Prince Kassim Afegbua has declared his interest to contest the forthcoming Edo 2024 governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during an interaction with the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council at its secretariat in Benin City, Afegbua said he would not run government of Memorandum of Understanding if elected.
He also said infrastructural decay, leadership deficiency, amongst others currently witnessed in the state made him to join the governorship race.
He said the needless fight and altercations among the leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state, coupled with the politics of “pretence and high handedness” are responsible for the near collapse of the state.
“I joined the governorship race on the platform of the APC in order to seamlessly reposition the state and fully explore the opportunities beckoning to us.”
“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.
“The era of lamentation will be gone if I am elected. Edo must rise from the ashes of this present mis-governance, lack of infrastructure, bad leadership among other 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.
“Edo is seriously begging for attention with the level of infrastructural decay and leadership deficiency. My focus would be on i infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, among others.”
He said he would continue the red roof revolution policy in school started by former Governor Adams Oshiomohle if elected.
Afegbua said the policy, which helped in covering infrastructural decay and rots in our school, was abandoned by the current government.
On zoning the governorship ticket to Edo central, Afegbua said there has never been zoning arrangement of governorship position in Edo State and that anybody championing zoning is missing the point.
“In 2007, when Oshiomhole came 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 featured aspirants from the three senatorial zones. So, this time, nothing of zoning should stop any worthy son of Edo to aspire to govern Edo.
“We are in era of propaganda, MOU does not translate to development. Last seven years is for the wrong reason, governor fighting deputy, party leaders among other and such can bring development,” he said.