Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Edo 2016 a speech to the delegates.

SPEECH TO MY FELLOW DELEGATES @ A WORKSHOP

THEME

DON’T WASTE YOUR VOTE @THE EDO STATE  APC PRIMARIES IN JUNE 2016

Good morning my fellow delegates. Let me thank the organizers of this beautiful workshop for helping Nigerians to reinforce the importance of democracy.
Looking at this mammoth crowd of delegates from across the three senatorial districts, it is obvious that you have done your home work, a wonderful job for the state in particular and the nation as a whole.
The theme of this workshop speaks volumes, ‘Don't waste your vote @ the APC Primaries in June 2016’. This workshop is an opportunity for us, the delegates to rub minds as the future of Edo State rests upon what will do at the APC primaries.

1.      My names are Jacob Omoragbon. I am one of you. I am an LGA delegate from Oredo. We are now the beautiful Bride in today’s Edo State governorship primaries. We are the delegates that have the final say on this issue of who becomes the governor in 2016. Please sing along with me.. Who has the final say …. The Delegates have the final say.

2.     Our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC is a brand new party which came about with the merger of ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA a faction of PDP called the New PDP. The Leadership gave the party a very democratic constitution. Before now, na ear we dey take hear say they don anoint person for governor. No be so? We are the very first set of delegates in APC history that will truly elect a representative governor in Edo State. If our leaders knew that this was going to be the case, that they were not going to be able to control us by telling us who to vote for, they will never have elected us as delegates. They would have anointed their wives and children. Now if they could remove us and replace us with their girlfriends they would have gladly done so. But that is not possible. Do not let them deceive you,  nobody can remove you as a delegate.

3.     Let me tell you this short story so you can situate the assignment God has given us delegates to do for Edo people. The story of Joseph in the Bible starting from Genesis 37. You know how Joseph brothers sold him into slavery and how he became a governor in Egypt. How his brother came to buy food from Egypt and when they came the second time how he revealed himself to them. When his brothers started crying for fear of the evil they did to Him. Joseph reassured them, he told them not to worry about the past, that God used them to achieve a purpose for the people. That if they have not sold him people would have starved to death. He said their action was for a set time like this.

4.     My dear delegates just like Joseph; God has assigned you for a special purpose. Your political assignment in life is to change the destiny of our people. This is the reason that brought you into politics and this is the reason God allowed you to be elected as a delegate. You are destiny changers. When you vote for a candidate that has a verifiable track record, a man who has managed men and resource far greater than Edo State budget, a man who has paid his due to the people. Vote for a man that has what it takes to change the life of the people. If you vote the right person, your destiny will change forever for good. My life will change and your life will change too. Lastly, do not waste your vote for any candidate that will come and learn how to manage at the level of a governor. You must vote your conscience and don't let governor say sway your mind. On that day the governor will cast his one vote and go just like you will cast your one vote and go. Nobody will intimidate you because the whole world is going to be watching on live television.

5.     About five months ago, I was at the government house to complain about thugs harassing market women and bus drivers for revenue. The people were paying to the thugs who instead of remitting the money to government coffers. They were using our tax revenue to building their private hotels all over the state. When I got there I saw people massing to see the Comrade Governor. So I asked who they were and what were they doing. One of them told me that they were serving Commissioners, Advisers, Senior Advisers, junior Advisers, Special Advisers, Senior Special Advisers, Executive Directors, Personal Assistants, revenue collectors, clearing and Forwarding agents in government. I asked again what their purpose was. He said they were there to ask the Comrade Governor to run for a third term. Wao, third term? I queried. As we were just talking Adams Oshiomhole walked in, climbed the podium to address the crowd. They were shouting third term, third term, third term, continuity, continuity, continuity. It was then it dawned on me that this self-serving people some of whom has been in government for more than 7 years wanted their salaries of #350,000 a month and other entitlements to continue for a new tenure.

6.     Comrade told them that it was not possible for him to do a third term but he has one of them in mind. Right there he introduced one Godwin Obaseki and the crowd shouted no, no, no, but the Comrade said  he has already anointed him. He said Godwin Obaseki’s mother is from Etsako. In anger and frustration they dispersed back to their offices. Three days later, the anointed aspirant wanted to go on tour to visit delegates. I heard that Oshomhole knelt down to beg the Commissioners to go with Obaseki. When they refused to go, it was said that he took a koboko,(Horse whip) to chase them. When they saw his countenance they reluctantly accompanied his anointed aspirant on the tour of some Local government secteriat.

7.     In life there is a time for everything under the sun. A time to live and a time to die. Live and let's live. I have always said that four years or eight years tenure is not forever. Some have been there for 16 years, Dr. Only Me. Those who were lucky to serve in this government have had their share of our commonwealth. When they were busy enjoying government patronages did any of you here border them? No. Now it is your turn to shine. It is now the turn of you the DELEGATES.(Sing a song)( Rise and shine, for the light is come 2 times, The glory of the Lord is come. The glory of the Lord is risen, the glory of the is risen up on me)

I have a question for all of you. Dem dey forbid if any of you is made a commissioner or an ED, SSA or a PA? Those doing the job now, do they have two heads? Are they better than us? Is it not our political labour and sweat that they are enjoying? The only aspirant that can give us that true change and a fresh start is Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi. It is only Ogiemwonyi that is going to build from the scratch and he will engage you first. A vote for Obaseki or Odubu is a vote to continuously make those in government comfortable at our expense. Monkey dey work, Bamboo they chop. Una non see say wahala full ground.

8.     Let me talk about our own local rabble rouser, the RICE MAN, Barr. Kenneth Imasuagbon. The opposition party in Edo State, the PDP, has cleverly zoned their governorship ticket to Edo South and everybody in that party are working towards that objective. Even popular politicians in PDP in Edo Central are working serious to reach that goal.  Ken Imasuagbon was there in PDP and did not know that there was a need for an Esan Agenda. He did not fight it there, he cowardly jump ship to APC after all elections has been concluded. Upon getting into our party he started making noise that it was Esan Agenda. My fear is that Ken who can be referred to as a nomadic politician because; he keeps jumping from one party to the other. He is posed to cause disaffection in APC and between the people of Edo Central and Edo South. Ken knows that since PDP governorship ticket is coming from Edo South, APC will be political foolish if they bring an Edo Central candidate because the votes in Edo South will go to PDP. I told you earlier that four years and eight years is not forever. The governorship will definitely come to Edo Central and an Edo Central person will rule Edo State for eight years. The Esan Agenda now should include searching for and grooming a viable person, build up his profile and be able to present a united front when the time comes. When Oshiomhole came in, 2016 was like eternity but today the time has come for him to exit. Finally, the delegates should know that RICEMAN is playing a spoiler role gimmicks. In fact it looks like his party, the PDP, sent him to come and destabilize the APC. He may be a mole in our midst.

9.     My dear delegates make una shine una eyes. Our MUMU Don Do. On that day at the Stadium show them say you don wise finish, collect their money, na our money anyway, collect it, chop am and vote Ogiemwonyi. Nothing dey happen. Ebo dey.  Oyibo no dey come. Vote Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi.


10.                         Thank you very much for the opportunity. I will request that you organize another workshop immediately  after the primaries so we can review how the votes went. Thank you!