By Ken Afor
Prince Kassim Afegbua has announced his ambition to compete in the upcoming 2024 Edo gubernatorial election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He declared his interest on Friday at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council in Benin City.
Afegbua said if elected, he would put an end to the era of lamentation in the state.
According to Afegbua, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , if elected, his administration would not be based on a government of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He also stated that the State’s current experience of infrastructural decay and leadership deficit were factors that motivated him to enter the gubernatorial race.
He said that the persistent quarrels and clashes between the heads of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state, paired with a deceitful and authoritarian attitude are the causes of the near downfall of the state.
His words: “I joined the governorship race on the platform of the APC in order to seamlessly reposition the state and fully explore the opportunities beckoning to us.
“We cannot afford to be in opposition, when we have a Federal Government that is poised to renew our hope and take us to a place of prosperity, economic strength, stability, and pride.
“The era of lamentation will be gone if I am elected. Edo must rise from the ashes of this present mis-governance, lack of infrastructure, bad leadership among others to a state that will occupy its rightful place in the assembly of states in Nigeria. Edo State deserves more than just a passing interest.
“Edo is seriously begging for attention with the level of infrastructural decay and leadership deficiency. My focus would be on infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, among others.”
If elected, Afegbua promised he would continue the red roof revolution policy initiated by former Governor Adams Oshiomohle in our schools.
He stressed the importance of the policy as it helped cover for infrastructural decay and rots in our schools, which the current government has abandoned.
While other intending aspirants have been clamouring on zoning, Afegbua responded saying that there has been no zoning of the governorship ticket to Edo Central, and that those who push for it are misunderstanding the situation.
“In 2007, when Oshiomhole came to contest the position, as at that time Edo Central had three ministers yet Osunbor who is also from central was elected governor. Now, from that time till now, every primary conducted by political parties featured aspirants from the three senatorial zones. So, this time, nothing of zoning should stop any worthy son of Edo to aspire to govern Edo.
“We are in era of propaganda, MOU does not translate to development. Last seven years is for the wrong reason, the governor fighting deputy, party leaders among others and such can not bring development,” he said.
Afegbua will be latest politician to declare his ambition for guber race in Edo after the Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu who recently made amends with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Afegbua is currently one of the notable aspirants on the platform of the APC aside Prince Clement Agba, a former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.
