Sir, may we meet you?
I’m Professor Godspower Osaretin Ekuobase, Ph.D. I like adding Ph.D. because some professors don’t have Ph.D. I was born into a polygamous family of Mr. Jason Igbinovia from Ehor, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State. I’m a graduate of computer science from the University of Benin where I’m presently presiding as a professor of Services Computing. A position I attained at the age of 43, despite being from a very poor home where I have to hawk, teach in lessons and tapped rubber to fund my education. I attended Adolor Primary School between 1979 to 1985, I attended Edokpolor Grammar School from 1985 to 1991. I gained admission into the University of Benin in 1994 where I graduated with a second class upper division with a GPA of 4.24 in 1998. I served my youth service in Command and Staff College, Jaji in Kaduna State where I was exposed to the lifestyles, rudiments and culture of the Nigerian Armed Forces. I was born in 1974 and I’m a born Catholic.
Are you a politician?
I’m not a politician. I’m an Academic who is determined to supervise the Nigerian project and emancipate us from this deadlock in our political governance where it appears there is no solution to our problems. But the solutions to our material problems are easy and they are there but it only requires a man with vision and I will govern with due integrity, knowledge and consultations.
Do you belong to any political party?
Yes. I’m a registered member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 6, Oluku in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State where I have been since. I started working in the University of Benin in year 2000 and I have built my house in Oluku area. I’m a Nigerian, and I do not believe in tribalism. Tribalism is so strong in Nigeria that people will continue to ask you where you came from before they can help you. This have a way of affecting our emotions. For three things rule the world – emotion is there and one of the strongest and what has destroyed Nigeria is emotion and sentiments. So, I see myself as a Nigerian and when I think about the problems of Nigeria, with a view to proffer solutions which I see from a natural perspective. I’m an unwavering advocate of one Nigeria.
What exactly do you mean when you talked about leading the Nigerian projects. Are you by any means implying that you want to become Nigeria‘s president even though you are not a politician?
I have not been involved in active politics but I have been an active political watcher and people believe that you have to be greatly involved in active politics and probably assumed some political relevance or positions before you get to position of governance. I beg to differ because the stage Nigeria is today, you will agree with me without missing words that corruption is ensthrined in the Nigeria politics and anyone growing along the ladder will always be corrupted as he/she climbs along the ladder and in situation we have found ourselves in Nigeria where it’s obvious that our leaders have failed, God has always device a means of bringing somebody who was busy with his/her carrier to come and salvage the nation. So, I’m answering the clarion call to come and help out like David in the Holy Bible who was a shepherd boy. Now, I tell Nigerians today that I may not have the political experience like the old politicians but I have what it takes to bring down the goliath of corruption, the goliath of ineptitude, the goliath of incapability, the goliath of tribalism, the goliath that has brought Nigeria to it’s knells.
Sir, you mean that God has revealed to you that you are the next president of Nigeria come 2023?
Yes. I’m God’s divine projects. You see, I have been divinely prepared by nature for this project. My actions and inactions have been ordered in line with what and how Nigeria should be taken care of by me as the president.
What do you intend to do differently from others?
The number one problem of Nigeria is radical governance where there is a disconnection between the grassroots and the top. The ancient philosopher made it clear that a leader must have three attributes – integrity, intelligence and energy which include youthfulness and drive to emancipate the people and not to make personal wealth. I believe that leadership is a crown of torns not a throne of pleasure.
You want to contest the 2023 presidential under the platform of the APC; how can you do that without a strong political network?
Your question is like the one King Saul of Israel asked David when he said “who is our father”? We intend to ride on existing political networks and platforms and ensure that communication and contact get to the grassroots. We don’t intend to build any culture but we intend to ride on the existing culture. Nigeria is a network and the masses is a network. Last year, I started the “power for the streets network”. So, my network is the common man in the streets. Those common men are the true politicians that have not really reaped the dividend of democracy, I will harness them more towards achieving this vision.
Prof, are you aware that the APC is tilting toward presenting a common candidate for the election?
Yes, I’m aware and I’m going to be that consensus candidate. We are going to bring out my manifesto and network with the party members. I’m in the best position to be elected for that position. I will make Nigeria to be the true giant of Africa. A peaceful country that our brothers and sisters at home will be proud of and those in the Diaspora will not be afraid to visit home.
How do you intend to solve Nigeria’s problems, particularly the issues of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes?
The state we are in Nigeria is not different from the state that the Israelites where when Goliath was threatening them. For sure, the Goliath of insecurity disturbing this country will be defeated. What people think is that to defeat Goliath is by using physical weapons, no, it is more than that but we have put a strategy in place after wide consultation and research and I boldly say the solution is very simple. Find out first what is the cause of the problem (insecurity). If you want to solve a problem, you solve it from the roots and that was why Jesus Christ cursed the fig tree, He cursed it from the roots. Now, what is the cause of insecurity? Number one is unemployment, Number two is governance disconnection from the grassroots, Number three and very importantly – hunger. A situation where you have to work for 30 days to feed for 20 days, anybody will be ready to do anything including killing his brother or sister to meet up. We have done our research and have seen that even the Boko Haram are now money spinners. They pay their soldiers nothing less than 100 thousand naira every month which the Nigerian Police or Army cannot pay their new recruits every month. So why will they not be able to penetrate our military. The first thing we are going to do when we get there is to network with the international community like Isreal, Saudi Arabia, US, UK, etc to cut the finances of the enemies of this country. By the time their finances are cut, then it will be very difficult to pay their fighters. Another plan is to revitalize sports and thereby engage our youths. We shall also introduce welfare packages to needy Nigerians. This shall be made possible by blocking all financial leakages of government. Nigeria urgently need social packages to stop or address insecurity. We shall also engage our youths in agriculture. We shall address the herders/farmers clashes permanently by providing dams so that the herders will have enough water for grazing. Besides, we shall build more irrigation facilities to boost farming activities in the entire country. We shall encourage modular refineries in the South South to check militancy in the area. So, we have a non-military solution to curb insecurity in our country. If we stop criminals from operating their illicit businesses, then we must provide them with alternatives and that is what we are going to do when we get there. Again, we shall attract industries to Nigeria and encourage technology transfer by encouraging multinational companies to build their manufacturing industries in Nigeria. We have abundance of raw materials in our country to feed the industries. I will develop a strong political will to deal with Nigeria’s problems and I will excel where others have failed.
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