Chairman of the Senate Committee on ethics, privileges and public petition, Senator Neda Imasuen, has given hint that he may dump his party, the Labour Party (LP).
He gave the hint recently in a chat with some media executives in Benin City.
Reacting to inquiries as regards if he is contemplating to follow the footsteps of some of the LP national lawmakers who have dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Imasuen said: “LP today is embroiled in one issue or another. The question for individual politicians in LP is whether or not that’s enough for him to leave the party.
“If you really, honestly look at the matter very seriously if election is going to be held today personally I have no platform to run on. Why? Because of what is going on in LP in Edo State. As I speak to you we have two chairmen. We have (Kelly) Ogbaloi who is the chairman I recognize. And we have another, a woman(Hon. Elizabeth Ativie), who is recognized by the National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure but whom I don’t recognize.Â
“I am the highest LP elected official in the whole of the South South region. It will interest you to know that all these decisions that they’re taking nobody has ever called me to intimate me on what decision they’re taking and why. Abure does’t talk to me I don’t talk to him. We don’t see eye to eye at all. That’s okay. That’s his prerogative.
“This battle started from the nomination period when we were looking for a candidate for the party. That’s when the issue started. He held his ground and I thought that shouldn’t be enough reason because I am from a particular place therefore the person must come from that particular region. I just thought that for LP let’s leave it open and whoever wins wins. We had our differences and that has been on since.”
Senator Imasuen refuted insinuations in some quarters that he has not shown much support for the family of the late Colonel Paul Ogbebor(rtd) whose property in Abuja(Life Camp Estate) is on the verge of been demolished by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. He disclosed that he got to hear about the issue on TV.
“Let me put it on record today, as I speak with you, that no member of the Ogbebor family has ever called me. Even as I speak to you none has ever picked up his phone to alert me of what is going on either by phone call or WhatsApp message. Nor has anyone of them come to my office there in Abuja to intimate me of what is going on.
“I can only imagine that the day he brought that on the TV was not the day it started. I am sure there has been interface between the family and the FCT Minister. Since then and up until now I am speaking with you none has called me. However, I also got to know of this saga on the television.”
He gave kudos to his colleagues in the red chambers, most especially, Senator Ireti Kingibe and Senator Natasha Akpoti, for their support when the issue was tabled on the floor of the Senate.
“For me what we needed to achieve was achieved. Which is to ensure that they don’t advance to destroy the property and to make sure that we delay in such a way that the Senate is able to investigate the matter. A committee was set up to investigate the matter.
“We were able to bring in some people into the committee that’s looking into the matter. So the resolution of the Senate that not until this matter is fully resolved whichever way the FCT cannot continue action on the property. We have achieved that and I am very happy over that achievement.
“All other things that’s been said in the internet they don’t know what goes on on the floor of the Senate. For me, they spoke out of ignorance and I will excuse them because I have no choice. I so appreciate this opportunity to explain myself.”
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