By Ehi Ekhator
One of the governorship contestants of the All Progressives Candidate, APC Engr Christopher Ogiemwonyi has explained how the last governorship primary was manipulated in favour of a certain candidate.
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He also took a swipe at the governor, Adams Oshiomhole to allow the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki talks to the people, adding that he (the governor) has vacated his seat to campaign as if he is the candidate.
While speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on Sunday, Engr. Ogiemwonyi who is currently in the United State said people who were not delegates were seen casting votes for a certain candidate in the last primary.
He expressed disappointment on how qualities are no longer used as criteria to electing a candidate but anointment from the sitting governor.
Explaining the roles he played in the last primaries, Engr. Ogiemwon said “For me, it was an experience. If you check my background, I came to politics with about 35 years in the public service. 34 years as a staff of NNPC and one year as a minister. I thought we were looking for experience, capacity, and integrity in governance.
“ I offered myself but I have since realized that in politics especially in some areas, if the governor is not endorsing you, no matter what you bring to the table won’t yield fruit. That was my experience and that was why I petitioned the committee and at the end, they placed me at No 4 that I got 137 votes and I said NO.
The former Minister questioned the process of the primary saying “The process itself, the ballot papers and the way it was handled, the night and the stories we were hearing a day after, and papers were printed in Benin made me to petition and I said there should be a forensic evaluation.
“Secondly, some people who were not delegates were seen casting their votes. On those problems, I wrote an appeal to the appeal committee on the 22nd which was Wednesday and the appeal committee Chairman addressed the conference on Friday that the evidence they have were so weighty that it would warrant cancellation and would order for a rerun. I thought we could believe him, but the next week, without doing that forensic and other evaluation, he went to the air to address the National Working Committee of the APC that he was upholding recommendations.
“That was when I addressed the press that in Nigeria we don’t believe in being thorough, and for almost two weeks, I complained to the committee that I needed an answer and it is only just last week Monday here that they told me that they were upholding the appeal committee, whereas I have since moved on.
When asked whether he was saying the primary was rigged, Minister Ogiemwonyi who seems very mindful of his utterances said “Because I participated in the process, I don’t want to judge it but I have my views. I have always prayed for the journalists to be analytical not just to report speculations.”
Speaking on the expected outcome of the election since it was marred with controversies, the former Minister said “ On a general note, some years ago, I forecasted that the way Nigeria politics was revolving, a time will come that people will not vote for the party but the best candidate and I think that is emerging in Nigeria now.
“There was a time a party like PDP will wear a goat and the goat will win and vice versa in other parties, but today, those things are no more relevant, people are now looking for candidates who can deliver on their promises, a man who has the capacity, not corrupt and can deliver. What people abhor seriously now is corruption, they will screen the best candidate, someone who is credible, who doesn’t have the baggage of corruption.
“You recall that during our primary, when some people were paying delegates N150,000, the government candidate was paying N450,000 per candidate. My worry now for Edo State is that, will it be for the highest bidder again?
“I believe, in totally, I am praying that whichever of the candidates that have the capacity, the experience, zero to corruption, acceptability, and the reach to reach foreign agencies to invest in Edo State should be the governor.
“When I was campaigning, I said my name is my brand because I worked for 34 years for the NNPC, nobody said I am corrupt, people said I am fearless, he would be a good governor but the people threw it away looking for money.
“I pray the electorates be bold enough to elect the leader who is courageous enough to move the state forward. I don’t want to answer the question of which one of them because it is not A or B.
“Speaking of the capability of Godwin Obaseki, the ex-Minster said, I have never worked with him. I was in the oil and gas; he has never worked with me.
While explaining the role the state governor played in the primary, the disappointed Ogiemwonyi told NAIJA CENTER NEWS that “The governor behaved like a candidate. The governor ought to be looking for the best but from day one, he was the candidate or rather an aspirant. “
Aknowledging what many people are speculating that the governor does not allow the APC candidate to say much during rallies, the former aspirant said “It appears the governor has vacated his seat during this campaign period. He is no more working, he should allow the candidate to speak for himself so that people can know the name, Godwin. I have no doubt that Godwin has some capacities , but we should allow him to take his destiny in his hands.”
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