In this media chat, Dr. Isaiah Osifo, the standard bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, spoke at length on the present situation in the politics of the state.
I’m Dr. Isaiah Osifo, I am the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), for the Edo State 2024 governorship election. Many people have asked me why am I contesting. I have several reasons for contesting this election. But I will summarize by saying that in a democracy the laws have stated that for you to be a governor, it has to be by a process of election.
I want to be the governor of Edo State, but for me to be the governor of Edo State I have to contest the election for the electorates to make their choice. Not just becoming governor of Edo State. But what is my mission; what is my aim? What am I bringing on board for the interests of the people of Edo State?
The theme of our campaign is Edo for Democracy. Why did we choose Edo for Democracy as a theme? It is because we believe that there is no democracy right now in Edo State. So if we have democracy, we will not be saying Edo for Democracy. Because we know that there is no democracy right now in Edo State. We want to bring democracy to Edo State. In the administration of Edo State, it should be by democratic governance.
I want to say as a child of God, whether you are a Christian or Muslim… Incidentally, my running mate is a Muslim, I’m a Christian, but we serve the same Almighty God. As a child of God, I believe that there are three things that can make a state to be great or a nation to be great. The grace of God upon the life of the people; the presence of patriotic hardworking men and women and of course good leadership.
When I met the leaders of the Benin-Edo South leaders, I equally said this to them under the leadership of Chief John Oyegun and Chief Lucky Igbinedion. And that there are three things that can make a state to be great: The grace of God; hardworking men and women, patriotism, and of course good leadership. What is lacking in Edo State and in African democracy is a good leadership. And that is what we’ve been battling with in Africa.
You remember the paper I presented four days ago at the anniversary celebration of The RELIANCE Newspaper. I was given the topic to speak on. I didn’t choose the topic. The organisers gave me a topic which was Democracy in Africa: The Role of Moneybags. I, in the programme, emphasized the importance of democracy. So we are battling with democracy in Africa, and as we are battling in Africa, we are also battling with democracy in Nigeria and Edo State. We are in a developing democracy and we are not yet practicing a real democracy.
Now taking these three principles that can bring a bountiful development, African and Edo people can probably say we have the grace of God upon our lives. We have an abundance of young men and women, patriotic and talented young men and women, that are ready to work. But what is lacking now is good leadership. It is that good leadership that’s motivating me to contest the election so that I can feel that gap; that vacuum of lack of good leadership. And I said this repeatedly, God has been so wonderful to me.
And somebody was making fun of my academic background. When I started my primary school in the village. That’s why I’m happy about it. The young man that started primary school in the village came to Benin to finish in Benin City, and that was because my father had something to do in Benin otherwise I would have probably finished my primary school in the village…
So good leadership is needed for Edo State to develop. Good leadership is needed for Edo State to have democracy, because we already have the grace of God upon our lives. I know the grace of God is upon my life. Like I said we have talented, patriotic and hardworking men and women but what is lacking is good leadership. That’s what I want to bring on board. And of course when you are going to choose a good leader, what are the characteristics of making a choice of a good leader?
It is not by saying it rhetorically, there must be a scientific classification that can give you an idea of who will be a good leader. Now, human beings are created by God in the image of God. We are not animals. We are rational beings. We can identify factors and variables that can make you have a classification or make a postulation of what is likely to be if this action is taken. That’s why we are human beings. We’re like God.
So, we must use our brain that God has given to us as rational beings.
So, look at the people that are contesting. If you like these four major candidates, as classified by the leaders, to see who really would be a good leader among them. If the leadership issue is actually the issue. A good leadership choice must be based on qualifications. Qualifications are not by academic qualifications, but political qualification. Now there are three types of qualifications that are required for you to begin to have an idea of who will be a good leader.
Legal question: Now, there’s a guideline that says you must meet some requirements as a law for you to contest as governor. You cannot go to the Oko prison to go and bring an ex-convict to contest for an election. The law does not allow it. A child that is 30 or 35 years and below cannot contest for governor because the law says he must be above 35 years as a necessary requirement. That is a legal qualification.
Section 182 of the constitution is so clear that if you have sworn to an oath of allegiance to a foreign country or to a foreign power, you are not qualified to contest for any public office. You are journalists, do your investigation to find out who among these four contestants has sworn to an oath of allegiance to a foreign country.
Ethically, a politician or a public servant who has sworn to an oath of allegiance to another country is a traitor. Because patriotism is what defines citizenship. So, if you go and swear to an oath of allegiance to foreign power it shows you are a traitor. The Nigerian Constitution forbids it. If you have sworn to an oath of allegiance to foreign power or country you are not qualified to hold any public office.
If you have sworn to an oath of allegiance to a foreign power and still going about to tell Edo people to vote for you, you are not going to be a good leader, because you have already lied. Liars are not good leaders. Because we are Africans, we trivialise all issues. It is a major issue. I am aware that members of the party are already in court. They are saying he is not qualified so he should not give the party problem. The court is to decide. So, Edo voters should wait for them while they wash their dirty linens in the court.
I think voters should be wiser than this. To me, such a person is not in the contest. So, it requires legal qualification for you to be a good leader. Leadership must be by example, your hands must be clean. I’m able to do what I’m doing because I know that my hands are clean. I’ve served in the local government and the state level. In fact if I had issues in my file, I am sure they may have raised it by now. For you to be a good leader, you must be a clear person.
We should stop deceiving ourselves. we’re not animals in this part of the world, we are human beings. Our leaders must live above board.
Political qualification: Franchise is defined as a right to vote and to be voted for. For you to be a candidate, you must be a voter. Now, if you have never voted in Edo State, and you are now trying to struggle to get a fresh voter card or to do a transfer, politically you are not qualified to run in this election. If you are only seeking for the right to be voted for, and downplay the right to vote, then you are a dubious person. The two must go together. You must vote and be voted for.
For you to refuse to vote as an adult citizen of a state, and you are telling me you’re a patriotic person that is qualified to be a governor in a state where you have never voted, you are a dubious person. Because voting is a part of the requirement to measure the patriotism of citizens. Some countries are trying to make no voting as a criminal offense, but developed countries of Europe and America beg their citizens. The more the voters, the better for the democracy.
So, if you stay away from voting, you are not a patriotic citizen. Only for you to ask that you should be voted for. That’s political requirements. Taxation is a political requirement. When you are contesting they will ask for your tax clearance. The reason is that they want to know whether you are a good citizen. If you have not paid tax in this state as an adult, and you want the people of Edo State to elect you to come and preside over their treasury, you are a dubious person.
How do you spend money in a purse in which you did not contribute to? Vote, and be voted for, tax are two major factors. I want you to go and find out as a journalist who among us has not been paying tax in this state. Anyone that claims payment of tax, let him show you his tax clearance.
Moral qualification: I come from a cultural background, whereby a popular adage says you don’t make a stranger a head of a community. If you are an Edo man but you have not lived here before as an adult, your family is not here, your children don’t attend any school here, your wife does not go to any market here in Edo State, and you want to be governor, governor over who?
Therefore, if you analyse these qualifications among these contestants, you should be able to know who is more qualified to be a good leader. Leadership is what is needed. We have trivialised our political system for so long a time, and that is what is giving us problems. Like I told them in the panel, we don’t want to run a government that cannot solve problems. Government is to solve problems for the wellbeing and welfare of the citizens.
I grew up in this state, I met public tap in my father’s house, but today no body is talking about public taps. In the UK it is still the government that is supplying water. Today, everyone is running to sink a borehole. This is not how to run a good society. The essence of government is to provide facilities, infrastructure, that will provide comfort and security for the citizens. A government that cannot solve any problem is not a government.
What the Benin elders are doing is a very good thing, to set a template. And from experience from what they have done, they are saying they are not in the business of endorsing a particular candidate. But whether they are going to change their minds later, I don’t know about that. But the difficulty here is that candidates are not members of the same political party. You can ask one person to step down for one particular person if they are members of the same political party.
In 1998 the Benin elders did it for PDP. PDP had about eight gubernatorial aspirants, but the elders of Benin came together. They didn’t even ask anyone to step down. They conducted a mini primary. And in-house primary for delegates in Edo South to elect one particular candidate that will be standing as a major candidate of the PDP. That was when Lucky Igbinedion became governor, and Roland Owie came second and they asked him to go to the Senate.
Both Lucky and Owie were of the same party. But in this situation, these contestants are from four different political parties, already having their candidates. Without mentioning names, I am sure the people of Edo State know the two candidates Governor Godwin Obaseki is sponsoring. Part of the question you asked was equally asked in my interaction with the Benin elders. Somebody asked me whether I am against an Esan candidate or an Esan agenda in that panel.
And I told them I can never be against Esan agenda. And the Esan people cannot accuse me of tribalism because of my historical background. I campaigned for Professor Oserheimen Osunbor. He is an Esan man. He won the election. He was sworn in on May 29, 2007 in the afternoon. In the evening of that same day he appointed me as his Chief of Staff. To God be the glory. As we speak I am still his boy, he is still my boss. I am still loyal to him despite our differences in political parties affiliation.
So, I once campaigned for an Esan candidate and he won the election. In 2016, I campaigned for Kenneth Imansuangbon, another Esan son from Esan South East Local Government Area. I campaigned for him all through the 18 local government areas of Edo State, and they now ask why did you do that, and I said because of the meritorious qualities of these persons.
Let me tell you my brother, anything that does not have merits, that does not have truth, I don’t associate with it. The problem of Africa democracy again. Let’s talk about it. Like I said in my paper, when you sacrifice merit for sentiment definitely you are not going to have development. When the British and Americans are going for an election, what they emphasize is the quality, is the merit of the candidate.
I am not against zoning. I am not against rotational governorship, but it must be tried with merit. For instance, there is no zone in Nigeria that is not qualified to produce a president. lf you now ask a particular zone to produce a presidential candidate, the zone will go back home and present their worst candidate and said because we have been asked to produce a candidate so we can present anyone.
Therefore, if there is the support for the governorship of Edo State to come from Edo Central Senatorial District, it is the responsibility of the political leaders and elders of Edo Central Zone to choose their best. Because in any competition, you go with your best, because no single senatorial district alone can make a governor. So when you are picking a candidate from any senatorial district, you must pick the candidate that will be acceptable to the other two senatorial districts.
Therefore, I want to tell you that
the candidates from Edo Central Senatorial District are not candidates of Edo Central leaders. They are godfathers’ candidates. Edo Central that I know, that produced Anthony Enahoro; Edo Central that I know that had Tony Anenih as a great leader; Edo Central that I know that produced Prof Ambrose Alli as a governor; Edo Central that I know that produced Professor Oserheimen Osunbor as a governor will not choose a candidate that does not speak their language, and he does not understand their language.
It is a cultural taboo. It is total alienation. It is disrespectful. Today, we are promoting Benin culture, an Edo culture. We are told to teach our children how to speak our language. An adult of over 60 years old cannot speak his language. He does not understand his language. What does that indicate? He has no relationship with his people. He has been away either in America or Britain or Lagos. And funny enough, he claims to be coming here on annual Alaghodaro Summit which they use in trying to deceive the people of Edo State.
You come for such an intellectual submit as participant. From Lagos to Benin is about three hundred and something kilometres. From Benin to your place is less than 60 kilometres. In all your visits on Alaghodaro Summit, you did not take time out to pay a visit to your community. He doesn’t have a store there. He doesn’t have a house. He does not speak the language. This candidate is a godfather’s candidate. I can say it anywhere in anyway. He is not even a member of the PDP.
I am a founding member of the PDP despite the fact that today I am contesting on the platform of APGA. I am a political activist. I am not tied or addicted or loyal to any political party that violates it own rules. When you are to present a governorship candidate, the person must possess qualities that are presentable to members of the public. We are Edo people; we are cultural people. We cannot present a governor who cannot speak our language.
Then the other ones. If Imansuangbon is in this race, I will not contest this election. If Akhabue is this election, I will not be in this race. If (John) Yakubu was in this race, I will not be in this election. If Mike Onolemhenme was to be in this race, I will not contest this election. And particularly, I can’t understand a political party who will leave a first Professor of Law, a two term Senator who did so well as a governor.
I did my research, 80 percent of the civil servants wanted Osunbor to come back. Because in his one and half years he gave loans to teachers and civil servants. Some of them built houses, some of them established businesses. He paid bursary. He is the only governor that paid bursary aside Ambrose Alli. He started dualisation of city roads in this state. He started the work on erosion without taking a loan. They took N25bn loan for storm water. Uptil now they have not been able to account for it.
A political party that can’t conduct a fair primary for its aspirants, is that party they want me to identify with. So, the candidate of the APC is a godfather’s candidate. The APC announced three results after their primary. The matter is still in court. If our system is to be working the APC would not have had candidate in this election.
We know that APC did not conduct primary, we know that the APC candidate is not the choice of majority of the party members, he is a choice of a godfather. Therefore, I will not subscribe to godfather candidate. That is why I am contesting the election. The Edo Central candidates are not candidates of the Esan people. They are candidates of godfathers.
