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Tag: Edo

  • INEC fixes June 22 for voter registration in Edo, Ondo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said voter registration in Edo and Ondo States would commence on June 22 ahead of governorship elections in both states.

    The governorship elections in the two states take place in September and November.

    The commission announced the date in its bulletin on Tuesday.

    It said the exercise would run till June 26, while June 27 would be dedicated for conclusion of claims and objections on the registration in the two states.

    It added that notice of activities on the Edo election would be released on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 30(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that the INEC shall give the notice of a governorship election not later than 90 days before the election.

    The commission also stated that it would conclude the Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency election on Wednesday.

    The exercise was conducted on Saturday but declared inconclusive due to reported cases of over-voting in some units.

     

  • Edo community ‘celebrates’ one year without electricity

    It was an unusual ‘celebration’ for residents of Eme-Ora in Owan West local government area of Edo state recently when they recently ‘celebrated’ one year without electricity supply from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.

    The celebration was not the normal gathering of persons but at the heart of residents of the community who had endured one year of darkness and paralyzed business activities since electricity supply to the town was cut off in 2015.

    Problem of the community started in April 2015 when the transformer serving the community packed up, just after the community had come out of an eight-month old darkness.

    National President of Eme-Ora Progressive Union (EPU) Prophet Emmanuel Ojo Akhigbe-Agge said the problem of lack of power supply has continued despite the purchase of a transformer to replace the obsolete one.

    According to him, “We have 10 quarters and as we speak, Eme-ora has not had electricity for the past one year. The place has been in darkness. The electricity in Eme-ora, the transformer was packed up on April 20th, 2015. In 2014, there was no light for about eight months. In 2013, Eme-ora had no light for about five months. As you could see, I donated a transformer for our community to help alleviate the situation but those in charge have not deemed it fit to give us electricity.”

    Besides the problem of electricity, Prophet Emmanuel said Eme-Ora has no potable water and that the only secondary school in the community is like an abandon house.

    He said: “Our secondary school is like abandoned.It’s not functioning well.It’s not running like a school. The primary school is what I don’t want to talk about it. Is it the bad roads? The only road linking Uhunmora and Eme-Ora was inaugurated during the time of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia pioneered by one of our aged father, Pius Uduehi. He led that good work as the only road we have.

    “The major issue confronting us is that the Eme person is not empowered because we are a minority. In fact, the entire Owan west is not empowered. Owan west has not gained anything from the government. So Eme did not gain anything.

    “I want to invite the people of Eme-ora to be attracted to EPU so that we can work on our focus for a possible achievement for the community. Because if I want to look at our challenge of what we are confronted with I will be talking about government and I don’t want to talk about the government. You know, it is my believed that Eme-ora have children that God Almighty by Himself have blessed. If we put our heads together, we can build our community.”

    When contacted for comments, the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) said the community was owing the firm N3 million.

    Managing Director of BEDC Mrs Funke Osibodu said the transformer was being repaired but that the community should pay  or it would continue to celebrate darkness.

     

  • We are worse than IDPs- Edo pensioners

    We are worse than IDPs- Edo pensioners

    No fewer than 500 pensioners who retired from the public service of the government of Edo, on Monday took to the street in protest of 42 months pension arrears, saying “our conditions are worse than that of the internally displaced persons.

    They protested round major roads in Benin and ended up at the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), press centre, and said most of them who retired from the service between 2013 and 2016, were yet to be paid their gratuity, and monthly stipends.

    Armed banners with various inscription, such as, “Edo pensioners are more displaced internally than the IDPs” urged the Adams Oshiomhole led government to constitute the state pensions board.

    Spokesman of the group, Mr Gabriel Osemwenkha, said as a result of non-payment of their gratuity and pensions, the pensioners have find it difficult to cope with economy reality.

    He noted that while some have past away as a result, others have find it difficult to send their children to school due to lack of fund.

    “We appeal to our Royal Fathers, Politicians, elder statesmen, mothers, the clergy and all well meaning citizens of the state to prevail on the state Governor to pay arrears of pension entitlements to over one thousand deprived pensioners.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the state government had delayed the payment of arrears of pension ranging from 10 to 42 months as a result of which pensioners have been groaning in penury and pains.

    “Contrary to claims that the government does now owe state retirees, the government has refused to commence payment of pension with effect from the date of retirement as stipulated in civil service pension law,” he stated.

    The Edo NUJ chairman, Mr Roland Osakwe who received the pensioners, urged them to be calm as they go about their protest.

  • Airhiavbere joins Edo governorship race

    •‘I have Pry Six certificate to contest poll’

    A former General and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Edo State, Charles Airhiavbere, yesterday pledged to drive the party’s progressive ideology and programmes for the improvement in the living standard of the residents.

    The retired soldier unveiled what he called his viable economic model, which encompasses effective security system, youth and women empowerment, blocking of leakages in all sectors of the economy, rehabilitation of ailing industries and factories long abandoned by previous governments.

    Others, he said, include employment generation and other programmes that would impact the lives of the residents.

    He said an APC administration under him would launch Edo State to the outside world.

    Besides, Airhiavbere said an APC-led government under his watch would build trailer parks and new markets as well as other productive ventures that would shore up the state’s revenue base.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretary in Benin, the state capital, to formally declare his intention to contest the September 10 governorship election, Airhiavbere assured the Edo electorate that he would give priority to the Gelegele Sea Port, if elected governor.

    He noted that as an accountant and economist, he was at home with policy issues and determined to turn around the state’s fortunes.

    The former soldier said as an ally of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and having contested against the governor as the PDP candidate in 2012, he remained the candidate to beat in the forthcoming election.

    Urging the delegates not to compromise their votes for a better future, Airhiavbere pledged not to desecrate the Government House, if voted the governor.

    The APC governorship hopeful stressed the need to recruit more teachers with the training the trainer policy to compliment the red roof revolution of the Oshiomhole in order to create a critical value for youths for guaranteed standard education from the kindergarten to the university levels across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    On health, Airhiavbere assured that “any man or woman whose age is between 75 years and above” would be the property of the state government under his administration.

    The retired soldier said his administration would boost women’s skills, adding that the government under his watch would organised empowerment schemes.

    If elected governor, Airhiavbere said, his administration would establish a Conflict/Unity and Social Harmony Committee to resolve various crises among individuals, groups, communities and bodies for harmonious relationships.

    He said: “We need to be prepared for the future.”

    Also, Airhiavbere has said he has his Primary Six School Leaving certificate to contest the September 10 governorship election.

    He said he joined the race to lead Edo State to the Promised Land.

    Airhiavbere addressed reporters in Benin, the state capital, after picking his nomination form in Abuja.

    The former PDP governorship candidate said the state must align with the government in power at the centre.

    The retired soldier said the PDP would not win the Edo State governorship election because the party had gone into oblivion.

    He said his administration, if elected, would introduce toll gates on roads, attract investments and provide affordable health care for the residents.

  • Imansuangbon promises to restore Edo’s glory

    Imansuangbon promises to restore Edo’s glory

    Ahead of the September  gbernatorial election in Edo State, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ken Imansuangbon, has promised to restore the lost glory of the state, if elected into office.

    Imansuangbon spoke yesterday when he visited the APC National Secretariat, Abuja, to pick his Expression of Interest form.

    He said the APC in Edo is united and ready to ensure that the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is torn to pieces.

    He said: “I am the number one person to pick the form and God willing, I will be the number one person throughout the general election.

    “I have been consistent since 2004 because, basically, I believe that the people of Edo State need an experienced person to create jobs and address other issues. All my life I have been committed to creating jobs. Since I left university 25 years ago, I have been creating jobs and that is my cardinal objective when I take over from Adams Oshiomhole.

    “Secondly, my duty would be to strengthen our school system. Our school system is very weak. Governor Oshiomhole has done his best, but that is not where we want to be as a people. I am well-equipped as an educationist to make schools work and give teachers hope and restore their pride. When I come in, schools would be very interesting to students in Edo state.

    “Thirdly, we would go back to till the land. I will boost agriculture. I will be the chief farmer in Edo state. I will take everybody back to farm. We will create farm industries. There will be rice plantation in Auchi, Agenebode to be precise and other reverine areas across the three senatorial districts.

    “Rather than arm the police, I will arm our young ones to be in the farm”, he said.

    Imansuangbon promised to send, at least, 1, 000 youth to Thailand to understudy its rice farming system, with a view to replicating same in the state and exporting the produce back to Thailand.

    On how he would source the finance for his programmes, he said his administration shall plug all revenue leakages and that having been in the private sector for years, funding would not be a challenge to him.

    He said his mission is to improve on what Oshiomhole has done “so that we would have a better state for our children and grand-children”.

    On the issue of zoning, Imansuangbon said he is not an apostle of zoning, but a believer in the need to get responsible and credible people into political offices.

    He hailed the leadership of the party for providing a level-playing field for all aspirants, saying if that continues, “I will become the governor”.

  • Oshiomhole’s wedding anniversary

    Oshiomhole’s wedding anniversary

    Today marks the first anniversary of the wedding of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and Cape Verdean model,Iara Fortes.
    Oshiomhole’s second wedding followed the death of his wife, Clara on December 8, 2010.
    The governor and his bride took the marriage vows at a private marriage registry attended by family and a few friends on May 15, 2015, after which a reception, attended by guests, including President Muhammadu Buhari was held.

  • APC has not lost hold of Edo -Eta

    APC has not lost hold of Edo -Eta

    Prince Hillard Eta is the South-South National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with reporters in Calabar, Eta expresses strong reservations for the local government system in Nigeria, among other issues. Nicholas Kalu was there. Excerpts

    You have expressed strong reservations about the local government system in Nigeria. Why is this so?

    It has been a very painful journey with regards to local governance in Nigeria since 1999. I am aware because I have been active since 1998, since the advent of this dispensation and I am aware that from 1999 to 2002, we had a similitude of local governance in Nigeria. Across party lines, this emerging local government system was completely caused between 2002 and 2003 and since then we have had graduated deterioration of the local government administration in Nigeria. In fact, what we have today in certain states, like Cross River, is a joke in the name of local government administration. Take for instance in the month of March, my local government area, Calabar Municipal Council, was out of the almost N200 million allocation, given only N2million for the purposes of superintending over the council. With a voting population of about 144, 000 and a total population of more than 400,000 people, it is a joke. A million naira was given to the executive; a million naira was given to the legislature of the local government. One is therefore forced to ask if it is necessary at all that we have the local government structure. Would it not have been better if the federation was to terminate at the state level, so that we know that the funds that come to Cross River State goes straight to the state and however the state wants to manage its resources, it would be held accountable by the people. Not a situation where about 20 per cent of the entire resources of Nigeria is ploughed into a system that is so vague that you cannot hold anybody accountable.

    For instance what happens to the rest of the allocation of Calabar Municipality for the month of March? So, this is unprecedented fraud and scam. I think the nation ought to look at the local government system, whether it is necessary at all. In certain other places, it becomes an outpost for the collection of levies and taxes for government, not for any meaningful development processes to take place at that level of government. I am not sure there are local government areas in Nigeria of today that would asphalt roads, do extension services in their agricultural sector and aid in the public health systems like it used to be. And the local government was created to bring government to the rural dwellers, to the least privileged amongst us. It has not served that purpose. So, the pertinent question to ask is if it is therefore necessary at all. In almost all the states in Nigeria, you find out that it is one party that would appropriate ownership of the structures of the entire local government areas. So, what they do in states like in Cross River, they call it family affair, where they sit down and nobody from outside of the system gets to know what happens within the system. And that is why most Nigerians question the efficacy of the state electoral commissions; whether it is necessary at all. This is because results emanating from local government elections can be forecasted. That is a state is controlled by a particular party, that all the local governments would be controlled by the same party.

    To drive home my point, 20 per cent of the federation account that goes to the local government areas in Nigeria is far and above the national budget of so many African countries today. Take a place like Botswana, Seychelles or Rwanda, where it is said that real development is taking place in those places. The resources available to them are not even as much as monies allocated to the local government areas in Nigeria and yet real development is taking place in those places. So, this is our concern with regards to the local government system in Nigeria.

    Let Nigerians sit again to decide if local government system is not necessary or if it should be abolished. If it is necessary, then we should format a template to begin to have the local government work for the people of Nigeria. Right now, it is not working for the people. I am not proffering an absolute solution to this problem. I am just saying that it is something we must put on the table whether we like it or not; because we are just frittering away 20 percent of the resources of Nigeria, and it is huge.

    Are you hopeful the APC will retain Edo State in the coming governorship elections, as there appears to be some crisis within the party there?

    The APC is grounded in Edo. It is poised to win and retain the governorship of Edo. Not because we are a garrison party, not because we intend to capture Edo, but simply because we are campaigning on the accomplishments of our outgoing governor. So there is absolutely no problem. Yet people impugn all manner of conspiracy theories. The APC has not lost hold of Edo. Its hand is firmly on the handle. The result of the election would speak to this. Only the voters of Edo would decide.

    How about internal democracy in arriving at a candidate for the party?

    We have shown that in Kogi. We had 28 aspirants and because it was fair, not a single person petitioned the party. And that is exactly what we would do in Edo. You know we read sometimes about so much crisis in the APC and I laugh. I think with all due respect to the press, for us not to have crisis in the party, we must all behave like zombies. But I don’t believe that I ought to behave like a zombie. You know when the president came here and broke the ground for the construction of the superhighway, I disagreed with my president. And I said, I do not believe in this project. This project is a scam. I said so from the beginning and today Nigerians are beginning to see that it was a scam. It was just a process of logging our woods and destroying the last rainforest in Africa for private profit, because I cannot imagine where Cross River State would find N700 billion to build a road like that. I have always asked a pertinent question. Please what is wrong with the other road? Why can we not rehabilitate it or build a new road on it? Why must we build another road, which connects about only five local governments? The existing one connects about 13, which means that it is the most important road in Cross River State. So, if you truly want to build a superhighway, this is the superhighway. Not when you have to pass through our forests and log our wood. Some of those trees have been there for more than 400 years. The man is going there to destroy our ecosystem, log our wood and tell us he is building a superhighway. So in the APC, we have a right to hold different opinions. That is why we are progressives. In the conservative fold, the only thing that puts them together is how to share the spoils of office. For us, we must debate and have a conversation. And as many people as you have on the table, you will have many opinions. We must have this conversation for us to have a consensus.

  • Edo 2016: Ogiemwonyi is Oshiomhole’s worthy successor

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole has presented a template; performance is that template. Whoever must aspire to step into the shoes of the comrade governor, therefore, must show evidence of performance.

    Having come into governance from the private sector, Governor Oshiomhole has employed the must-to-drive and the managerial efficiency of the sector to raise the bar of development in the state. Of course, this immediately narrows down the choice of who should succeed him. That person must be a professional who evidently proved his mettle in his profession.

    Considering the achievements of Governor Oshiomhole in the past seven years, this means a lot, for whoever succeeds him. Oshiomhole is perceived in the public as an achiever and indeed a pacesetter in governance in this dispensation. His popularity rating is very high. Whoever takes over from him must, therefore, be seen in the same light, an achiever.

    The Edo and indeed the Nigerian populace would want to know. So we can see, that though Edo is our immediate constituency, there is also a larger constituency of curious Nigerians from all walks of life who have taken to the Oshiomhole administration and would want to know who the party decides to bring out and why.

    Who is, therefore, this new person and what are the qualities that he will be brining into office to consolidate on Oshiomhole’s laudable achievements and sustain his gains.

    This is why the intention of Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi to contest the Edo State governorship this year is most welcome and should be celebrated. Engr. Ogiemwonyi, a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wears a peerless and unassailable reputation.

    In the course of his professional and public service engagements, he is exemplary. He is credited with numerous philanthropic gestures. It is also remarkable that he is a product of the Harvard Business School.

    Engr. Ogiemwonyi belongs to many professional bodies, including the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and former President of the Nigeria Gas Association. He is a recipient of the Justice of Peace (JP) by Edo State Government and the Kwame Nkurumah Leadership Award. He is also patron to several bodies, including the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) and the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), among numerous others.

    Now these are virtues that would greatly advance and deepen the nation’s democracy. To be sure, it is not enough to boast of high sounding institutions with democratic tokens. You need men and women of integrity and passion to drive these institutions.

    Sometime ago, the former U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton declared that what developing nations need really to succeed and join the league of advance nations are strong institutions and structure of government peopled by strong men and women of character. She said this has been the missing link all along.

    You can’t but agree with her. Indeed, when you look at the course of the development of the U.S. itself, you would notice the blend of abiding institutions manned by those with near-flawless pedigree. They were not saints, but as a result of their passion, selflessness and commitment they put great performance and left behind legacies which their successors latched on to offer their own contributions in their own generations. After all, government, as they say in political science is a continuum. Edo State cannot be different. “We need a man of repute and good record like Ogiemwonyi to launch the destiny of the citizens to a higher level than we are at the moment”. Because of his service in the strategic public sector of the society, he can be trusted to deliver on two counts.

    First, looking at the profile of Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, he stands out as the leader and most experienced administrator and manager of men and resources. We can count on him to build strong institutions capable of delivering the much sought after dividends of democracy. This is the political talisman the American Secretary of State referred to above.

    Second, he has the capacity to transform the state into the one that will be worthy of emulation. This will perhaps explain why Emmanuel Gold Idehen acknowledges the fact that Engr. Ogiemwonyi’s outstanding quality has earned him the sobriquet, Mr. Integrity.

    He said: “Look at the United States of America. They need men like Ogiemeonyi to draw on their vast experience which beginners may not be able to offer. We need Ogiemwonyi as a governor in Edo, given his past where his ideas stabilise the polity”.

    The choice is, therefore, before Edo APC delegates as the survey shows that Ogiemwonyi will win the APC primary election. Edo APC delegates are no pushover. They cannot be deceived. They are not fools as some sponsors think. They have realized that giving Ogiemwonyi their votes will transform the state to another level.

  • Danjuma Foundation to train 100 women, youths on skills acquisition

    Danjuma Foundation to train 100 women, youths on skills acquisition

    No fewer than 100 women and youths are to benefit from a three-month skills acquisition programme by an NGO, T.Y. Danjuma Foundation, in Fugar, Edo.

    The T.Y Danjuma Foundation, in conjunction with Que Initiative, is to train people in the locality.

    Mrs Oluwatomi Ajayi, the Edo Coordinator of the foundation, made the disclosure at the flag-off of the programme in Fugar, headquarters of the Etsako-Central Local Government Area, on Monday.

    Ajayi said the training was to complement government’s effort at curbing the increasing rate of unemployment in the country.

    According to her, the objective of the programme is to create an alternative means of livelihood for the people who before now relied so much on government and white collar jobs.

    “This training is coming at a time when unemployment is becoming a threat to the security of lives and property.

    “The T.Y Danjuma Foundation, in partnership with Que Initiative, has taken a bold step towards bridging the gap through an alternative means of livelihood for unemployed women and youths in the country,’’ he said.

    The Executive Director, Que Initiative, Mrs Idufueko Abiola, said the women and youths would undergo three months training in bead making, tiling, hair dressing, cosmetology, phone repairs, catering, decoration services and making of household items.

    “The training scheme will equip the women and youths with an aggressive, up-to-date, marketable vocational and technical skills, to enable them to be self-reliant, self-actualised and self-fulfilled,” Abiola said.

    She said that participants were expected to be presented with certificates and starting kits at the end of the programme.

  • My plan for Edo, by Irabor

    My plan for Edo, by Irabor

    Casely Omon-Irabor, a lawyer and human right activist, is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State. In this interview with Osagie Otabor, he explain

    Why did you choose to contest on the platform of the APC?

    The APC is a merger party of all progressives. I am a progressive. I contested for the Senate under the CPP in the last general election. I decided to contest now because there is a vacuum in leadership in Edo State and people are wondering how to get the best of leadership. We had thought as at 2008 and 2009, we are going to use Edo as an experimental state because we have an activist who is the comrade governor and we thought we had an Obama of Nigeria. In the first tenure, he tried a little, in the second tenure, there was nothing to write home about.

    Why do you work. you are the right person to provide the leadership?

    What motivated me is that I heard from God. I am not a conventional politician. I veered into politics because our mentor, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, told us to step into governance. He said the time has come to revolutionise politics and for us to practice what we preach. I am in politics not because I want to be known. I am already well known all over the world. I am Under Secretary United Nations Human Rights. There is gap to be filled in Edo State. If you look around the state, there is no single Edo man that is happy. 90 percent of the people are suffering. People believe we can sit down and rely on allocation from Abuja. Our IGR is not known. We have enough resources to harness in this state. Edo state is bigger than many countries.

    What are your plans for the state?

    I will focus on agriculture. I have gone round the state and I know how to harness the resources. Every parts of the state will be harnessed. We will not leave Okpella limestone for Dangote alone. There are other things to get from limestone. There will be mechanized farming. I grew from suffering, lack and it propelled me to succeed. Go to Ugbegun, Igeuben where they grow yam. What they earn will not uplift them. I will give grants and not loans to farmers. Farmers in the state are underfed. Many of the farmers go to farm half naked. When I was contesting for the senate, in some villages, you see people looking like madmen. They are farmers in this 21st century. Can we not change their orientation? Can they not wear good clothes to the farm? We will lift farmers from suffering. I will refocus furniture making in the state and stop exporting our wood. I do not need to have billions to win the elections. If the governor like, let him give Godwin big money, Godwin cannot win elections in this state. He does not look like who wants to be a governor.

    Are you worried about your opponents especially when there is alleged preferred aspirant?

    Why is Oshiomhole afraid of who will succeed him. I will not look back and probe. I will match on. If I say I want to open books on Oshiomhole, what will I ask Igbinedion, Osunbor and the military men. I will not look back. I don’t have time to look into the past, I will look forward on how to grow Palm oil plantations. I will ensure we harness what we have.

    Do you have the cash to woo delegates?

    You will not see crowd here in my campaign office. When they come, they will be singing priases that I will not die but I told them not to kill themselves for me. I urged them to go and vote for me. They will praise you but if no money, they will say you are not prepared. Many of them are not delegates and they want me to give them money. Where do I get money to give them? There is no way I would be sincere in office if I gave all the money to win an election. You cannot see me giving delegates money. I am worth about N12m but I will not give anybody money. I am asking them to allow me show them the road so that they can see, they are asking for money. I am not going to bribe any delegate. I am aware of the rigging process already in place. All the party machinery are in the hands of Oshiomhole. They hold meetings everyday and Oshiomhole gives them money. If the expression of interest form and nomination forms is high than what they sold in other states, we will go to court. If on that day, we see how the election go, we will do certain things drastic. I have the means to some things. I want to use my power of connection to improve my state and not to destroy it. I want to improve on my state. I will not sponsor violence. Anything can happen and anybody can become governor.

    What about the nomination forms? At what price do you think it would be okay for you and other aspirants?

    From the level of the aspirant, I do not see any aspirant that cannot purchase the form. If they said the form is above the normal price, then there will be no primaries. Oshiomhole should do the right things. He should not do anything funny. There might be compromise and horse trading. I will not bow to anybody to get the party’s ticket. People bow down to a reigning king and not a coming one. I will not be coerced not to buy the nomination form then I would have betrayed all my supporters and confidants. What about God that woke me up and asked me to go and contest. He is behind me. He called me to go and contest the election.

    How did God tell you to contest?

    When I came out from detention in 2012 after I was arrested and humiliated in Delta State during the administration of Uduaghan, I became like a church rat. I had only one car left. I still remained functional and we were managing to feed and pay the children school fees. It was in that condition, I heard a voice calling me asking me to go and contest. I told my wife and she queried where I would get the money. After my wife confirmed it, I decided to contest the senatorial election. I didn’t want to join the PDP and the APC was a merger of strange bed fellows. I decided to contest under the CPP. People contributed money and we used it for logistics but I did not give bribe to anybody. I came out third. I had the credible and quality votes while they had quantity votes. We were talking of who would go to the Senate to make laws, they decided to choose a tailor and contractor over a vocal lawyer. Our people sent a contractor to the senate when they have an international lawyer because of money.

    s his mission in politics.