By Henry Uche
A business mogul, philanthropist, politician and the Uzoya of Esan Land, Chief Francis Inegbeniki, has warned of dire consequences should the Edo State governorship election be rigged by the Presidency in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
You left the APC, a party you helped to build and joined the PDP. What informed your decision?
Yes, there are times in a man’s life when certain decisions have to be taken.
I took the decision in the interest of my people (ESAN LAND). I cannot because of party affiliation, work against the collective interest of my people.
I was honoured by all the traditional rulers of Esan Land as the UZOYA OF ESAN LAND
I cannot afford to disappoint my people.
It was after due consultation with my friends, family and traditional rulers that I took that decision to leave and follow a party that I see as pro-people, the PDP to support a credible candidate, that is Asue Ighodalo.
Another major reason why I left APC as the State Vice Chairman of the party was because of the incompetent governorship candidate that was imposed on us in Edo APC by those in the party and the leadership of the Senate.
Some of us (THE INTEGRITY GROUP) had to leave the party for them.
Imagine my people, the Esan tribe, having waited for 24 years to produce a governor, only for us to be forced to accept an incompetent governorship candidate. So, I see it as a disservice to the Esan nation in particular and the Edo people in general.
Asue Ighodalo, the candidate for the PDP, has inherited Obaseki’s government with an image problem; how do you think he will be able to overcome the tag of being an Obaseki’s boy and that Asue won’t be worse than Obaseki.
Obaseki is an outgoing governor. I want Nigerians and Edo people to understand that, you cannot mete the sin of the father against the son. What we are talking about here, is a competent governor that can truly develop Edo State.
Obaseki may have his bad side, but to me he has set Edo State on the path of progress and development; look at the two electricity generation plants, look at the two modular refineries, and others, we cannot “throw away the baby and the bath water.”
I believe Edo voters are more intelligent than you think. We have so many enlightened and intelligent people in Edo who truly want the best for the state.
You should also remember that Obaseki is not on the ballot; he is not contesting election again.
You will agree with me that, of the three governorship candidates, Dr Asue Ighodalo is the best.
So to say that whatever misdeeds Obaseki has done, if any, will affect Asue Ighodalo. I don’t agree with that because Edo voters are wise. What Edo voters need now is someone who can help us develop the state.
APC are threatening fire and brimstone to win the election by all means possible. How well prepared is the party (PDP) to ensure that they forestall the alleged rigging plans.
Secondly, given your high reputation as a generalismo in Edo State politics, have you been able to pull along all your political foot soldiers along with you into the PDP?
Yes, the rumour is all over that the APC will use federal might to intimidate the opposition and rig the election.
Let me use this opportunity to inform Nigerians that it is a plot that was hatched when I was a member of the APC. It’s true, and I’m confirming it now. I know a lot, at the appropriate time, I will open my mouth, I know their plans. They want to use the police and other security agencies to intimidate, harass and detain perceived strong people that can challenged them.
As I grant this interview now, the police from IRT ABUJA and FCID ABUJA have been in Benin City intimidating and arresting innocent people.
I’m appealing to Mr. President that he should not allow Ganduje to come and cause a crisis in Edo State. I’m appealing to Mr. President that he should not allow the Senate president, Senator Akpabio, to come and derail democracy in Edo State. The election should be free and fair.
Is Oshiomhole part of it?
Yes, he is part of the plot, Oshiomhole is the brain behind all the plots. You can see him jumping up and down with their incompetent candidate, Monday Okpebholo and one wonders if he is the one contesting the election. Oshiomhole should allow Sen Monday speak to Edo people and tell them his plans for the people, how he intends to govern the state.
Oshiomhole is an expired politician, many people don’t take him seriously again, he talks too much, he will be the one to de-market a candidate and later, he will want to market the same person to Edo people. We cannot forget 2020 governorship election in a hurry when he brought Pastor Ize Iyamu as the candidate of APC, the same person he de-marketed 4 years before, Edo people voted against Pastor Ize Iyamu. I told you earlier that Edo voters are sophisticated people who will not tolerate rubbish from Oshiomhole.
Edo people should not trust a man like Oshiomhole. What himself and his co-travellers want is to put an incompetent governor in power so they can have access; they want a governor they can manipulate. This same Oshiomhole once told us when I was in APC that “Sen Monday Okpebholo is empty and has nothing in his head.”
I am surprised to see him now jumping up and down with Okpebholo.
So, Oshiomhole is the brain behind all the plots. He is the one directing the intimidation, directing the plot to rig the election. Let me tell Oshiomhole that the time you can intimidate voters to rig elections is over in Edo State. Maybe he can try it in another state, but in Edo, we will resist! We will resist! We will resist!
Do you think the presidency will truly interfere in the forthcoming Edo governorship election?
I will appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow anyone to mislead or lure him to interfere in the September 21st governorship election in Edo State. For me, Edo APC that is boasting that President Tinubu will influence the Edo governorship election in favour of the APC would be disappointed. Tinubu is a Democrat; he knows that APC is not on ground in Edo. In the last presidential election, APC in Edo scored 24.6 percent; they could not give Tinubu the required 25 percent of the total vote cast in Edo State. Let me remind Mr. President that by his office, he swore to be President to all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliations. I advise President Tinubu to focus more on finding solutions to the excruciating hunger, hardship and inflation confronting Nigerians.
Mr. President should allow the people of Edo State to freely exercise their constitutional rights to give their votes to their preferred candidate on September 21st to elect the next governor of Edo State to take over from Governor Godwin Obaseki. I’m convinced that Asue Ighodalo will be elected Governor of Edo State because he is more competent, capable and prepared for governance. Dr. Asue Ighodalo is an accomplished administrator per excellence and he will contribute to the growth and progress of Edo State when he becomes the governor.
The post I can confirm when APC hatched plot to rig – Inegbeniki, former Edo Vice Chairman appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.