Brig. Gen. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, has been celebrated
for his glorious record in statecraft through various stages in public office
including the governorship of the Old Midwestern Region and Bendel State. He
was also at one chairman of the National Sports Commission and minister of
labour during which time he sufficiently managed one boisterous labour leader,
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who subsequently transited from activism towards the
governance of a piece of territory where Ogbemudia once called the shots. With
the comrade governor now set for his exit after two remarkable terms of shaping
the pace and pattern of governance in Edo State, Dr. Ogbemudia, who is
presently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, in an interview spoke on
issues pertaining to the election. He also spoke on fresh developments in the
Niger Delta region, the economic situation in the country among other issues.
Excerpts:
Where do you stand in the contest to produce a successor to
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State?
My position is that whoever is going to
enjoy the mandate of the people is expected to surpass the performance of
Comrade Oshiomhole. Edo State has come a long way; Comrade Oshiomhole will not
be the first or last governor to hand over at the end of his eventful tenure.
Right from the days of the Western Region when Chief Dennis Osadebey was in
charge through Midwest States, Bendel and now Edo and Delta, each governor came
with his agenda and performed his best; it is a different matter if the best
was not good enough for the people. The people have on the average, the
intelligence to evaluate the performance of each governor and give their
verdict. Edo State has had four civilian governors in office. The outgoing governor
has acquitted himself creditably and will be remembered by the people of Edo
State. As for me, I will remember him for his dynamism, his extraordinary
energy, his ability to keep his audience spell-bound and also development. His
type is rare. My assessment, therefore, is that he is leaving behind a legacy
that the verdict of history will eulogize him.
Would you now say the outgoing governor has met the
yearnings and aspirations of Edo people?
At least 51% of the entire population believes he is a good
man and has achieved tremendous success. It is widely alleged that Comrade
Oshiomhole greatly gratified you, hence your support for his government and
subsequent departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? I object
vehemently to the use of the word “gratified you.” As a head of government of
Edo State, he has a duty to look after me as he is doing to others, and as an
elder, as a retired general, perhaps as a former governor. He did not buy me,
his performance and his support for me when I was the Minister of Labour is
being reciprocated.
But sir, is it correct that he gave you vehicles?
Yes, not to buy me, the State House of Assembly passed a law
granting ex-governors and their deputies’ two cars every five years and that is
precisely what Comrade Oshiomhole gave to me. In addition, when I celebrated my
83rd birthday during which His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta
State honoured me with a visit and he was also a Guest Speaker, my governor,
Comrade Oshiomhole who was the Chief Host, gave me a car as a present. Are you
saying that I am only worth cars?
But during that celebration, Governor Oshiomhole also made
uncomplimentary remarks about your continued presence in a political party; how
did you feel about that?
Comrade Oshiomhole has the extraordinary capacity to voice
his opinion in the public. But I would have preferred if he had said it to me
privately and many people expressed displeasure, implying that it was
disrespectful and inappropriate. Notwithstanding, I did not hold it against
him.
Now sir, ahead of the election for his successor, where are
you leaning?
Thank you, please recall that sometime ago, I withdrew my
membership of PDP from the party. I had been a member of its Board of Trustees;
I have not joined any party but overtime my friends and I who have identical
ideas and thinking of a better Edo State met and formed a non-political
pressure group called the Edo Mass Movement (EMM). We have met several times,
and we have proclaimed to the hearing of the public that the EMM will support
any candidate that meets our criteria of good governance, and if none of the
candidates meet our criteria, we will pick our own and a party. Recently, the
leaders met and interacted with APC candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and PDP
candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Earlier on, the governor of Anambra State,
His Excellency, Obiano had accompanied Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, APGA candidate to my
residence and luckily on that day, a number of leaders were also present. In
all, we saw three. Godwin Obaseki spoke to us for an hour, and he touched every
aspect of governance, he was brilliant, his presentation and construction were
faultless and at the end of the speech, he had a standing ovation. On his part,
Pastor Ize-Iyamu mesmerized the audience, and they applauded every sentence he
made, he was applauded by the audience. Both of them having concluded their
meeting with us and left us to
deliberate on which of them, APC, PDP, APGA we should support, but before they left,
everyone was given a paper to indicate his or her choice. The papers are being
evaluated, and the conclusion will be announced in due course.
Edo State has come of age and can boast of not less than 20%
of its population fit to govern the state. So, sir who do you support among the
various candidates?
My voting card will establish that on September 10.
What of you personally?
No public statement for now. Sir, your voice is important on
the matter, because it will go a long way in influencing peoples’ decisions.
Thank you immensely for the compliment, in a democratic dispensation, the
majority carries the vote, and I will s upport the majority of the EMM members’
decision Well sir, your group, EMM has been in search of a worthy successor of
Comrade Oshiomhole.
Has it found one yet? We are on the last lap after which,
you will announce who the preferred candidate is?
God bless you. Yes.
What is your personal advice to the people of Edo State?
Thank you once again and listen to your tape, my answer to
your questions so far are clear and unambiguous.
Recently your good friend, Chief E. K. Clark organized a
meeting of Niger Delta leaders, what do you think of that meeting?
I deeply regretted my inability to attend; I wholeheartedly
support the aim of the leaders to bring peace to the Niger Delta and Nigeria as
a whole. First, the people of Niger Delta should do their homework and remember
that we have lived together, and no one state or few states can upset the apple
cart. No insurrection can flourish in a hostile territory. I do not want the
Niger Delta leaders and their people to be the first suspect, and so they
should act now. I am prepared to play a constructive role in this matter with
other citizens, even those outside the Niger Delta. Do you believe that we can
solve the problem, sir? Yes and no. Yes, if all hands are on deck. No, if there
is disunity.
Do you support military action in that area?
The military was set up to assist the civil authority in the
maintenance of law and order and defend the territorial integrity of the
nation; that was why when Ojukwu declared Biafra, Gen. Gowon who was Head of
State of Nigeria declared the police action, that was the first port of call.
Part of what the leaders are doing now is to avoid military action that will
further reduce the population. I do not support military action on innocent
people.
Sir, the people of Nigeria, are feeling the pain of hunger
all over, inflation is skyrocketing, salaries are being owed and so on, how do
you rate the Buhari government?
Buhari as a Military Head of State was an excellent
performer because he had in his hands both executive and legislative powers
assisted by the civil service that was not too far below its peak. Today, he is
obliged to respect the constraints of democracy. Our solution, therefore, is
that all hands must be on deck and in that regard a government of national
unity is called for so we can all face the problems as Nigerians without
partisan distraction. Two areas you have so much love are in the news,
Agriculture and Sports.
What are your views?
My views have always been that government in order to meet
their objective which are the needs of the people should diversify the economy.
Agriculture which was the main stay of our economy sustained our economy before
the discovery of oil in commercial quantities. We need vast acres or hectares
of land for mechanized farming alongside other inputs like pesticides,
fertilizers, and highly trained extension workers, strong marketing policies
including agro-allied industries to use the raw materials. On sports, I have
never been so sad as I have been watching this year’s Olympics which ended
recently. Our preparation and performance were an embarrassment, and the matter
needs to be investigated to prevent recurrence of this woeful outing. I wish to
reiterate my stand that we have to decide whether sports is for recreation (in
which case all the present facilities are enough), on the other hand, if we
want sports for competition or to form a sub-sector of our economy and to
galvanize the people into a formidable sports loving nation, Nigeria must
invest in policy, human resources, and materials. This implies a fundamental
overhaul of our current thinking and situation.
What about the present problem of the herdsmen?
I grew up to meet cattle being led from their destination in
the far North to the South, and there was no problem. The herdsmen are
Nigerians, but the situation has changed, and there is need for the
modernization of our animal husbandry across the country. There is, therefore, need for the Council of
State to review the situation in line with best practices all over the world.
A final word from you sir?
I repeat that the
problems facing the country cannot be solved by trading blames or trying to
score political points. Nigerians are more interested in solutions that have a
bearing on their welfare than any posturing. A government of national unity is
called for, that’s my position.
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