Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State, Lucy Omagbon, talks about the crisis in the state chapter of the party and other sundry issues, in this interview with David Lawani and Ben Ogbemudia
How has it been with the party?
So far, so good. We have had a bad time, and a good time too. It has been quite challenging. We have found time together to present a common ground for operation. It has been quite okay for some time now.
Can you tell us how you have navigated your way because the crisis in the party has put you in the apex ratings of the party?
Well, you will agree with me that in life there are bound to be challenged here and there. There was a glossy situation that was not very clear. And the National Working Committee (NWC) stepped in and took the decision its wisdom to keep the chairman aside. You know nature abhors a vacuum. I just had to step in to fulfill my constitutional role.
And you know what the constitution says in the absence of the chairman. The deputy would have to step in. And that was exactly what I did. Of course, the investigation was carried out, and the chairman was given a clean bill of health. He was reinstated, though with some caution from the leaders of the party. Ever since we have been moving on very well.
Of recent, we saw all manner of suspensions from all the regions in Edo State. There were counter-suspensions too. As the deputy national chairman, what are the issues?
You cannot build on nothing. When this suspension was taking place, I asked somebody who happens to be a member of the House of Representatives that if you are going to impeach a governor, for example, do you need the entire population of the state to remove a governor. Or do you go to a market square to impeach a governor?
The governor can only be impeached by elected people in the House of Assembly. So, now, you have to ask yourself; these suspensions and counter-suspensions, who are they? What are their functions at the party? What authority do they have to be doing what they were doing? As far as we know, they are interlopers to the management of the party.
They have no business in doing what they did. They have no relevance, and as far as we are concerned, those suspensions were of no effect. And that is why nobody took them seriously. That is also why the suspension died the very moment it was pronounced. You were in a meeting with the governor, his deputy, and the SSG where the suspensions were rectified?
I was not in such a meeting.
What happened with the rectification?
Well, as I said, the people who were rectifying this suspension, what responsibility do they have in the management of this party? What is their position in the party? Even the governor, what is the governor’s position in the party, or the deputy and the SSG? What they did was just an exercise to satisfy issues of the moment, which has no basis, relevance, or consequence. And that is why it died on its own a natural death, even though some people try to go to court to want to use the court to perfect or back illegality. You also know how it ended.
The governor said he is the leader of the party, and he will decide what happens…
Well, I am glad you said you have read the party’s constitution. By convention, yes, he is the leader. Citing the 2012 party’s constitution, he could be said to be the leader of the party. But by the 2019 revised constitution of the party, the governor has no role at all in the management of the party.
The state chairman is the chairman of all the caucuses of the party; the state caucus, the elder’s-in-council. The state chairman is the chairman. So, if by convention, and for respect, you call the governor the leader of the party, it is to respect his office. It has no constitutional bearing. And any decision from that angle cannot hold water. It can do nothing.
Will you say the governor should face governance and allow the party to administer to the people?
If that is what you are advising him to do, feel free to tell him. I will not be in a situation to go into entanglement with the governor of a state. But ideally, or in an ideal situation, it will be best for him to attack issues of the state and allow the party to be managed by those elected by the party faithful to manage their affairs.
Until a few days ago, they were still having two delegates listed in the national headquarters. Is the party presenting two delegates list at the convention?
I don’t know until you are telling me. But what I do know is that as of last Monday or Friday, the list of the 94 or 95 delegates in total approved by the national headquarters of the party was sent to us in Benin. So, that doesn’t mean that there were two delegates listed in Benin. The national body has sent to us the list of those qualified to attend this convention as delegates, and they are about 94 or 95. It is not possible to have been two delegates’ list.
What is the headway in all these crises in Edo State?
The crisis in Edo State PDP, to a large extent, one will say, is imaginary, because it is unnecessary. I do believe that in all situations, there should be modalities for addressing them. It is just like the way the governor found itself coming to the PDP. I want to believe that as of January 2020, you will not mention hearing the governor; that he was going to contest under PDP.
But the situation made him come to PDP. And, in that situation, PDP also welcomed him and gave him their support. And that was the condition then. We can also have our template in managing our affairs. And one thing is sacrosanct; the tenure of these executives expires in March or April 2024, and there will be a new congress. As of that time, Governor Obaseki will still be in position as governor of the state.
And he will at that time have the liberty of choosing those he wants in managing the affairs of the party. But that he wants now to say, my people, and some are his people that is sheer nepotism, which is unfair to the people he met on the ground.
Does it mean the issue of harmonisation from the ward, local, and state levels won’t work?
I don’t know about that. What I have just told you is that, for me, as advised, we were made to contest an election. We contested to manage the affairs of the party.
And, we were duly elected. Let us get one thing clear. The real problem with this harmonisation with the party and the crisis, Obaseki is not just the problem. It is leaders within the party that are the cause of these problems.
You see, when Secondus came at the national when they were setting up the template for the composition of the party structure in Edo state, these persons calling for dissolution, calling for harmonisation within the PDP’s fold, where were they? They went to bed sleeping.
And none of them could come and tell Secondus that the template you were giving us is alien to Edo. They couldn’t tell Secondus that. The template was that there was an expression of interest; money was paid for that. And another money was paid for nomination forms. Like the office of the deputy chairman, I needed 94 people to nominate and sign for me across the state.
PDP convention: A new dawn
That caused me time and money, and I needed to campaign. When we were doing all these, the PDP leaders who are now chesting out to say, no this is what we want, were where they? They were nowhere to be found. The reality of the matter is that it is rather unfortunate that people who have benefitted immensely from the PDP government are now coming out to talk to others, and making them look like they troubleshooting or men enough to handle responsibilities. That, on its own, is rather unfortunate.
What are we expecting from the PDP’s convention?
Let me tell you, it will be in the overall interest of this country to support the PDP and bring in new executives to manage its affairs so that the country can be properly rescued. You will agree with me that in 2015, when the major political parties amalgamated and came up with the acronym of APC, and the slogan was APC, Change Nigeria.
And, because we were very narrow-minded then, and were looking at specific individuals, without really looking at the broad-based totality of out-of-governance, we agreed, saying, let these people go, and let APC come in. Since APC had come in, you cannot be sincere to yourself to say all is well with Nigeria. Anybody that says, let us manage and all that, the person is not being fair to himself and the generations unborn. The country has not been as divided as it is today.
Apart from the insecurity, the financial situation, the dollar viz-a-viz the naira, everything about Nigeria is at a standstill. So, if PDP is coming with a convention, to choose its leadership, the people have been wise enough to, in their resolving the matter by not going for a quick contest, let each zone bring people. And, from what we are seeing, the North Central have zeroed in on Iyorchia Ayu. He (Iyorchia Ayu) was president of the Senate, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Education, and a lecturer. He is a brilliant man. So, a man like that should be allowed to bring his expertise in the management of the party so that the country can be better rescued from the clutches of the devils of the so-called APC.
Will you be calling for a southern ticket, or it should be thrown open?
If I must be honest with you, the question you have asked me will put me in a situation of not being fair to myself if I answer that. That is the reality. Don’t forget that PDP is a leading party. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. And who will become the president, or which region will produce it? We will cross it. But, if I must tell you one thing, I don’t believe in this issue of rotating offices. Looking at the personality, look at the pedigree of the person. Look at that person’s background.
Look at that person’s vision. And look at what that person stands for to be able to select the person. It is this issue of rotation that made us have a president today that says one thing today and does another thing tomorrow. Let us just look out for who the cat fits. That is the way I look at it. Where you come from, or where I come from, I am a Benin man today, is by accident of birth. Because I have to be fathered and mothered by those who gave birth to me. If those people were also from the North, I will be a northerner. The important thing is that I am a human being.
You are from a particular constituency that has the Gelegele seaport. And the governor in his first tenure told us by now the place is supposed to be functional. Can you tell us how far it is with it?
You see, I am glad you are also from Edo. When you ask certain questions, you make me feel ridiculous. Because number one, you are asking a question to provide an answer, when you know that the governor came to the party PDP, by accident of situation. And that when he came in, since that time till now, we have been battling with ourselves over who should have this or that. So, the issue of Gelegele, as far as I am concerned, I am not in the position to answer that.
IPOB has said that until Nnamdi Kanu is released, there will be sitting at home, and there will be no election. Can you marry it with the chances of your party’s candidate?
Honestly speaking, it is those who have not been to that area now that will not understand the threat that situation is posing to that region and the country.
I happened to have been to Asaba a few days ago from Benin. From Benin to Asaba, I just passed two or three vehicles on the road. The road was virtually empty. I was scared. It was the same thing on my way back. And the feeling was that it was caused by these bandits, only for me to be told that it was because of this sit-at-home order that nobody was moving in the east.
That is why I said a while ago that this country has never been this divided as it is today. The agitation for secession has never been this high. And let us not pretend that all is well. All is not well. There is a need for everybody to sit down. I believed so much in Nigeria.
That is a country I grew up to know. That is a country I am proud of. That is a county if I am asked anywhere I travel to now, where are you from, I will say I am a Nigerian. I am one person that is proud of his green passport. If the country is no more today, where will I say I come from? That is why the leadership of this country as of today should recognise the fact that something has been missed somewhere. And they can retrace their footsteps.
There is what is called amnesty in a situation like this. When Ijaw people were kidnapping people and destroying things, endangering the economy of the country in the Niger Delta, Yar’dua came up with a solution. First, he created Ministry for Niger Delta and granted amnesty to Ijaw boys, that they should surrender their arms. And peace ultimately returned to the region. And even though there are still signs of little skirmishes here and there, but it is no longer as it was before.
So, if what IPOB is today, and they are saying is, let the Federal Government release Nnamdi Kanu, I will appeal to the government to heed to them. Because if they don’t, and there is no election, maybe some party will take advantage of it with their position in at the centre to now write results and give it to the candidates of their party as a victory. But, again, that is also postponing the evil day.
