Former media aide to former military President Ibrahim Babangida, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has joined the Edo State governorship race.
Afegbua on Friday in Benin City, capital of the state, declared his interest to contest the seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said he would not run a government of Memorandum of Understanding if elected, adding that infrastructural decay, leadership deficiency, amongst others currently bedeviling the state made him to join the governorship race.
According to him, the needless fight between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, coupled with the politics of “pretence and high handedness” were leading the state to near collapse.
“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 other 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 i infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, among others.”
He pledged to continue the red roof revolution policy in schools started by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, saying the policy, which helped in covering infrastructural decay and rots in schools, was abandoned by the current government.
Afegbua said there has never been a zoning arrangement of governorship positions in Edo State and that anybody championing zoning is missing the point.
“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 an era of propaganda, MOU does not translate to development. Last seven years is for the wrong reason, the governor fighting the deputy, party leaders among others and such can bring development,” he said.
