Edo 2020: Rice Man, Imasuangbon Shakes Up Permutations

The campaign for the 2020 governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State is set to be revved with the imminent entry of Mr. Ken Imasuangbon into the contest.

Though from the Edo Central Senatorial Zone, Imasuangbon, popularly known as the Rice Man and subsequently as the Ipad Man on account of his philanthropy, is believed to be leveraging on his popularity to enter the race.

Imasuangbon had crossed between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC and its predecessor Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the last decade in his bid to actualize his passion to govern the state. However, his bids according to his associates had been repeatedly blocked by the influence of godfathers in the two major parties in the state.

Indications that the lawyer, educationist and politician would make another bid emerged following an interaction with newsmen in Abuja where he gave his readiness to free Edo State from bondage.

“If you look around today in our dear state, particularly within Edo central and Edo north, the rate of insecurity has taken a worrisome dimension, when my people are afraid to travel home for the sake of kidnappers and armed robbers who have taken over those areas and we get terrible tales about their operations daily, this will not be acceptable under my watch as the governor and the chief security officer of the state,” he had said.

Associates claim that Imasuangbon was on his way to winning the 2012 PDP primaries but the party leadership in the state with its affixation to Gen. Charles Airhiavbere bent the structure to favour the former army general.

Imasuagbon who was peeved by what he believed was the robbery in the 2012 PDP primary was immediately poached by the governor at that time, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to help his second term election.

“Immediately after the primaries, Oshiomhole cashed in on Imasuagbon and visited him to woo him into the APC,” a source revealed.

Chief Tony Anenih was, however, disappointed when the general not too long after losing the 2012 election to Adams Oshiomhole crossed over to the APC.

It is not known if Imasuangbon reached an agreement on the 2016 ticket of the APC with Oshiomhole at that time, but whatever, Oshiomhole did not look his way at the time of the party primaries. Oshiomhole fought away all persons including his then deputy, Pius Odubu to push through Godwin Obaseki.

Imasuangbon, GWG learnt, returned to the PDP upon the persuasion of some strong friends including his former law school colleague, Governor Aminu Tambuwal who sources say are favourably disposed towards his aspiration.

“Beyond the support he has from high quarters, Ken is being pushed by what he sees as his popularity across the state and he believes is what is required to drive Obaseki out of Government House,” a source embedded in his campaign disclosed.

“Yes he is Esan but there is no law that the governorship ticket should not be given to Esan. But his aspiration is beyond zoning as he sees himself as one that cannot be stopped by ethnic sentiments because for him, whether it is Esan or Bini, they see him as one who had reached out to all tribes irrespective of ethnic sentiments,” the source revealed.

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