Edo 2024: Dr. Okundaye harp on competence, capacity to lead, says rotational system, unconstitutional , unacceptable in the forth coming election
By Elvis Omoregie
A Labour Party chieftain, Dr. Kingsley Oghogho Okundaye, has averred that, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the only law that can determined who qualify to be the next governor of Edo state, not rotational zoning which is man made agreement by political parties.
Dr. Kingsley Oghogho Okundaye, a US based also posited that, what should be considered now for anybody that want to be the governor of Edo state is competence, capacity and the character of the person.
He made the clearification at a media interactive parley held with some journalists in Benin city, Edo state.
“If you ask me that, if the labour party will participate in this coming local government elections in the state. I will say yes, that we will participate. Luckily, for our emerged candidate that got the ticket to run in oredo local government area Comrade Onaghese Ero Daniel. Is a vibrant young man with the way and manner he emerged as the winner to get the ticket was very encouraging. And he can also share his story to friends to compete.
“But all that we the labour party are asking for is for the process of the local government elections be free, fair and credible. If the process is fair given what labour party stands for and the success we have able to record in the previous elections, regardless of the outcome of the elections, We are confidence that the labour party will emerge winner in Oredo local government area, and many other local government council in the State.
“We have carefully conducted the primary elections, and the primary elections had been ractified this month. We are ready to go for the elections. Our hope and worry now is for the process to be free and fair. That is what we stand for. Again, traditionally we have seen a situation whereby the ruling party emerged winner in all the local government areas of the state.
“But, we are not disturbed by that, we are relaying on the “organic based mechanism” , that we have, as a party. It is no longer news, that the labour party is well liked and loved by the strength of the youths, that makes the youths to cause great change in our party today which gives us the advantage and put us ahead among other parties. So in that line we have great confidence that our candidates will emerge winner in the next local government elections in Edo state,” he added.
Commenting on the question asked that, if it is pertinent to cede the governorship position to Edo Central in this incoming 2024 governorship race, Dr. Okundaye stressed:” Labour party is a party that abide by its Constitution. Except, I am wrong, but I have not seen any party that would fix or zone the rotation of office to one particular district. Baring that in mind, I am going to say that, if there is anybody that is suggesting that the number one governorship seat in the State should go to a particular area, that person is not doing so in good faith.
“They are not abiding to the Constitution. If it must be a party that abide by its Constitution, then our discussion should not be revolving around rotational offices. We believed in competence and capacity. Again, these are the things that suppose to drive our politics. Our politics should do away with sectional interest.
“This has not done justice to governance, whether at the state or national levels. It has not taken us to anywhere in term of developments. My stand is that, if everyone is qualify according to the Constitution let the person contest. So, everyone that is interested to run for governorship position should come out and contest to be part of the process.
“The discussion now is that, what you have that you are offering to Edo people? What is that thing that, you want to do differently? I have always emphasized that, governance should be about the people, and any well meaning governance and administrator or anybody who is involve in governance must be somebody who identify with the dreams and aspirations of the people.
“That should be the first conversation now, and the second most important conversation I heard you say is that, is the party ready for the election? Is not enough for somebody to say, I will do this, and that. Is the party really ready? What should we do to make the party ready? What are the things that should be done differently to prevent what occured at the recent elections .
“These are all of the discussion that we suppose to discuss as a party. These are the discussion that the leadership of the party should involve in, at this point. I think the issue of rotational sharing of governorship seat had been belaboured too much and to me it is an issue of insignificant he added.
