A former Edo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, on Friday declared his intention to run for governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He also noted that the governorship seat has never been a zoning arrangement in the state.
Afegbua said that those clamouring for zoning were missing the point and the whole essence of democracy.
He said: “There has never been zoning of governorship positions in Edo State. Anyone who says that there is zoning will be missing the point altogether.
“In 2007, Adams Oshiomhole contested for the governorship position, and he brought his popularity as the National President of the NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) to Edo State. He contested on the platform of AC (Action Congress), which later became ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) and later APC, and won against the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party).
“Then the state had four ministers from Edo Central and also Prof. (Oserheimen) Osunbor, who was governor then (before he was ousted by a court), and nobody zoned anything to anybody. From then to now, every primary conducted by the PDP or APC has been contested by candidates from the three zones”.
Afegbua, who is from Edo North, said he was offering himself for service as the people are presently disoriented by the politics of highhandedness.
This, he said, was occasioned by the needless squabbles and altercations among the leaders of the ruling party in the state, adding that the state is begging for attention over decaying infrastructure.
He added: “Edo is beginning to attract attention; I can’t withstand the kind of road I saw across Edo State. Mobility is key to every human existence. If you are driving from Benin to Ekpoma, which should take one hour, it takes you three hours or more, or if you are going to Okpella, it should take less than two hours and it takes you four hours. You may not even have the strength for the business you are going for or even meet the appointment that is taking place.
“These roads are important because, without them, you cannot take farm produce to the city, where there is high demand for them. How do we encourage farmers? Road infrastructure will be my number one priority, irrespective of which tier of government the roads belong to.
“The state cannot afford to be in opposition anymore when we have a Federal Government that is poised to renew our hope and take us to a place of prosperity, economic strength, stability, and pride.
“I am determined to make a big difference with positive impacts. With the people’s support, I will redefine the essence of governance for the benefit of our people.
“The era of lamentation will be gone when I take the lead. Edo must rise again; she must rise from the ashes of this present misgovernance to a state that will occupy its rightful place in the assembly of states in Nigeria”.
