Hon. Billy Osawaru, representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, has given an insight on why the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) lost the recently held gubernatorial election in Edo State.
In an exclusive chat with Popular News, the federal lawmaker, holding nothing back, revealed that the election was more like a referendum against the state governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Excerpts:
On his blueprint for his constituents
In the Edo South Senatorial District, we’re just two of us in the House of Representatives from the All Progressives Congress(APC) – myself and the deputy governor elect, Hon. Dennis Idahosa. We’re the only ones in the House of Reps in the whole of Edo South. The pressure has been enormous on both of us. A lot of things that we have been doing – myself and Hon. Dennis Idahosa. I am mostly from the rural area, Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode, still very rural, even though very close to the capital city but we’re still rural.
And the first thing that we’re trying now as a government in power is how do we empower our youths. We have a lot of youths that are unemployed. Yes, within the last one year I have been able to bring some benefits of democracy. Like I have been able to attract some infrastructural projects like tarred roads, road rehabilitation, both in Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon.
We have been able to bring some solar street lights where we’re now lighting up our villages. We have been able to do some medical outreach both in Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon. And now as we speak, we’re erecting blocks of classrooms both in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode. And so many other projects coming. In the Benin parlance there’s usually a saying that if one man is rich in a family of multitudes we’re still in poverty.
I am glad that APC is back in power in Edo State
That’s just my own case right now. But I am so glad today that we have been able to bring APC back to power in Edo State. That’ll ease a lot of pressure on me because the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the deputy governor-elect, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, during their campaign have promised that they’re bringing more benefits of democracy to the people such as infrastructural development, educational development, medical facilities been erected for the people.
As a matter of fact, they promised that they’re going to continue from where (Senator Adams) Oshiomhole stopped. Of course, you know what that means because when Oshiomhole was governor we had a lot of infrastructural developments whether in form of roads or red roofs which were schools or medical facilities like the Central Hospital that he gave a facelift etc. But since Oshiomhole left all those things have been put on a standstill. The governor-elect and his deputy have promised the Edo State people that they’re going to continue with those things.
I think my federal constituency stands to gain most. We lack a lot of those things right now. I am so glad that as a party we are back on track. We’re back in government in Edo State. As they’re bringing those things on board, I am attracting and facilitating some of those things as well from the federal government. And we have a sitting President that’s of the APC. You can see that synergy is already there. It’s just for us to capitalise on it which we must do.
I have being having conversations with the new governor-elect and his deputy so that there would be no duplication of projects. That things I am bringing to my people if they’re medical oriented then the governor-elect should be bringing other things in other areas. So that at the end of the day our people will be having multiple benefits. These are the things we want to do and how we intend to work together.
On Governor Obaseki’s show of disrespect to the Benin throne
I am the Obazuwa of the Benin Kingdom. When you see me on the floor of the green chamber from my introduction I usually will include in addition to my name that I am a very proud Benin Chief. I mean it with all sincerity because if the Benin Kingdom have anything going for them it is that palace. It’s that revered king. That we revered. Not only us as Benin people but in the whole of Africa. If there’s anything going for us its that palace and we will never joke with our palace.Â
We will never joke with our Oba. Any man or woman that feels disrespecting the throne is what will make them happy they will never be happy. I am sure that you will attest to the fact that when there were cases in court by this state government trying to rubbish the name of our revered palace you saw how the Benin people came together to reject the governor for even daring to take the palace to court. For even daring to instigate the enigies against the palace.
You saw how the Benin people came out enmasse which was which was actually what translated partly to the victory of APC during the election because it was more of a referendum against Obaseki. They rejected Obaseki and whoever he was bringing. That was why you saw the results that came out in the last election. Again, our palace is not something we joke with. Senator Okpebholo as a candidate recognised the importance of that stool to the Kingdom. The importance of the throne to not just Nigeria, but to Africa.
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