Prince Kassim Afegbua is one of the frontline Gubernatorial aspirants in Edo state in the forthcoming elections slated for 2024. A native of Okpella in Edo North Senatorial District, Afegbua is a consummate media practitioner and politician of note, and a media personality who has carved a niche for himself. In this interview with Worldviewafrica, Afegbua is of the view that having paid his dues in political undertakings in the last 26 years, it is time for him to run for the governorship position of Edo state. Excerpts:
You have been all over the place in recent times seeking for Governorship of your state. What is the motivation for your aspiration?
I am motivated by a couple of things. First, I see a breakdown of the trajectory that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole set for the state when he governed between 2008 and 2016. The state was on a steady climb on the ladder of development. In terms of infrastructure in critical sector of the economy, health, education, human capital capital development, Information technology, roads and quite a number of other areas. But if you visit the state today, you will weep because there is no continuity. Both state and federal roads are in shambles because rather than sit down to govern, Governor Obaseki is busy fighting both real and imaginary wars, wars that will not add value to the growth of the state. All those needless squabbles are essentially anti-productive. No investor will come to your state when he realises that the Governor is quarrelling with his Deputy; he is quarrelling with his old party, quarrelling with his new party, quarrelling with the Benin Monarchy. He is just all over the place like a bull in the China shop. That kind of spirit does not promote stability that is needed for proper governance and implementation of policies. I will unite the state and do things differently. You can’t be fighting with the same people you were elected to govern, no matter the pressure. So, for me, Edo’s negative image created by the leadership of the state presently must be reversed.
But there is this talk about zoning and political balancing. What is your take on that?
Edo state gubernatorial chart does not consider zoning as a Magna Carter. We are a collective and as a party, the right candidate that can deliver the goods will emerge and others will rally round him. The APC is very conscious of that, reason why they said there was no zoning. All Senatorial District in the state have always featured aspirants each time round of election comes. Nobody stops the other from contesting hence the party has told us to go all out to seek for votes from the delegates and members of the party. We are not going to be detained by that sentiment because we know that it has never worked, it won’t work now except there is a deliberate negotiation and article of engagement to warrant such. I am in the race to get the ticket and win the election. People are talking about money, money, and money. Life in politics is not all about money. There are goodwill that cannot be quantified in naira and kobo. I have such enormous goodwill and name recognition across the country and the state. I have fought political battles for people, and I expect them to reciprocate the goodwill and support I have extended to them in time past. I have the courage and ability to unleash my positive leadership on the governance process in the state for the overall good of all.
In going around, what have you seen differently in the state that you think your leadership will correct?
There are lots of issues begging for attention. First and foremost, Edo State is sharply divided presently because the Governor does not connect with the stakeholders to derive the right incentive for policy implementation. The present political atmosphere in the state is polluted by abuses, in-fighting and negative publicity. Edo deserves more than that. We are a proud people because of our cultural heritage, our achievements within the Nigerian nation, and our people’s can-do spirit, which is why we are called the heartbeat of the country. We cannot afford to be in the news every now and then for the wrong reasons. We need to correct that and my administration will address that pronto if given the opportunity. Secondly, there is the need to carry out infrastructural renewal and go back to the era of Adams Oshiomhole in terms of road infrastructure and educational rejuvenation. The Red Roof Revolution was a midas touch that pulled back education from the brink of collapse. We need to sustain that and take it to a higher level. The present government in the state concentrates energy on the negative news, promoting propaganda instead of governance. There are too many MoUs which have not brought positive development to the state. The Governor has become richer, while the state is getting poorer by the day. During Oshiomhole’s time, we managed poverty, but during Governor Obaseki, the state is mismanaging fortunes. The federal allocations has increased to the point that the state government takes home N850m monthly for security vote. Go and check the statistics of insecurity, you will almost think we don’t have security agencies in the state. They are not being encouraged and supported, yet the government takes such humongous amount every month for personal aggrandizement. See, there is so much challenges facing the state but I have the capacity to turn things round.
Have you consulted with the party to explain the rationale for your aspiration, especially your former boss, Senator Oshiomhole?
Well, I am consulting far and wide, as you know, consultation in politics is an every day thing. There is no end in it. We need to galvanise our opportunities and seek help from God from time to time. The people know me, they can speak to my character and good naturedliness. They know I have been fighting political battles from time to time, and they know I call a spade, a spade. Loyalty is my watchword. Constructive engagement is my trade mark, collective bargaining is my stimulant. I am not driven by parochial considerations. I don’t dwell in sycophancy and eye-service syndrome. You will definitely know where Kassim Afegbua stands on any issue no matter how bitter the truth is. I have been there for Comrade Oshiomhole in terms of defending his personality on account of Governor Obaseki’s blackmail tactics. It wasn’t a crime that Comrade Oshiomhole assisted Obaseki to assume the leadership of the state. But the behaviour of the latter has made trusting people so difficult for Senator Oshiomhole. You need to share in his pains but when it comes to Kassim Afegbua, I am plain and forthright. I hate ingratitude, reason why I have taken on Governor Obaseki on a number of issues. His bad behaviour has spoilt the rhythm for us. I can be trusted because I am not going to be carried away by the allure of power. I have been around men of power and understand what it takes to sustain such relationship. I am still consulting both in the state and elsewhere, and I do hope people will find me worthy to represent their collective interest.
What are your policy thrust if given the opportunity to govern the state.
You see, the problems of Edo state are not hard to find. They are walking on the street and staring us in the face. Bad roads are everywhere. They are no serious improvement from what Oshiomhole did. If you drive round the state, what you will see are the benchmarks of Comrade Oshiomhole’s intervention when he governed the state. In terms of performance, you can’t fault him. He needed continuity, and he brought Governor Obaseki to succeed him. Governor Obaseki has proven to be failure in governance. Every thing is shrouded in secrecy. There is no openness in government activities and our finances are wrongly applied. Politics has taken over instead of real governance. The people are anxious to chase Obaseki away and sweep the state clean with APC broom. We need to put our heads together like brothers and sisters to generate the right ideas that would aggressively respond to the decay in the state. My policy thrust is let us unite edo, so we can recover education, health, physical infrastructure, human capital development, which have become moribund and abandoned in the last seven years. Imagine a Governor going to demolish the state Library to build Shoprite. It is all about profit, running Edo like a chain of business concerns. That is totally not acceptable. We need to build for the tomorrow of Edo people. And I am very determined to pull through my aspiration because I know I will make a huge interest.
Any message for members of the APC under which platform you are contesting?
Well, my message of moral persuasion is for the members to see me as someone who has invested his political capital to.impact positively on the party’s aspirations. I have paid my political dues and deserve to be patronised by the opportunity of this contest. I am known across the state. I don’t have blemish of any kind. I am a fighter for positive causes that can advance humanity. I believe that if we must make progress, we must tap into the potentials of the people, generate ideas and move together as a collective in implementing the ideas. I am pleading with the members to see me as a veritable candidate that can uproot the present government and its vices. We need a new lease of life in Edo and I represent that ideal. I am at home with everyone for the right reasons. God knows I can never behave like Governor Obaseki who has shown manifest ingratitude to those who were his benefactor. God forbids.