‘Why I’m Gunning for the Senate’

Osa Director, former Editor-in-Chief, Insider Magazine and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) senatorial aspirant for Edo South

— Osa Director, former Editor-in-Chief, Insider Magazine and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) senatorial aspirant for Edo South
By Chidiebere Onyemaizu and Bayo Bernard
You are vying for the Senate. Why the detour from journalism to Politics?
Yes you are right, the truth is that I’m running for the Senate in Edo South Senatorial district, under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). You are correct, I’m a Journalist and I still see myself as one. But you should appreciate the fact that there is a thine line between Journalism and politics in the sense that both are public service oriented professions. And sincerely speaking I owe allegiance to many professions. Apart from being a journalist I’m also a lawyer, and you know my pedigree as a human rights activist and social crusader with undiluted belief in the school of thought of Chief Gani Fawehinmi and we believe in the expansion of frontiers of democracy. So that’s what informed my decision to join partisan politics. And if you check the definition of politics by Harolt Mawell, we are all interested in who gets what and why and probably how so to that extent, we are all politicians.
Looking at your credentials, they are very intimidating. Could it be that you have all along been planning to join politics and probably that informed your acquisition of several academic laurels?
Yes to be very honest, like my father always said the best legacy you can give to a child is education, and since I have the privilege of western education, I see my self doing what my father could not do. You talk of preparation, yes, one of the tragedies we have in Nigeria today is that we have rulers and not leaders. We have people in position of authority who are not prepared, so I have deliberately prepared myself over the years, so that whichever position I find myself, I would not be found wanting, and I can give a good account of myself.
Having practiced as a journalist and now into politics, do you think this can translate into adequate representation for your people?
Mine is transformational representation. We have to move beyond what it is to what it ought to be what should be and what can be. I believe that a new Nigeria is possible. By virtue of my vast experience, putting in over 20 years in journalism media practice, I have interacted with power for 30 years. I cannot be intimidated by power, I know the morality of power, so to that extent, I know when to draw the break and where to draw the line. So, I think that as a journalist I have adequately prepared to represent my people, not just my people but the nation as a whole. Because I’m also conversant with areas that needs changes and adjustment because as a journalist, you are suppose to be a jack of all trade and master of all, just like the legal profession, you can be called upon to defend a case of road accident or medical misdemeanor, or a case of electoral fraud, so journalism gives you courage, because when you get to the senate you are going to engage in constructive engagement and I don’t know anybody I can’t engage constructively. Afterall, as a young journalist I had the privilege of interviewing Nelson, Mandela, Emeka Anyaoku and former Prime Minister of the Bangladesh.
Don’t you consider yourself coming into politics a bit too late considering that you come from Edo State notable for political bigwigs?
Well you are right that I’m coming to politics a bit late, late in the sense that when I started sensitizing the youths, women and those who matter in Edo state about my aspiration, they said sir, you are a gatekeeper, one of those who fought for democracy we are enjoying today and you now decided to become a cage dweller, it means that I’ve geared up for a long time but to a large extent I still agree with you that I’m coming in a bit late, but it is better to be late than never. I believe the lateness is going to serve positively for me in the sense that it has helped matured me, in terms of my focus, my thinking process, interaction and vast network across the country and having put in over 20 years in journalism. I lived in Kano for 14 years, and I have been in Lagos now for about 10 years, I’m regularly in the East, most of my friends are from there. So, there is nobody that matters in this country that I’ve not interacted with, or have not heard of Osa Director. So to me that lateness is a positive one.
In the event that you actualise your dream of going to the Senate, what are those things that are dear to your heart that you intend to achieve for your people?
There are a lot of them, I don’t want to fall into the trap of politicians who make promises that they cannot fulfil. But fundamentally, the role of a Senator is lawmaking and over sight functions for ministries and government parastatals but apart from that, most of our Senators have refused to appreciate that they are also there to attract investment to their areas, especially where you have comparative advantage, I believe that my exposure in Journalism and as social crusader in human rights struggle, notionally and internationally put me on a good pedestal to network so that I can bring these things to bear to attract investors into Edo State especially where we have comparative advantage in the area of limestone, rubber. If you go to Edo North it is like Obudu Cattle Ranch. And it is because my Comrade Governor started from ground zero, so his emphasis is provision of infrastructure for now. The whole of the state is being transformed, and if he decides to go into tourism, the state will become a tourist destination. I’m passionate about one thing, that’s who I am. I’m a Binin man and I believe that the issue of 1897 must be revisited, when some bandits from the United kingdom used their superior weaponry and looted our artifacts, which they have placed in their museum and people come and watch and pay. It’s going to be my primary responsibility, it’s very dear to my heart, if that is the only thing I can achieve as a Senator, I will be happy: that those artifacts are not only returned but the British must pay compensation to the Binin kingdom. Also, the issue of youth empowerment and the development of our own Nollywood. I’m going to synergise with brilliant Edo indigenes in the film industry to develop the industry.
There are insinuations that Matthew Urhoghide is also interested in the race. What is your opinion on him?
Yes, Matthew Urhoghide is a heavy weight but he’s a heavyweight loser. He has been contesting since 1992 and he has never won. So, I don’t think he’s going to win against me, this time around. So, it’s not going to be unusual for him to lose, in short it’s going to be strange if he wins this time around, because he has that pattern of losing.
There are insinuation to the effect that Senator Ehigie Uzamere is planning to decamp to ACN, ahead the election. What chance do you stand against himn?
I believe that the destiny of Edo South people who I seek to represent is far more too sensitive and delicate to be placed in the hands of desperate politicians and serial contestants who are like failed motor brake and you know such a vehicle can run into anything. I don’t believe that Uzamere will come into ACN for one reason because I believe that he’s a contractor to Goodluck Jonathan and Alamieyesegha and they are very close friends, so it’s going to be a thing of desperation for him to dump the PDP and join the ACN. But if he comes, he’s welcome, the more the merrier. The Edo people will have to ask him that you have been there, show us your score card and we can begin from there. And I must promise all of them especially Uzamere that wants to contest against me that as a journalist, we I a dossier on them. They should be ready to dance naked in the market square. We know that there are some of them who have problems with the EFCC, NAFDAC for supplying fake drugs, they should all be very very careful because we shall all be made to dance naked in the market place I’m not afraid of any of them.
Edo State is one of the States in Nigeria where high voltage politics is played, what happens if those that matters or the godfathers later decide that you run for the House of Reps instead of the Senate. What would you do in that case?
Number one, where were they when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole destroyed the concept of godfatherism, which was actually a struggle that was started by the former SSG to Governor Igbinedion- with a motto. “No man is God” and he tackled Anenih to a standstill. And Comrade Oshiomhole has institionalised it now with “One man, one vote.” So, I don’t think there is room for godfathers. But they are leaders. My response to that is that I’m not desperate, I’m in service to render service. If my people after due consultation says this is where we want you to be and I consult with my supporters and they say go ahead, I will go with whatever people say. So I’m not desperate.
Politics in Nigeria is capital-intensive, do you have the financial muscle to go the whole hog?
Well, a few people that said I should go to the House of Reps, the only reason they always advanced is that they don’t think I have the money to run for the Senate which is very true. But I also thank God that there is now less emphasis on money politics in Edo state unlike in those days. Those times when a godfather will collect millions of Naira from you for nomination is over. There is now a level playing ground, yet it’s still capital intensive. We are also enlightening the people that it’s not all about money, men and women who appreciate good governance will also come round and rally round behind me. At the end of the day, the money may not necessarily come from Edo State, there will be support from all over the country knowing that I’m not in politics for selfish reasons. But right now, finance is a huge challenge to me, I won’t deceive you about that.