Oshiomhole has handed Edo over to PDP — Osa Director

MR Osa Director, biochemist, lawyer and journalist in this interview, argues that the recent mass defection of All Progressive Congress,APC, members to the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, is in order, adding that by allegedly frustrating the defectors out of the party, the state governor has indirectly handed the state over to the PDP. He also spoke on other issues.

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

Those who left the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State cited lack of internal democracy as a reason. Do you agree?

It is quite unfortunate and disgraceful that such is happening in Edo State. It is one of the few instances in Nigeria where a ruling party at the state level is witnessing mass defection in Nigeria. That tells you the degree of rot and decay in the current administration in Edo State. I think it is rather unfortunate, that the administration of the state has been painted to be under the leadership of a messiah.

That is not the case in Edo State. I challenge the leadership of the state to challenge me for saying that it is fraudulent. It is unfortunate that the maladministration in the state has not been in the public domain that is why people are not aware of what is going on. No body has listened to the grievances of those who left. Even a senator left.

But some have said that Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s gubernatorial ambition is the major reason for the crisis?

Every man is entitled to have an ambition. Is it a crime to have an ambition?

Present governor

One can aspire to be governor. Same thing happened when the present governor aspired to govern the state. Then Oshiomhole approached Chief Tony Anenih that he wanted to be governor. He was told that he could not be considered for that position but that he might be considered for the senate. He left and went to ANPP but Matthew Uroghide and his men did not allow him. That was how he formed the Labour Party.

So for me it is not an issue that he might be nursing an ambition. Everyone has the right to aspire to be the governor of Edo State. Nobody should say that it is because of the ambition of Ize Iyamu. It is about internal democracy in APC. It is about somebody playing god, it is about someone saying that without him nothing will happen

What do you make of the argument that your support for Ize Iyamu was because he hails from the same Edo South Senatorial Zone like you?

Such assumption reminds me of my encounter with Prof Wole Soyinka in Washington DC. That was in the days of the struggle. During my interview with him, I told him that a lot people said he was supporting June 12 because he is a Yoruba man. He smiled and said that nobody can blackmail him with tribe or religion to support an action at his age. For me if being a Benin person, will not stop me from supporting him because of the fear of not being labeled a tribalist.

Do you think the defectors have a future in the PDP?

I am not a political seer. With my little experience, I will say that anything is possible. For instance in the then ACN we thought that we were the frontline candidates but we did not know that Sen Uzamere will be foisted on us few weeks to the election. So, anything can happen. They have a chance, though it depends on how they play their cards. But Oshiomhole is indirectly handing over Edo State to the PDP as a result of the defections.

It was recently reported that the governor awarded you contract and you could not deliver. It was also said that you bolted away till this moment after collecting some amount of money. How true is that?

That is very laughable. The truth is that I am not a contractor. It is not a crime to do contract, but I am not a contractor. And I have never done contract with Edo State government. I am using this medium to challenge the governor to prove his claims. This issue was first raised by the state Commissioner for Information Mr. Louis Odion. How did I get the contract? Was there a tender? How did I apply? They should show the papers where I signed the purported contract.

Are you taking any legal action?

I would have done that but they used a fictitious name. The ideas are fallacious. The only people I can sue is the medium that allowed them to ventilate their claims. But I have a moral burden not to sue my colleagues. Though I wrote an opinion to that effect which was published. However, if push comes to shove, I will do that. I want them to put it in black and white that I took contract from the state and did not execute it.

You are talking about an administration that is adjudged one of the best in Nigeria, does it not contradict your arguments?

I am a journalist, lawyer and also a scholar. Scholarly assessment is different from journalistic assessment or mere assessment without empirical facts. I am speaking as a scholar. If you say that the government has performed, what are the indices that you are using to assess the government? Is it all about road construction?

What about human development which is the most important.

 

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Oshiomhole has handed Edo over to PDP — Osa Director