Princess Asha Emily Okojie, aspiring to succeed Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2024 on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), has denied insinuations that she is a rookie in politics and thus may not be the right person for the job.
Daughter of a former Permanent Secretary in the old Western region; niece of one of the fathers of Nigeria’s fight for independence, Chief Anthony Enahoro(late) and Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Olubunmi Okogie(late), Asha stressed that she is out to address the problem of leadership facing the black race and to reposition Edo State.
“Some people love to address me as a rookie but I refuse to accept that description. My bloodline has been in the forefront when it comes to advocacy for Nigeria and fighting for her independence. That’s a permanent legacy.
“I am not a new kid in politics. I have been in the background helping to empower youths to participate in the political discourse. People like me are those who have always tried to help people push agendas and policies.”
On if she thinks she can get the LP guber ticket in the midst of so many aspirants, she said: “you can assess people based on their qualifications, where they’re coming from and in position to what we’re facing and looking for the people who have the right attitude and solution.
“Edo issue is not that we don’t have good people. I am not surprised that LP has so many people showing interest in becoming governor. That’s because people are looking for solution; people are trying to say they can fix it.
“There is nothing wrong in people being competitive. But we have to look for who has the character, who can offer a solution. Not just a temporary solution but we have to look for what the record says. To look for what they have done in the past.”
She averred that only two females, including herself, have shown interest in the 2024 gubernatorial race on the LP platform.
“You can imagine, out of about 60 persons aspiring to govern on LP platform only two are females. The others are males. Some of these men have been in the game of politics for a long time. They’re recycled politicians. We need a new face, a new voice and a new direction. That’s what I am for.”
The Uromi born guber hopeful said that her interest in the race is informed by her desire to restore trust in government, adding that the office is for people who are selfless not for people who come there for their own self interest.
“What I am bringing to the table is the spirit of togetherness. We cannot solve this problem individually. We cannot solve this problem when we’re fighting. What are we fighting for?
“I want to take care of Edo people, empower the youths, create jobs, make life easy. Poverty, hunger, illiteracy is at its highest. Solving these problems is what I want to bring to the table. I also want to increase the deficit in intangible assets. When I talk of intangible assets I am talking about skills, knowledge etc.”
She promised to bring back to the state indigenes who have skills and knowledge to invest in the state. She stressed that for her to achieve that she will have to create the enabling environment that is needed.
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