Etose Dickson Imasogie is one Nigerian politician whose political pedigree is overwhelming. He’s a political strategist and tactician. A faithful and loyal member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imasogie in this interview with Raphael Okhiria, spoke on the issues ailing the PDP, the 2024 gubernatorial election in the state, the quarrel between Governor Obaseki and his deputy, Shaibu, amongst other issues.
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Sir, for a long time now, the PDP has been fighting against itself, where you have the ‘Emanton’ group, ‘Legacy’ group which led to several court cases, but for some time, everywhere has been calm and quiet. However, some people believe that the quietness is like that of a graveyard, saying the calmness is not real. Can you therefore tell us about the state of affairs of the Edo PDP?
Aside Chief Anenih, Ogbemudia and the Esama of Benin, I led the others to register the party (PDP) in Abuja in 1998. Since then, I’ve not left this party. I still believe PDP is a leaders party. During the last nomination, Igbinedion called me and a few other leaders to discuss who we’ll send as our candidates for House of Reps, Senate and House of Assembly. But the governor declined the invitation. We followed the due process and did our nominations which was supervised by the national. A day to the end of the exercise, the government house went to camp those who came from Lagos but already, the INEC as per the Electoral Act 2022 supervised our own process. So we were very confident. But when the governor’s group went to court to challenge our own congress, we were sure of victory. But you know this is Nigeria, the outcome of that judgement made me to have little no respect for the judiciary. That was the first blow. We also tried to reconcile, some of us were seriously aggrieved. But I who sees myself as the father of the party refused to tow that line. And sincerely, those who do have a reason to be annoyed. You saw the results, Presidential, Senate, House of Reps elections in Edo State, out of the eight held that day, the PDP that dominates the state couldn’t get any one. It was in the House of Assembly that we started begging people to vote for PDP. In the first one, I voted PDP as their father but I didn’t fault any PDP member who didn’t vote for PDP because of the insult. After the elections, we decided that we’ll leave the government for the governor and uphold the party. That is what you are seeing today. The executive of the party belong to the Legacy, which I belong to, except one or two from the working committee headed by Tony Aziengbemi who is on the government side.
As things are now in the party, would you say that the PDP is united or divided?
It’s seriously divided. On ITV two weeks ago, they announced that I summoned a reconciliatión meeting as the leader of the PDP in the south. Some of my diehard followers were even thinking I collected money. I did not but I will not fold my hands and allow the party I breastfed to die. We just finished from a reconciliatory meeting, the subcommittee that I set up, threw from the governor’s side, three from my side. They made some recommendations which we are trying to implement. But even those in the Legacy are thinking I collected money from Obaseki so there can be reconciliation and they should vote in the forthcoming council election. That is not my ambition, my concern is the party.
So as at the moment, PDP is divided; but the party will go into local government elections early next month. What do you think will be the outcome of the election?
My interest first is that we win this state, not council. I’m a local politician so my interest should be more on the councils. But I am looking at the governorship election that’s coming up next year. Tinubu recently boasted to Oshiomhole that the governorship will return to the APC. We, the genuine PDP people are not happy with that statement. The aim of our reconciliation is mainly the governorship election.
Are you confident that the committees set up have the ability to bring about genuine reconciliation to your party?
My side is divided. The governor’s side is divided. Those who thought I collected money from Emanton group are not fully with me on this. It’s now that they are seeing the need for us to come together. Both sides are now discussing.
Talking about the 2024 governorship election, how do you think a PDP candidate will emerge?
We have a legal procedure, it will start from the ward where the ward leader will call for the ward congress where they’ll elect delegates, from there the local government and next, the state where there will be voting. I’m aware that Ikimi and co said that the leaders in the south have agreed with them that this time around, the candidate will come from Edo central. My friends in Edo central, I have sympathy for them. But I let them know that we can’t keep using a failed system. If you want to fight, let the people at home know your strength, so that in case you are defeated, they will know that it was mago mago. Ishan people that say that the south agrees with them, I don’t know how they got that information. We have procedures, if they want to influence us, not vote buying, we’ll listen and see their way but not to go to the press and say we agreed with them. I also know what the Oba told them. Those my friends in the Senate know where I stand. It’s neither here nor there. I’m not saying they will not have it but it will be a competition. Instead of this arrogance, I expect them to penetrate the other two senatorial districts begging “oh we’ve been cheated. Do this for us”. Can you not see what is happening in Benue ? It’s only Tiv that are made governors. We have the Tiv, Igala and other tribes. The Ishan people should take it easy and not see it as a right.
Presently, there’s an infighting between the governor and his deputy; and all eyes are on the leaders of the party, as to how they will settle them amicably. What are the leaders doing this direction?
Who is not annoyed in the party? Are you telling me that I’m not annoyed, either with the governor or his deputy? When our Abuja sector leaders gave the tickets to Obaseki, we looked at both sides and I sent some of my leaders, led by Chief Douglas Usoh to meet our sons and told them to step down, from the governorship race let it go. And when he (Obaseki) was helped by the PDP governors to come back again, he wanted to take Shaibu but my people said no, I asked them one question, “if you were to be Shaibu, what will you do. He left his mentor, Oshiomhole to follow a Benin man. The Benin man has gotten his position and then just leaves you, where do you want him to go.” My people listened to me. That is why to some extent, he came back as deputy governor. Now he’ll see me in a function and expect me to greet him first because he’s a deputy governor. But as far as this issue is concerned, I feel 60-70% of the blame should go to the governor. If he advised his deputy not to contest, all he can do is pitch his tent with somebody he likes. Ambition is one’s opinion. You do not lock him out or try to punish him or remove his schedule from him, all because he wants to contest. If I were the deputy governor, I’ll also feel like impeachment is coming. Not that I’m supporting him. The thing I hate most is the governor going out to say that his deputy is trying to impeach him. You’ll be exchanging words with him because you went to court. If everyone he offended talks the way he’s talking, would he have a place to rest his head? He should learn to behave like a mature person.
As the situation is now, what is the way forward?
You dey ask me? Let me ask you a question, your enemy’s daughter, can you see her as beautiful girl? The two of them, no one is my friend. It’s not that I’m happy but there is nothing I can do to separate them because first and foremost we’ve left the government for them to eat and quench. Abi dem no tell you say Legacy’ people no dey chop for this government?
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