Politics

Edo 2024: Infrastructural Decay, Leadership Deficiency, Compelled Me To Join Guber Race – Afegbua

Published

2 years ago

December 1, 2023

Editor

…says Nothing Like Zoning; Edo Central Once Had Gov., 3 Ministers

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Prince Kassim Afegbua, a governorship aspirant in the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election says infrastructural decay, leadership deficiency, amongst others, as presently experienced in the state, made him to join the race, with a view to correcting such.

He lamented that due to the present “needless squabbles and altercations among the leaders of the ruling party in our state,” Edo people are “disoriented by the politics of pretense and high handedness,” stressing that this shouldn’t be.

Afegbua, who is running the governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated this when he paid a visit to the secretariat of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council.

The aspirant said he is contesting the number one seat in the state on the platform of the APC in order to “seamlessly reposition the state in sync with national reckoning, and fully explore the opportunities beckoning to us.”

He added: “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.

“I am determined to make a big difference with positive impacts. With your support, I will redefine the essence of governance for the benefit of our people.

“The era of lamentation will be gone when I take the lead. Edo must rise again; she must rise from the ashes of this present mis-governance, 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.”

Afegbua, who lamented that “Edo is seriously begging for attention with the level of infrastructural decay and leadership deficiency,” said: “I can’t stand the the kind of roads I saw while traveling through the state.
Immediately I am sworn in, I will start working on our roads. Mobility is key in any human existence. How do we encourage our rural farmers to take their farm produce to the urban centres when our roads are in bad shape. So, road infrastructure will be my number one priority.”

He added: “Education will follow. I will continue the red roof revolution of the government before this present administration. This is because that particular policy helped in covering infrastructural decay and rots, but unfortunately this government has since abandoned that particular sector.”

He said he would make the health sector his third priority, just as he added, “I have tried to search for Godwin Obaseki government’s new heath centres; community health services and lots more, but I haven’t seen any.”

He stated that he is “very passionate about resetting the political architecture and dynamics of the state, through purposeful leadership that will birth a new lease of life for us all as a people.”

“I am encouraged by the knowledge of the natural resourcefulness and ingenuity that lie in our people, and their can-do spirit, now unfortunately in despondency,” he added.

Speaking on the agitation to zone the governorship ticket to Edo central, the aspirant said: “There has never been zoning arrangement of governorship position in Edo State. Anybody who says there is zoning will be missing the point.”

He added: “In 2007, when Oshiomhole came on stream 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 has always been featuring every aspirant from all the zones. So, this time, nothing of zoning should stop any worthy son of Edo to aspire to govern Edo. “

Related Topics:Edo 2024 Prince Kassim Afegbua

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Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.