‘Why Buhari will deliver’

Kenneth Imansuangbon, a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).  He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his political journey and passion to serve.

You are a lawyer, educationist and businessman. But lately, politics has pushed all those other preoccupations to the background. What triggered your interest in politics?

I have always said it was nothing but passion to serve the people. The first time I got to the United States of America, I wept. The American Customs officer asked why I was weeping. I told him I was weeping because I didn’t know why my country was not like the US. I started to think: Where did we miss it as a people?

I discovered that the missing link was leadership. Lack of purposely and people-oriented people in key governmental positions. We lack people prepared to die for what they believe in to make a change in our country. That was actually what triggered my interest in politics.

No matter the hazards in politics, some of us are ready for change to come. On March 28, Nigerians voted for change. That change is here to live. We all must support the new government. If President Muhammadu Buhari fails, Nigeria fails; if he succeeds, Nigeria succeeds. Let everybody support the President. When we support the president, it is the country we are supporting.

Why did you dump the PDP for the APC given the fact that you were one of the leaders and financiers of the party in Edo State?

I have always been a supporter of the APC. Don’t forget that I was a major backer of the defunct ACN in Edo State. Yes, I am a member of the APC. I foresaw a change and I left the PDP before the last general elections.

 I worked and also directed my group and supporters to work for the success of President Buhari and all the APC candidates in the three senatorial districts in Edo State. My decision paid off as you can see the results of the general elections in Edo State. I thank God that I contributed my quota towards the emergence of Buhari as president and members of the national and state Assemblies in my state.

 President Buhari is a man of honour; the type of a leader Nigeria deserves.  Few days to the arrival of Buhari, Nigerians are embracing the change. The president is making the people to be conscious, everybody is determined to change for good in order to make Nigeria grow.

Buhari’s success in the election is a testimony that it is good to be good, that money is not everything, that good name, integrity and discipline have their reward. The reward may be slow but it will surely come. If it’s about cash, Buhari would have found it difficult. God determines leadership and He made his election possible.

With Buhari as Nigeria leader, corruption, which is a cankerworm that has eaten deep in Nigeria, will be a thing of the past because the man is already leading by example.

But some people are saying that the President has not hit the ground running.

I want Nigerians to be patient with the new government. We have to be patient. There is no need to panic. What is necessary for this government to succeed is our patience and support.

President Buhari has Nigeria’s interest at heart and he is taking the country to greater heights. Buhari’s emergence is like a political respite for the country, a freedom.

He will not fail Nigerians who want an end to corruption, who desire stable power supply, job opportunities and equal access to the opportunities and wealth of the nation. Insecurity will become a thing of the past if we have jobs for the youths.

It is poverty that is responsible for all forms of unrest and militancy, including Boko Haram, kidnapping and other crimes.

Why did you part ways with the PDP?

I finally left PDP late last year when I discovered that the party has abandoned democratic principles and embraced total autocracy. There is no longer internal democracy in the party again, instead, anarchy reigns.

The leaders refused to allow free and fair primaries, candidates were imposed making the party to be losing elections and the leaders were not bothered but continued in their dictatorship. They forget that no tyrant lives forever.

We have to be just in using power, there must be justice and fairness. My people invited me and told me to leave the party for APC before the last general elections and we all agreed to work for the success of APC under the leadership of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. For me, PDP is history and I am now a committed APC man.

So, is the APC embracing internal democracy?

From all indications, APC is in good stead to promote internal democracy. The party has demonstrated this during the last primaries at the national and state levels. APC is blessed with progressive leaders who are lovers of democracy. They will not accept anything less than justice and fairness. I believe in the leadership of the party.

The next elections in Kogi and Edo states will be a test case for APC but with President Buhari, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Comrade Governor Oshiomohle in my state, elections in the party will continue to be free and fair. Democracy has come to stay in the party.

What is your assessment of the leadership of Governor Adams Oshiomohle in Edo State? 

Governor Oshiomhole is a good man and a good leader. I have a lot of respect for him. Before him, Edo State was a laughing stock as one of the worst developed in the nation. But in the last five years, he has been able to turn things around for the better. He has touched every nook and cranny of the state with his developmental want.

He has introduced a lot of socio-political and economic changes in Edo State. His welfare programme is okay and has taken Edo beyond the rot of the past. He will forever be in the hearts of Edo people.

What is your next political plan?

My next political move will be solely determined by God. For now, I am contributing towards building the party in the state. My people will have a say in determining what is next for me to do. But I have confidence in the leadership and the ability of the APC leaders in Edo State; they will do what is right.