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Tag: Imansuangbon

  • Edo: Imansuangbon fails in bid to sack Akpata as LP candidate

    Edo: Imansuangbon fails in bid to sack Akpata as LP candidate

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by Kenneth Imansuangbon in which he prayed the court to void Olumide Akpata’s nomination as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

    In a judgment on Friday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that the suit was statute barred, having been filed outside the 14 days allowed by the Constitution for the filing of such pre-election cases.

    Justice Egwuatu upheld the preliminary objection raised by Akpata against the competence of the suit.

    The judge said, having held that the suit is statute barred, the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit.

    He proceeded to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

    The LP conducted its governorship primary election in Edo on February 23 where Akpata was declared as the winner.

    Read Also: Economy: CBN governor Cardoso assures Nigerians of growth, stability

    Imasuagbon, who said he was a governorship aspirant of the LP, filed the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/472/2024 on April 12 through his lawyer, Anthony Malik (SAN).

    Listed as defendants in the suit are Akpata, Oluyinka Alufohai (described as the candidate for the deputy governorship seat), the LP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Imasuagbon had prayed the court to, among others; invalidate the nomination of Akpata and Alufohai as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of LP, claiming that Akpata allegedly submitted forged documents in his FORM EC9.

  • Edo 2024: Imansuangbon sues Akpata

    Edo 2024: Imansuangbon sues Akpata

    • Seeks LP governorship candidate’s disqualification

    A governorship aspirant in the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State, Kenneth Imansuangbon, has taken the party’s governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, to the Federal High Court (FHC) in Benin and Abuja, seeking his disqualification.

    Imansuangbon, a billionaire philanthropist, popularly called “Riceman,” in view of his regular distribution of bags of rice to Edo residents in the 18 local governments, is asking the court to prevent Akpata, ex-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), from being the party’s standard-bearer for the September 21 election.

    In a suit filed at the Benin Division of FHC by his counsel, A. A. Malik, Imansuangbon said LP, the second defendant, erred by declaring Akpata the winner of the party’s primary election conducted on February 23.

    Read Also: Edo 2024: Imansuangbon sues LP’s Akpata, seeks ex-NBA chair’s disqualification

    In the Abuja suit, also seen yesterday in Benin by our reporter, Imansuangbon, a lawyer, alleged that Akpata, the first defendant, lied under oath and supplied false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In the Benin suit, Imansuangbon claimed that Akpata was not qualified to have contested the primary election, having violated Section 222 (c) of the Nigeria Constitution, as amended, and Article 28 of the party’s guidelines for the conduct of primary poll, declaring that the votes garnered by the first defendant in the primary election be declared invalid.

  • Tambuwal ‘ll unite Nigeria, says Imansuangbon

    A Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kenneth Imansuangbon has called on well-meaning Nigerians to rally support for  PDP Presidential aspirant  Aminu Tambuwal.

    Imansuangbon made the statement while touring Edo State to woo delegates in support of Tambuwal at the PDP primaries.

    Tambuwal’s anticident as a visionary leader, game changer and a detribalized Nigerian stand him out.

    “ Tambuwal is experienced. I believe in him and his candidacy. I have confidence in him because I believe he will fix the Nigerian economy, create jobs for the youths, stabilize the country, tackling security genuinely and restore masses confidence in democracy,” he said.

  • Imansuangbon: I want to serve the poor

    Imansuangbon: I want to serve the poor

    Kenneth Imansuangbon, lawyer, businessman, philanthropist and governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has a mission. “I want to serve the poor, who have been neglected; the poor who are the victims of bad governance”, he told reporters in Benin-City, the capital of Edo State.

    The aspirant, fondly called the rice man, is among 15 contenders struggling for the APC ticket. Other contenders include Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, the Leader of the Edo State Economic Team, Godwin Obaseki, his cousin, Don Pedro, Prof. Oserheme Osunbor, and Chris Ogienmwonyin.

    Imasunagbon, who hails from Ewohimi, rose to fame by the dint of hard work. After his secondary education at Ago-Iwoye secondary school, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, he attended the Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State. Many stakeholders, including Edo people in the Diaspora, have endorsed him for the seat. To them, the aspirant has the competence, experience, academic qualifications, integrity and understanding of the challenges confronting the state.

    His style of politics is shaped by his humble background. Having experienced poverty as a youth, he sworn to eradicate it in his immediate society. His first approach is to assist the poor and indigent through his various empowerment programmes. At Christmas, Imansuangbon has always distributed bags of rice to people in Edo. It has been his own way of fighting hunger and making them happy.

    The politician explained that an encounter with the business mogul-turned politician, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, also opened his eyes to the fight against poverty, misery and squalour. He recalled that the late politician was generous to all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe and religion. As a law student, he had cause to lead a delegation to him to solicit his financial assistance towards the execution of students’ law week programme. The delegation smiled home with a huge donation from the chief.

    Imansuagbon has touched the lives of youths through his literary and sport activities. He is also an employer of labour. Apart from his thriving chamber, he is the proprietor of the Abuja-based Pacesetters Group of Schools. These activities have made him a household name in the state. However, there is a limitation to how far he can go in his bid to abolish poverty without state power. He said he needed power to reorganise society, redress injustice, put smiles on the face of the poor and promote equity and fair play.

    But, politics is a hard option. He said although he threw his hat into the ring because of the poor, the field is too slippery. “The poor people need men like me in politics,” he said. Yet, in another breath, the aspirant said the political environment is always dirty and full of deception. His staying power is the philosophy that the field should not be avoided by good people because as he put it, “if the good ones abandon the game of politics for the bad men, then, the common man is gone.”

    One of his priorities is job creation, if elected as governor. Imansuangbon described job creation as the greatest form of empowerment. In his view, the move will reduce crime. A responsible government, he emphasised, should make it a priority. He said: “I am running because I believe that the Edo people need an experienced person to create jobs. Boys and girls must be taken off the streets, and to do this, you need an experienced hand from the private sector.”

    The aspirant also promised to promote agriculture. He observed that Nigeria has neglected the sector to its peril, urging the government to emulate the United States, which can always feed Americans. “I will be the number one farmer in Edo. I will create farm settlements. I will make everybody a farmer.

    “I am known as the rice man. We will create rice farms, rice plantations close to the sea, which is my local government. We will make juices of all kinds, tomato paste, and of course, bread. Everybody will be busy, meaning that crime will reduce.

    But, the aspirant has some hurdles to cross to get the APC ticket. The party has no policy on zoning. But, it is evident that Edo Central has been agitating for the slot. Also, the governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is said to be backing an aspirant, Godwin Obaseki. Other contenders are livid as they engage in a game of delegate hunting. But, Imansuagbon’s supporters believe that there is no cause for alarm.

    Exuding confidence, Imansuagbon said he is the most suitable person to succeed Oshiomhole. He faulted the endorsement theory, saying that the governor has no preferred candidate. The aspirant said the people of Edo will freely choose the next governor after he has picked the ticket. He urged them to get their Permanent Voter’s Cards ready for the exercise.

  • 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”.

  • Imansuangbon’s philanthropy

    SIR: I have no doubt that the people of Edo state will reward the philanthropy of their son, Ken Imansuangbon as the race to the Edo State Government House gathers steam up. Edo people are enlightened and appreciative of good gestures.

    I am reminded of a recent newspaper article titled, Edo politics and the perennial pretenders in which the author expressed his grudge at the annual distribution of rice by Imansuangbon to the people of Edo State.

    Imansuangbon has repeatedly told the story behind his annual rice sharing; that it has no direct link with his gubernatorial ambition but rather an appreciation of a woman that gave his widowed mother and his siblings rice to eat during Christmas many years ago when his family was not in a financial position to afford a cup of rice.

    No mater what, the exercise goes on. In December 2015, seven churches were visited in Benin City with bags of rice ranging from 10kg, 25kg to 50kg. Several orphanages in Benin City and the home for Internally Displaced Persons from the Boko Haram crisis were visited with bags of rice. The University of Benin Teaching Hospital UBTH got many bags of rice in addition to N1 million in appreciation of the good works UBTH was doing.

    Security agencies and Benin prison equally received the Christmas rice gift. Major motor parks across the 18 local government areas of Edo State were visited with the Christmas gift.

    In July 2015, Imansuangbon gave scholarships and different awards to the winners of the annual Ken Imansuangbon Essay Competition. Edo children in their hundreds in junior secondary school, senior secondary school and all tertiary institutions, both public and private in Edo State benefited. The award ceremony was held at the University of Benin main auditorium. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who represented the Vice Chancellor acknowledged the annual generosity advised that it should be expanded to establishing rice farms. The advice of the DVC was taken hence the foray into agriculture, particularly rice cultivation.

    Imansuangbon is qualified to aspire as governor of Edo State. He has the academic qualifications. He has the experience and clear evidence as a job creator and a man that can generate revenue for Edo State, not one to rely on allocation from Abuja. He is a regular taxpayer with known means of income, and whose credibility is not in doubt. He has no previous or current issues with security agencies on financial matter or any other bothering on crime.

    His critics should be courageous enough to mention a better aspirant for the governor of Edo State and let Edo people know whether the person is a regular taxpayer, his business or means of income, whether he has ever had issues with security agencies on financial matters or any other bothering on crime; whether he has evidence as a job creator, whether he is more educated, whether the person is being sponsored with public fund or the personal income of the aspirant and above all, tell Edo people what the person has done with his personal income before this time to show love or care to the people of Edo State.

    • Michael Omoroge,

    Okada Edo State.

  • My accident has united Edo, says Imansuangbon

    After surviving a road accident on November 13, last year,  the proprietor and chairman of Abuja-based Pace Setters Group of Schools, Kenneth Imansuangbon, was at the Rev. Felix Omobude-led New Covenant Gospel Church, Benin, Edo State for thanksgiving. The Edo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant spoke with reporters after the service. Sunday Oguntola was there.

    Congratulations for surviving the accident. Were there any premonitions?

    Yes. I knew somehow that there were evil persons who were not happy with what I was doing for the masses. I felt somehow that they were not happy with the good I am doing, like sharing rice, giving scholarships, sponsoring essay competitions, football competitions in Edo and across the country, reaching out to widows and orphans and so on.

    I knew that some people don’t like such good things. But there are also some people that love it. Each time I do such things, it is because of my faith in God. The background I came from is very poor. I lost my father in 1983. From that point in time, mama (my mother) toiled day and night to provide for our needs.

    Mama trained me with black cloth (mourning attires). I am the first of six children. My mother, Elizabeth Imansuangbon, is a wonderful woman; very resilient and courageous. When my father died, she didn’t abandon us to marry another man. She was very beautiful. She stood by me. I actually benefited from the sympathy of the public. So, that is why you see me giving. I can give my knickers, shoes and even pant and go naked without batting an eyelid.

    It is believed you are into all these humanitarian activities to win elections. How do you react to this?

    It is in my DNA to have sympathy on the poor. If they know where I am coming from, they would know that nothing can be farther from the truth. My guiding principle is that politics should have face of humanity.

    When I give, I give selflessly. Even when I give, I can do it in pains. There are certain things you give even when you don’t have. But you’re constrained to give because you could see the weakness and begging of the people with their eyes and with their body languages.

    So, you’re left with no option but to bend over backward to give. At times, I feel pain. It is not easy to give. At times, I feel, this money that I am giving, would I not keep it for me children? Or why don’t I use it buy big cars, expensive wristwatches and to build a big house? This house I live in (in Benin) is a rented apartment.

    What are the lessons you have learnt from that accident?

    That life is a vanity. It’s like a vapour. November 14, I would have died were it not for the mercies of God. Life is very frail and temporal. On November 13, I was coming from Akure where I went for the burial of my very good friend, Deji Falae. Deji had died. Back home, I was almost gone. But the finger of God stopped death and Satan and gave me life. God said, ‘No, touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.’ That was what saved me.

    I must say that as a result of the accident, two things have happened. I have taken two decisions. As a result of this accident, I would hold on to God the more, serve Him better than ever, serve the community and the people.

    I will serve Edo people, serve Nigeria and serve the world. Let me also add that the accident has brought unity to the state. It has synergised PDP and APC. And because of that safety, Edo people are together now. The safety God granted me has bonded the two dominant political parties (APC and PDP) in the state. The governor and I are friends now. We’re brothers.

    Everybody is one now. The accident that almost claimed my life has unified Edo people. What makes Edo strong is not PDP. What makes Edo strong is not APC. What makes Edo strong is not the rich oil or vegetation in the state. What makes Edo strong is the spirit of forgiveness, the spirit of unity, the spirit that I can criticise the Comrade Governor, and the next day, he can come to my thanksgiving. That’s love.

    You rose from rag to riches from grass to grace. What was the turning point?

    From Ewohinmi, my mother would come to Benin when I was in ICE, wearing black clothes. I am sorry to say this but parts of our culture are unfriendly and unkind to woman. If a woman loses her spouse, for three years, she is made to wear black clothes. She would come to Benin with her black clothes to give me foodstuff and other necessities.

    For me, I knew that the only way was to succeed. I would tell her, ‘Mama, don’t worry. If it pleases the God Almighty, the end would justify the means.’ In all, today, I am grateful to God and to my mother. Also, I have a very great wife, Kate. She is like a bulwark. She is my brain. God gave me a good partner. Whatever I am today, she is very instrumental to it. And she is a God-fearing woman.

    Is it true you weep anytime you travel overseas?

    The first time I got to the US, I was crying. I wept. The American Customs office asked why I was crying. I told him I was crying because I didn’t know why my country was not like this. Where did we miss it as a people?

    That was actually what triggered my interest in politics. That was the reason I said no matter the hazards in politics, some of us are ready to live and die for what we believe in to make a change in our country. This change is coming. This change will come. This change is here.