We Have Nothing Against Obaseki – Urhoghide

By Ikhili Ebalu

Senator Matthew Urhoghide, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts represents the Edo South Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The senator in this interview responds to issues concerning the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, the developments in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC among other issues.

Excerpts:

HOW DO YOU REACT TO THE CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY NOW GOING ON BETWEEN THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN EDO STATE?

Well, I do not know what exactly you mean by campaign of calumny, the way we have always based our politics here often times it is devoid of issues. I mean issues that concern that can be considered as indices of good governance. Mind you , you know why there are opinions on  developments each time anybody want to aspire and even in civilised democracies.

Anybody that is aspiring is called manifestos that is why everybody now come take in the area of environment or education, health. These are indices that are considered good governance. So, anybody that want to occupy any office, from councillorship to president, you must be able to advance on issues that will cause the betterment of people. So, it is in conformity with our constitutional provision that is the fundamental objectives for anybody who aspire to govern. The objectives that you have established, you are going to use policy to drive objectives. That’s why they say government policy on Health, Education and so on.

So, anybody that wants to be governor of Edo State should be able to talk about the economy, social services, all this issues of salary payment, basic amenities, roads, schools, you must be able to talk about those issues. Those will constitute social contract with the people.

When you leave those things and talk of mundane things like who is in EFCC, it only means you don’t know the direction you are supposed to go or you don’t have anything to offer.  Anybody that want to aspire for public space, any elective position must be able to advance his position on issues that will bother on the people, if you  don’t you have not competence to aspire for such. So, I don’t think carrying campaign of calumny is anything. In Britain and other civilised countries, you must be able to advance position.

THE PRIMARY ELECTION HAS ENDED, HOW DO YOU SEE THE TWO LEADING CANDIDATES?

Let me say this very clearly, as a PDP member, you don’t expect me not to show preference for the PDP candidate and then you don’t expect me to be too judgmental; one has been a governor and the other has not.

The one that has been a governor has evidence to show while the other one doesn’t have anything to show even though he was in government before as an appointee. So, today we expect that the people of Edo state will decide. For my senatorial District all the things that have been done by the present governor is clear for the people to see. Same with Edo central and North but the other man in APC has never been in that position and nothing to show.

Let us be dispassionate about it to say this is where we are. While one will be making promises the other one will be saying this is what I have done and I want to advance on it.

Majority of the people  do not have anything against the governor  when it comes to governance. Civil servants, teachers can attest to the verifiable dividends of good governance.

He deserves renewal mandate, I do not think he has performed badly.

THE TWO PARTIES ARE CREATING SOME FORMS OF APPREHENSION IN TERMS OF INCUMBENCY POWER AND FEDERAL MIGHTS

Is the federal might going to be used to subvert the will of the people? What incumbency means is that you are here and in government. You are on ground and people are seeing you. Incumbency is even more acceptable than federal might.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SARAKI REFUSED TO CONFIRM MAGU AS THE EFCC CHAIRMAN . WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW DON’T YOU THINK THAT ASSEMBLY WAS JUSTIFIED?

Nigerians particularly the elites has always been the problem. The elite will always want to bend the picture to what suit them. I am looking forward to knowing who that prominent lawyer is that is implicated in the Magu’s investigation that they have traced money to.

I want to be able to tie it to the reaction we saw particularly in press media during the eight senate, and I know why we didn’t confirm him. Today, that Senate has been vindicated.

Once the president makes a nomination and brings it to the Senate, it is not in the constitution that the EFCC chairman must be confirmed by the senate.  The EFCC Act has it that the president will appoint a chairman subject by confirmation of the senate.

The crux of the matter then was that if the name was sent to us that we relied on the DSS to submit to us the profile about him.

Then they came up trying to victimise Saraki and other senators. Today, FG has seen overwhelming evidence which ought to have happened five years ago.

The problem is that we don’t learn. How can a criminal be at the helm of affairs in our country? Those that aspired to go the National Assembly and didn’t get elected, the only thing they do now is to throw stones, tantrums. NASS  is now the scapegoat for abuse.

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS PROPOSING CANCELLING THE WAEC EXAMINAITON IN NIGERIA THIS YEAR. DO YOU THINK THAT IT IS A FAIR DECISION?

Health comes first. People today who have invested seriously in football are all empty, they are playing but nobody is watching.

The distancing you are going to do in the exam hall will be difficult. The consequences of health under the attack of COVID-19 will be worse than the certificate. The NCDC and education officers should look at it so long as it protect the lives of the people.

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