By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News.
Mr. Kenneth Imansuangbon, a philanthropist and educationalist turned politician has said that he is determined to emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in 2016 in Edo State.
While speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS correspondent, Imansuagbon explained why he abandoned the party, AC, he pioneered in 2007. He revealed that he was not treated right as his mandate was given to someone else.
While defending his regular change of parties, he said he has not gained anything from politics, but willing to serve in order to bring the required development to Edo State.
He said ” If i am not given the chance to run for governorship election in 2016, i will run under a different political party, i can assure you that. If the APC did not give me ticket, they will not win the election. I was not treated fairly in 2007 by AC, and i also left PDP after seeing the way the primaries was conducted in 2012. I supported Buhari because of the kind of man he is, if Buhari integrity is anything to come by, he won’t allow them to screw the 2016 primaries”
Kenneth Imansuagbon
Imansuagbon revealed to NAIJA CENTER NEWS that he loves the people of Edo State, he knows the problem everyone is facing, adding that if he is given the chance to run, he will change many things including building market for the women who will be asked to pay N10,000 monthly compared to their outrageous store rent, he also pledged to work with Buhari in order to reopen Gelegele. He expressed sadness over the harsh taxation being levied on the people of Edo State by the present administration, promising that if he is elected, he will reduce the taxation, diversify the economy by acquiring plots of land to farm.
He said: “I will ban hawking on the street, i will quickly pass a bill that any child of 9-15 stop hawking on the street and i will prosecute in my administration the parents of such child. The child will be taken to a reform home where we will reform that child and take them back to school.
“We will reduce government expenditure, unnecessary of government expenditure will be reduced to nothing, i will live by example. Any man who wants to steal does not have space in my administration, i have lived all my life by example, all money i have made in a private sector in Nigeria, i give back to the society. Not because i am the richest but i am rich in value and idea. Each time to go Washington and the street of UK, i wondered why not Nigeria, why not Edo State. I will make sure i lay a foundation for the general generation to come.
“The first seven months of my administration, i will open up a farm land, I can provide 1000 hectare of land for a tomato farm. The problem of Nigeria is oil, both local government, state government and local government depend on oil, Nigeria is running a monopolistic source of income. Quickly, the only way to go is agriculture, i will negotiate with foreign partners so that when our tomatoes juice is working, we will begin to export outside the country. If the product is good, the quantity is good, the international community can patronise us. In my administration, we must get it right. I will open Edo Airline, i will contact cooperate America, China, meet them and we will negotiate credit possibility and open Edo Airline like Prof. Ogbemudia did then, I will take Edo to the sky. I will demonstrate to the Federal government that we can have the Nigeria airway back. In two years, i would have succeeded in paying back the money we take to run Edo Airline.
“The Gelegele seaport, Edo State do not have seaport. I will partner with Buhari administration to reopen the seaport, we will do the dredging. Corruption will be zero minimal, i will live by example, if you caught as a member of the cabinet, you will face the rot of the law.”
Giving credit to Fashola administration, Imansuagbon said “Fashola was close to it in Lagos, but i will go beyond Fashola, and El-Rufai is equally making a move but it is too early to judge now.
Imansuagbon revealed that his problem in clicking the ticket to represent his party has been godfather-ism (a term used to describe those who alluded to themselves as the godfather of the party). He said he does not believe in godfather-ism unlike many others.
His words “Do you know why i have not been governor for the past 13 years is because i am not an agent of godfather. It is not the people that have rejected me so far, it’s the godfathers that have rejected me. Anenih for example, he can’t use m; there is no way he can use me. I will get to become governor not because of the will of the godfather but the will of the people. I am not fighting for the godfather but for the people. Edo people will be lucky to have me because i will step on toes. it is going to happen and there is nothing Oshiomhole can do, he may not want me, he may not support me but Edo people are willing to elect me as the governor.
The philanthropist is a household name in Edo State owing to his gesture to the needy. He distribute free rice to the needy every December which earned him the nickname “The Rice Amanda”
Without wasting time, he took a swipe on Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the deputy governor of Edo State, Odubu who he said spent millions celebrating their birthday in a state where people hardly find food to eat. He questioned their contribution to the state for the past 10 years.
Imansuagbon revealed that he had spent his hard earn money for the people of Edo state through sharing of rice and recently shared about 200 IPAD to children within the age of 12-14 year knowing fully well that by next year, they will not attain the age to vote should he run for the governorship election.
Edo: If APC fails to give me ticket, they won"t win 2016 election - Imansuagbon
