Edo state All progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Prince Clem Agba says the Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration in the state has already prepared the grounds for the victory of his party.
Agba who was the immediate past Minister of state for Budget and National Planning adduced bad governance in the state as basis for his sense of optimism that the electorates would cast their ballots for the candidate of the APC in the Edo state governorship poll.
Agba spoke to reporters yesterday shortly after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
Agba who made copious references to the 70 projects he attracted to Edo state while serving as a Minister insist that he remains the best among the aspirants irrespective of party affiliations jostling for the governorship of Edo state.
Agba faulted the notions held in certain quarters that he is the anointed candidate of the APC for the Edo state governorship poll.
He noted: “If I were the anointed, do I need to go about campaigning? I will sit at home and wait for the coronation. But I know I have to sell myself to the people. And because our people could be forgetful, I had to remind them the things that I did. I know I am the best among them. And in all the parties.
” I am not talking about APC now. Because I see all the contenders across the parties. Why do you think I am the only one under attack? Why am I the only one that is the godson? It is because no one throws stone at a tree that has unripe fruits.
“Am I going to deny that Adams Oshiomhole is a friend? No, I will not deny him. Am going to deny that he is my brother because we come from the same part of the state? No, I will not deny him. Will I deny that he is my boss? No, I will not. Am his only son? No, I am not. He has sons from Edo North, South and Central. I won’t deny him.”
Stating that his reach and grassroots support cuts across the three geopolitical zones of the state, he acknowledged that the former national chairman of the party and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole would always remain his boss, friend and brother.
Asked if it would be fair and just for the two Senatorial Districts of Edo North and South to rotate governorship seat, he said: “You know, when you are going to equity, it is always good to go with very clean hands. Edo South has produced four governors. Edo Central has produced two governors. The first governor, the university he founded AAU, I got two degrees from there. One is my Bsc in Economics.
“And the other one is PhD, my wife. Edo North has only produced one governor in the person of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. So, who is marginalised? Let me take it a little further. Because it doesn’t just start and stop with governors. The issue of ministerial appointments. Edo South has only produced three ministers.
” Edo Central has produced five ministers. I was the first minister from the Edo North. And I was the Minister of state. So, who is marginalised? What is important now is that we are in opposition, and we need to rescue power. And if you have to rescue power, you have to put your best foot forward. Someone who has the experience and he is competent.
“But if a relationship and where one comes from is what is important, I belonged to the three Senatorial Districts. My parents are from Edo North. My wife is from Edo South. I had my tertiary education training from the Central.
” But that is not where my Edo Central connection starts. My elder brother, his wife, is from Uromi, which is Edo Central. So, the children have a connection with Edo Central.
“Am I going to abandon them? My wife immediate younger sister is also from Uromi. The children they come to me and also spend Christmas with me. Am I going to abandon Edo Central? ”
