Dr. Folus Ejele, member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council and former Special Adviser to the then Edo State Governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor on Strategy and Disease Control, has joined the big debate that it is the turn of Edo Central to produce Governor Godwin Obaseki’s successor in 2024.
Read excerpts of the exclusive interview.
On the chances of the Edo Central district producing the next governor of Edo State.
Edo State is one family. Historical antecedents have shown that we are one family. There is no issue about Edo Central producing the governor of the state in 2024. It is going to be based on mutual understanding. One thing that people must understand is that you don’t get power on a platter of gold. You have to fight for power to get it. Look at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate in the last election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he fought for it saying ’emilokan’ despite that many people were against him. Power is like that anywhere in the world. Even two brothers fight for power. Anything that has to do with power you must fight for it.
In 2024, we, the Esan people all over the world, will have one voice that it is our turn to be governor of Edo State. It is very clear and nobody can argue against that. We have paid our dues. We have supported others. We have sacrificed for others. Edo North occupied the governorship position for eight years. Edo South occupied the position for 16 years. Before Edo North did it for eight years Lucky Igbinedion, who is from the South was governor for eight years. The outgoing governor (Godwin Obaseki) is from the South and we, the Esan, supported him when he appealed to us for support.
The issue is not complex. There is no misunderstanding about it. A lot of Esan politicians stepped down for Obaseki because of this agenda. Gideon Ikhine and Kenneth Imansuagbon both of Esan extraction stepped down for Obaseki without much argument and collapsed their structures for him. It was mainly the Benin people that were arguing with him. The Esans stepped down for him since the understanding is that 2024 is going to be our turn.
There is an argument that the Esans are not united to achieve their desires.
If you say that the Esans are not united, they’re not united in what sense? When the time comes we have a way of doing our own things. We will come together. We are not united may be because a lot of aspirants are coming up. It is good because we are used to producing the best. It is only in Esan that the two governors that we have so far produced in the history of the state are professors. Professor Ambrose Alli, whose records are still intact, had an outstanding display of good governance. Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, whose tenure was shortlived, nobody can doubt the fact that within that short period for the first time in Edo State we see civil servants building their own houses as a result of the loan that was given to them by the government. You see civil servants using brand new cars because of the facility that was given to them during the time of Osunbor. The more aspirants coming up the merrier. When the time comes we will get together and bring forth our best for the benefit of Edo people.
On the issue of micro-zoning.
That’s within the Esan. When we get to the bridge we know how to cross it. That’s not an issue for now. The first thing first. You cannot be talking about the University when you are not through with primary school. Lets arrive at Esan Agenda. Lets extend olive branch to other parts of the state – the Etsakos, the Akoko Edos, the Benins etc. Lets extend olive branch of friendship and consultations with them. When we come inhouse we will discuss that(micro-zoning). The first thing is the big picture, Esans should be given the opportunity to produce the next governor of Edo State.
On minimum qualification.
That’s no issue with the Esans. Like I told you we produce the best. All the people that have signified interest so far are men of outstanding qualities in their different areas of endeavours. Somebody like Professor Osunbor is in the race; a General is in the race; chairman of a bank is there; somebody like Austin Ebose, the MD of Anchor Insurance is there; chairman of Sterling Bank is also in the race; somebody like the ‘riceman’, Barrister Kenneth Imansuagbon, who is a reknown lawyer and educationist. He has one of the best educational institute in Nigeria, the Pacesetters Group of Schools etc. Men of outstanding qualities irrespective of the political parties. We’re not talking of political parties now. What we’re talking about is Edo Central. When we are talking about education the Esans are going to present the best minds. We don’t have problems with that. When the time comes we will give out the best for the benefit of Edo people.
On the argument that the person to succeed Governor Obaseki must have tutelage under him so that he can continue his programmes.
I don’t know about that. Who are the people peddling such? The truth of the matter is that we need the best mind. Governance is not about tutelage and all those stuff. To me, I feel that somebody that’s good, somebody that is MD of a company that has nationwide spread; somebody that has managed a company that has presence in all the countries of Africa cannot be said to be a novice when it comes to governance and administration. What kind of tutelage are we talking about now? Is it not management of human beings and doing the right thing?
All these people you say have tutelage in the time past were abysmal failures. That’s the new order that we are trying to create. We don’t want the old order, it has been corrupted. We want something new. Something that’s going to bring in sanity to the system. There is no doubt that Governor Obaseki has done his best. Irrespective, we will look at it holistically. The best person must come up whether in the private sector, politics etc. It has to be somebody that has unadulterated image. Somebody that has outstanding track record of performance over the years whether in private or government enterprise. Somebody that has a good heart for the people. This will be a 21st century leader that will be able to turn Edo State to Dubai.
Edo State is supposed to be a cynosure of eyes to all the states. If you are transversing between the South and the East you will pass through Edo State. If you’re transversing between the North and South you must pass through Edo State. Edo State is a transit state and this opportunity must be capitalized on. From Benin to Port Harcourt, the oil centre is two hours forty five minutes. By plane it should be about 30 minutes. From Benin to Lagos by plane is about 35 – 45 minutes depending on the type of airplane that you’re using. Benin is supposed to be a centre of attraction and development. That’s the concept that we are looking at. Somebody that can come in and bring electric train from Benin to Auchi in 30 minutes. So people can be living in Auchi and working in Benin.
Those are the kind of people that we are looking for. We have another airport in Auchi. Edo North is becoming an industrial hub. We have some multibillion dollar industries there. We have BUA Cement, Dangote Cement and some others that are coming up. All the expatriates coming there from all parts of the world should be able to come in with helicopters and private jets straight to that place. And there should be an interconnectivity between Edo North and Edo South in terms of electric train. In 30 minutes you’re there. You can do your business and come back to Benin. Some of those trailers spoiling the roads by carrying cement they can now go through the cargo train from Okpella where they’re coming from to Benin and other parts of the country. We need somebody that will come and develop the ports. We have big sea in Edo North and also in Edo South. Through the sea from Benin to Lagos is 45 minutes. If such a port is developed we can move from overseas straight to Edo State.
You will see that Edo State will turn to Dubai. We’re looking for people with concepts. People that have the code to unlock the vast opportunities that are available to us in Edo State. That’s the kind of leadership that we are looking for. We don’t need all those pedestrian reasons. We’re looking for somebody that can deliver. Somebody that has served up to the level of the peak of his chosen profession you cannot say that he has not done well to deserve to be governor of Edo State.
Message to the people of Esanland
We believe in leadership. And any system where there is no leadership is going to end in disarray. Even in lower animals leadership is very important. The problem in Nigeria today is not that we don’t have mineral resources. It is not that we don’t have human capitals. It’s not that we don’t have population. The problem is leadership. Edo Central people believe in leadership. There are leaders in different communities and in different sectors in Edo Central. We will all come together and decide. Why we have leaders is because they can lead and they can see what the followers cannot see. My advice to our people is that they should not be apprehensive. They should be prayerful. I don’t have doubt that Edo Central will produce the best. The leaders that have emanated from Edo South are men of class. Pa Anthony Enahoro, the man that moved the motion for the independence of Nigeria; Chief Tony Anenih, a great man by all standards etc. In everything we do on earth we should always factor in God because He is the one that ultimately gives power. That’s why I said that our people should be prayerful.
