No more factions in Edo PDP -Imasogie

Written by Vincent Egunyanga, Benin Tuesday, 28 June 2011 00:00

Owere Dickson Imasogie is the Edo State vice chairman of the PDP. He is also the leader of Peoples Democratic Party in Edo South Senatorial district. In this interview, he said the leadership crisis that had factionalised the state chapter of the party is over. He also bared his mind on several state issues. Excerpts:

Let us look at the prospect of your party, the PDP in Edo State, especially following its total defeat in the last election. The governorship election is coming up next year; as one of the leaders of the party in the state do you think you will survive it?

There is nothing wrong with the party, if you are talking of the last election where we performed poorly it was due to undue influence, the undue influence in the electoral act is the worse offence. All the Enogies (community leaders) went about telling people that that they got messages from his Royal Majesty Oba of Benin through Governor Oshiomhole that they most vote for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) all through. Some, including my Enogie, even threatened that those who do not vote for ACN will leave their domain. I reported to the area commander, I sent a copy to the State Security Service (SSS), they invited my Enogie. You know here in Benin we respect our royal majesty, it happened before, during Ambrose Ali era, of course you are also aware that a day after this last election Oshiomhole took all the ACN successful candidates to the palace. You still refresh your memory what our royal father told him, ‘remaining 2012 I will do it again’, so don’t think there is no PDP, PDP is still strong.

People still believe there are factions of PDP in the state. One faction is led by Chief Dan Orbih and the other by Chief Uyigwe. Chief Uyigwe was said to have written to the state House of Assembly not to recognise any of the PDP members, especially in the choice of the position of the minority leader. What is your reaction to this?

The leadership problem in Edo PDP is settled. I can conveniently tell you that Uyigwe and the Iyase are no more members of PDP. You are aware Oshiomhole took Uyigwe to the Presidency and announced him as the PDP chairman for Edo State. I am happy that when President Jonathan toured Edo State to campaign, Orbih was in charge not Uyigwe. Uyigwe was there when Orbih was introduced as the state chairman. The acting National Chairman was also there, so the chairman of PDP in the state is no more in doubt. That letter purportedly written by Uyigwe to the state House of Assembly was influenced by ACN. If it’s not influenced by ACN, does Uyigwe have his own honourable member in the state House of Assembly? If they rejected the list submitted by Dan Orbih, do they have any substitute? So they are only being funny.

Are you surprised at the role of the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly; do you think the House leadership would be rubber stamp to the Executive?

Their action doesn’t really surprise me; what I am saying is if people say you are bad and you see something that is really bad and you still go ahead to do it, people will say but I told you.

Is their still a problem in Edo PDP over ministerial nominees. We hear you have problem with Chief Tony Anenih over ministerial nominees. Oshiomhole seems to be punishing Edo Central for voting PDP. The governor is from Edo North, The deputy governor is from Edo South, the Speaker is from Edo South and the SSG is from Edo North. Nothing seems available for Edo Central which voted for PDP. Don’t you think they deserve to be compensated with ministerial appointment?

The PDP has its own way of dividing things just like the ACN. For you to say the governor is there the deputy governor is here and so on, those are ACN arrangements which the PDP has nothing to do with them at all. Yes, we had a meeting in my Senatorial district yesterday and I am the chairman. I called a meeting of my leaders where we discussed some of these burning issues; no one is against anyone the President chooses. The President asked us to bring 10 names, which means we must give the President room to choose who is more qualified. I submitted four names for the south only to hear later that some leaders are now clamouring for some preferred candidates. That is unacceptable. The President should be allowed to pick any one of his choice out of the 10 we submitted because all the 10 we submitted are qualified to be ministers and ambassadors. If the President without reference to us chooses, why must we quarrel?

This clarification is important because the feelers out there are that there is crisis between you and Chief Tony Anenih over ministerial nominees..?

Tony Anenih is my leader any day; I have always regarded him as a godfather. If we have a quarrel there is nobody I cannot talk to, I will let him know my mind at any given time; I am a blunt person.

The governorship election is coming up next year in the state and there seems to be nothing on ground to show that the party is ready for the election..?

You are not fair to PDP at all if you say there is nothing on the ground. From the South alone we have about two candidates, including former Minister of State for Works, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi; from Edo Central we have Barrister Ken Imasuangbon and from the North you are aware there is Prof Oyionware. Why are you saying we are not prepared? You know there is infighting in the state ACN and at the appropriate time the infighting will come out.

Since after the election there has not been any vibrant opposition from the PDP against the government. We learnt some financiers of the party in the state, like Imasuangbon have withdrawn since his name was not submitted for ministerial appointment. What is really going on?

Let me tell you, we took some decisions that we will no longer oppose Oshiomhole and his government, because people do not seem to take our criticism, we want the people to now watch him and he will soon fail like I told you more than one year ago. I said it loud that the walkway Oshiomhole is constructing and he is telling us that he is beautifying Benin, the road will boomerang. I said even this walkway is not deep enough. The state of our roads and erosion problem is now worse than when Oshiomhole came. To me I have not seen what Oshiomhole has done in the last four years and I want the people to judge by themselves.

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