was not in a financial position to afford a cup of rice. He made a vow to God that if he is blessed in future, he would give rice to Edo people. Imansuangbon is a man who keeps to his vows and promises.  Edo people have been appreciative and they have been praying for him.It is obvious that he will keep to his promise to serve Edo state creditably if  elected as the governor of Edo state.

Osahon did not make any point by the false assesment of the quantity of the rice,the mode of distribution and the number of beneficiaries. Let it be made clear that Imansuangbon has never assumed that he can feed the entire people of Edo state with rice.The rice gift is targeted at the low class and some vital institutions and organisations  in the  state.

In December 2015, seven churches were visited in Benin city with many bags of rice gift ranging from 10kg, 25kg and 50kg. Several orphanage homes  in Benin City and the home for Internally Displaced Persons arising from the Boko Haram crisis were visited with many bags of rice.The University of Benin teaching hospital UBTH got many bags of rice in addition to one million Naira in appreciation of the good works UBTH was doing in Edo state. Security agencies and Benin prison equally received the Christmas rice gift. Major motor parks across the eighteen local government areas of Edo state were visited with the Christmas gift to target some members of Edo public.This brief statistics is not meant to exaggerate the good gestures of  Imansuangbon, but to expose the evil in Osahon’s  article.

In July 2015,Imansuangbon gave scholarships and different awards to the winners of the annual  Ken  Imansuangbon essay competition. Edo children in their hundreds in Junior secondary school, Senior secondary school and all tertiary institutions, both public and private in Edo state benefitted. The award ceremony was held at the University of Benin main auditorium. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who represented the VC  acknowledge the annual rice generosity of Imansuangbon to Edo people and advised that the generosity should be expanded by establishing rice farms. The advise of the DVC was taken and the programmes of Ken Imansuagbon when elected as governor of Edo state that is already in circulation has agricultural development,with the cultivation of rice farms as a cardinal objective.

It is important to emphasise that the aim here is not to present the score card of this noble Edo son and philanthropist, but to advise  Osahon not to be unkind to God and begrudge a son that is doing good. In addition, it is clear that Edo people and the APC delegates will not vote for sentiment,bogus claims and parochial considerations.

Imansuangbon is undisputedly  the most qualified of all the aspirants who are asking to be elected as the next governor of Edo state.He has the academic qualifications.He has the the experience and clear evidence of a job creator and a man who can generate income for Edo state,and not to rely on allocation from Abuja.It is heart warming that Osahon  mentioned the capacity of schools owned by Imansuangbon in Abuja. He is a regular tax payer with known means of income and his credidibility is not in doubt and had no previous or current issues with security agencies on financial matter or any other bothering on crime.

Mr. Michael Omorege, a teacher, wrote from Okada, Edo State.