BuharI reCyClIng
government had received huge funds that no government in this state has ever gotten. If you put the resources together – at the last count, about two months ago, the state in the last seven years had received N716 billion without adding the internally generated revenues (IGR). Now, compare that with eight years of Lucky Igbinedion administration, which got a total sum of N197 billion. And if you add IGR to N716 billion they had received in less than seven years, it is over a trillion naira. And no one has even received that in this state. One would have expected that with that huge amount of money, we will see landmark projects in the state. Come November next year, are we going to see huge debts being left behind? Or can we say that the government left ‘’X’’ amount of money in the state’s treasury? Honestly, we have not seen the changes they promised us in spite of the huge amount of money the APC government in the state had received. The reality now is that we are not better off. In the election -- next years, our people are going to be asking a lot of questions. Those who are saying we should vote for continuity will be disappointed. Continuity of what? Of corruption? Continuity of touts all over the place? Continuity of multiple and unnecessary taxations? What continuity will they be talking about?
The PDP has zoned the state governorship ticket to Edo South. What should be the party’s yardsticks in determining the choice of the party’s candidate?
The zoning has helped in reducing the number of aspirants. That is quite commendable on the part of the party’s leadership. We want somebody that will be acceptable to everybody; a candidate that can perform better than this present government. Somebody who will be able to use judiciously, the available resources of the state; somebody who will see the whole state as his constituency, not somebody who will develop one part of the state than the other. We need somebody who will harness all the resources of the state for the betterment of our people. We have focused so much on the money coming from Abuja and unnecessary taxations; we need to develop our agricultural produces; create industries and the enabling environment for our people to develop themselves. The PDP want to produce a candidate who understands what government is all about, somebody who understands the system, somebody who will place emphasis on due process – who will ensure that projects are implemented at reasonable costs, transparently and who will be accountable to the people at all time. The PDP will be looking for a candidate that will carry the party along in the governance of the state, because the success of the governor is the success of the party.
Are you contesting?
By the grace of Almighty God I intend to contest; it is something that has been in the realm of speculation. I have kept quiet before now because I believe there is time for everything. The reality today in Edo State is that the state is in need of good leadership; the state is in need of true change; the present government in the state has ran out of ideas; they are confused and we cannot continue like this. There is urgent need to rescue our state. And I believe God has positioned me; I have always been here; I have lived in the state in all my life; I have passion for the state. I know where the shoe pinches. I have also been exposed to governance. I have never held an elective office. There are things you would have loved to do but you cannot do them because you are not in charge; there is a difference between an appointee and the chief executive. I have been a party leader and there is a difference between assisting in electing people and be the elected person. And I have looked at all these things --- I believe with all my experiences, I am in a position to go to elective office to bring about the needed meaningful change we all desire in Edo State.
What is your message to the people of Edo State as we approach the election period?
We all should be prayerful; we should not be disillusioned. Ask people in the state and you will be surprised how our youths are still planning to travel abroad by any rout because they perceive that there is no hope. But I want to assure them that there is hope. We don’t need to leave our state. By 2016, we will usher in a government that will be able to make jobs available to our people – not casual jobs, but jobs that will challenge their intellect; jobs that will make them productive.