Edo ‘ll profit more from APC-led House of Assembly – Arigbe-Osula

Arigbe- Osula…

Mr. Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula, one time deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives in this interview speaks on issues concerning the forthcoming legislative elections. Excerpts:
You helped to found the Friends of Democracy for Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and the Deputy Director General of the organization. Why did you become an ardent supporter of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari? I have always been a follower of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari from my ANPP days and believer in the values that characterized his military administration as a young man to date.

However, in the advancement of our democracy, we must ensure that even when personal interests conflict with constitutionality of any action, we must side with the constitution to ensure progressive evolvement of our democracy for the growth of our nation. This has always been my position and will not change.

I encouraged the then Acting President, subsequently then president to contest for the Presidency even when it was not yet fashionable to say so.

Supporting Gen, Muhammadu Buhari and the APC this time was normal for me. I predicted his victory this time at the Leadership Award ceremony where these leaders, Gen. Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu among others were honored, three years ago at Sheraton Hotel, Ladi Kwali Hall with Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Ogun, Ekiti and Osun state governors were in attendance among others.

I emphatically stated that the arrogance of PDP and the sufferings of Nigerians shall continue as long as Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu do not put their pride and individual differences aside. But if they unite before 2015, PDP shall be clearly defeated. With the formation of APC and the nomination of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the Presidential candidate, there was no doubt in my mind that the divine end to PDP unscrupulous reign was set.

Does the poor showing of the General in the South-South and South-East at the poll indicates his unacceptability there?

For goodness sake, apart from the fact that that result did not reflect remotely the General’s acceptability in these regions because we all know the ills that happened in these regions during the elections to the helpless electorates.

In the same vein, I see the Edo people electing Hon. Samson Osagie on that day in the concluding part of the Senatorial election in the state.

Love and commitment

The love and commitment of General Muhammadu Buhari to all regions will definitely be seen in the formation and character of his administration from the formation of his cabinet to put away any fear these regions may have at all. He will unite Nigeria behind the mandate given to him.

Are you really convinced that the APC will make a better showing during the State Elections?

Very well! I can say without mincing words that the irregularities that denied the electorates the freedom to express themselves through the ballot in the presidential election will be adequately checked this time and this will reflect in an overwhelming victory for the APC across the state.

Let me say here also that the Edo people must seize the opportunity of the rescheduled Senatorial elections in Orhionmwon L.G.A, to ensure that Hon Samson Osagie, the APC candidate is elected. You will agree with me that never in the historical evolvement of Edo State have we had a better opportunity to participate directly in government as one presented to us now by the possible election of Hon. Samson Osagie to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through this God ordained wave of change that heralded the elections of Gen Muhammadu Buhari and an APC controlled National Assembly.

What this portends for the Edo people and indeed the whole of the South-South geo-political zone is an opportunity to produce at least one of the ranking number 1, number 2, and number 3 person at the National Assembly, which translate into being the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representative, and the Deputy President of the Senate respectively. One or more of these prized positions of number 3, number 4, and number 5 citizen of Nigeria which are only considered for legislators with cognate experienced of both Houses.

History Beckons on Orhionmwon people, and in no small way on Edo people with this rear opportunity, with its attendant honor, rights, privileges, and developmental influence to the area, state, without necessarily leaving out the deserving South-South region.

I therefore implore the people of Orhionmwon to do the right thing by overwhelmingly voting for their son, Hon. Samson Osagie on 11th of April, 2015 as Senator representing Edo South in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They must put aside their political differences and party affiliations in grabbing this golden opportunity.