Ambassador Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, a Labour Party (LP) chieftain in Edo State, in this interview spoke extensively about the relationship between the endsars protesters of 2020 and the party.
He also talked about his governorship ambition in 2024 among other issues.
Excerpts:
Tell us more about the relationship between the Obidient Movement and the Labour Party (LP)
You know that we have been clamouring for a better Nigeria. A Nigeria for development, prosperity, good education and other good things for our people. Since 1999 have been voting for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). At the end of the day they failed us. We are not moving forward rather we are moving backward. So when we saw the emergence of people like a patriot, a great mind, a good leader like Peter Obi coming onboard the Labour Party we supported him. Of course I have been a LP member since 2016.
In 2018 I contested the local government council chairmanship election which is conducted by state governments. You know how they’re been done. The corruption in our system has made it so bad that governors now write the names of the local government chairmen that will work under them. How can you, in a democracy, say that you win 18 over 18 local governments. These are some of the things that we need to change in Nigeria. Local government council elections should not be handled by state governments.
That’s by the way. We started the Obidient Movement. I am a pioneer of the Movement and also a strong believer of Peter Obi and the LP. We have been moving around. Initially, they under estimated and under rated us. They said that we are just noise makers twitting from a room. But when they saw our rallies they knew that something was up. They now started tagging us IPOB. We accepted. Anything you call us we accept. Our goal is to change Nigeria for the better not for ourselves alone but also for our children yet unborn. That has been the focus and by the grace of God we showed it to them in the elections of February 25th, 2023.
They saw it the first time in Nigeria history where a Peter Obi coming to join LP with Obidient Movement which is the engine force driving the LP. We were able to secure seats in the national assembly. By the grace of God in this forthcoming election on Saturday we are going to secure governorship and House of assembly members. These are things that they’re afraid of. They now see that we are not joking. We are out to take over our country. Take back our country from these political criminals.
About the synergy between Obidient Movement and endsars protesters
Those who were involved in endsars protests did that because the SARS(Special Anti-Robbery Squad) men were killing our people for no just cause. People were not happy with the situation. We all came out peacefully to protest that they should end it. The politicians who enjoyed the killings of our unemployed youths came and shot at some of us at the Lagos toll gate because they felt that we were disturbing their business. They denied that anybody died. You heard the Lagos State Governor, Jide Sanwo-Olu, lying to the world that nobody died. Today, he is running helter skelter. He wants the youths votes. The youths have resolved that they don’t need him any more. Come Saturday, March 18th, he is going to lose. It is obvious.
Peter Obi is not a youth so why attach youth to his person?
Peter Obi is not a youth. At his age he is not a youth but he has the youths at heart and the youths love him. There is a synergy between Peter Obi and Nigeria youths. He listens to them. I had an encounter with him last Saturday. When there was an uproar on some issues that we were arguing about with the national chairman of the LP. He noticed that I was telling the national chairman that he is not a good person but a criminal. A man that could change the ticket of another person. He is just like any other politician.
He (Peter Obi) called me to come and discuss with him. He listened to what I have to say and exchanged phone numbers with me. That is how a leader that is in love with youths will do things. Why won’t I fight for him to be my President? Nigeria youths know what’s good and what’s bad. They’re doing well across the globe. Seeing our youths running around with Peter Obi is the ideology behind his drive. The youths want a better country, a better life. He might not be perfect because he is human. He is the best person for the youths.
Your ambition to become the governor of Edo State in 2024
I want to do things differently. I want to teach others how to be a governor. Not the way they’re doing it. You’re a governor you want people to worship you. You turn yourself to an emperor without an empire, boss people around. That’s not the way to rule. You should listen to people. You’re supposed to be a Chief Servant to the people. How many governors have you seen holding townhall meetings, listening to people, asking them what they need so that they can be solved. I have not seen it.
If I become the governor of Edo State I am going to have a Public Complain Office which will be headed by a commissioner. People will come there and make complains which would be looked into and handled immediately. That’s how to drive a government. You don’t ask people what they need you just go and put a project in their community which may not be what they need at that moment.
On the alleged alliance between LP and Governor Godwin Obaseki
I read on the internet that Peter Obi sat with Governor Godwin Obaseki and Osarodion Ogie, the Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG). That Ogie wants to be governor through LP. Well, he is an Edo man. He is fit to contest election but I want to state categorically that Peter Obi has no business with this. On the day they said they held the meeting(Saturday, March 18th, 2023) I was part of those that received him from Ikpoba Hill through New Benin to Ring Road and then Adesuwa Road. After the townhall meeting he left for the airport where he left Benin. He never had any meeting with Governor Obaseki and Osarodion Ogie.
The two people that I know have been trading with LP over the years are the national and state chairmen. They believe in trading. They want to make money out of every situation which is wrong. These are supposed to be men of honour and integrity. That’s what LP stands for. They’re the ones holding that meeting because in every rumour there is an element of truth. They’re the ones that I know have been holding meeting with the governor and the SSG. They have been running around looking for people to come and pay them money to get ticket.
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