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.
