…. Reacts to Accusations by Political Opponents
Olumide Akpata is a governorship aspirant of Labour Party in the forthcoming 2024 Edo State Governorship Election.
In this interview with TREND REPORTERS and other journalists in Benin City, the former NBA president and candidate hopeful of LP in the forthcoming election speaks on why he is in the race, the role of the media in the task of rebuilding Nigeria as well as reacts to some accusations against him by political opponents.
Excerpts:
How do you feel today to be the Guest of Honour at the 2023 press week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State branch
I feel delighted. I welcome every opportunity to collaborate with the press. The journey of rebuilding Nigeria is going to be a long and hard one. And there are certain key partners and key collaborators that must work together in that journey. And I think the role of the press in this journey can never be underestimated. And so any opportunity I get to sit down with members of the fourth estate of the realm, is always a welcome opportunity, to remind you of this very difficult task that we have ahead of us. You will all agree with me that we in a very dire circumstances in our country, in our state. So, is a very welcome honour to be here today.
Sir, Just recently you were honoured by the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin branch, coming up some few weeks to the primaries. What do you think this portends; these myriads of honours and all that?
I will like to separate the two incidents or the two events. I am a lawyer of thirty years standing. I have been president of the Nigeria Bar Association. If the Nigeria Bar Association, Benin branch, in their wisdom decided to honour me, let’s situate it within the context of my contributions to the legal profession in Nigeria. You know I have been president of the bar. I’m the last person who will allow the bar to be politicized. I will not allow it.
So, let us believe as I want to believe that I was honoured strictly for my contributions. This is my thirty years as a lawyer. I started a law firm with my elder brother in 1996. Today we are 104 lawyers; we are in three cities, around the countries. We are operating in Africa. We have done our bit for the legal profession. And I think the NBA Benin branch recognized that and I am extremely grateful to them. But I would not allow the bar to be politicized.
You have been moving around. What are your expectations as far as the primaries is concern.
My expectation is that the Labour Party will pick me as the flag bearer of the party for the Edo gubernatorial election come September, 2024. AS you know, INEC has scheduled the primaries to be held in February.
Yes, I have been canvassing, I have been speaking to our potentials delegates; I have been speaking to persons who belong to a poll from which delegates would be selected.
I have traversed the eighteen local government of the state. Again, from Tuesday, I will start again, go round before the year is over, to meet with them and pass on the message to them that if Labour Party is ever going to win the election in Edo state, they must put forward a candidate that can match up with the opponent that we know we would confront in the poll. Except the intention is not to win, if the intention is to win, it must be pound for pound, you cannot be comparing apples and oranges. You must compare apples and apples.
So, there are certain attributes that a candidate in the election of next year must have across party lines. A party who fields a candidate who is lacking in any of those particular aspects would be selling himself short, or as they say, would be shooting himself in the foot.
Other aspirants see you as money bag; that you want to use your financial power to secure the ticket whatever it is going to cost you. What would be your reaction? And again that you are being sponsored by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Two issues you raised their; money bag. I have been a lawyer for thirty years. I have worked only as a lawyer, may be a few businesses on the side that have come out of the fact that I am a lawyer. I have paid my dues and I think I have succeeded. And I’m one who will always as the American would say “I put my money where my mouth is“. It is when you are able to spend your treasure on what you believe in, that is when you can be taking seriously.
So, I don’t know what they mean, when they say money bag. And you know these people who say money bags, before I came to the scene they have been spending. So, I wonder, I just wonder what the issue is really is.
You know when people get uncomfortable and they see competition that they really cannot match up with, they must look for… They say give a dog a bad name so you can hang him. What are you talking about, money bag. What does that mean?
There was a second stand to your question, that I am sponsored by Godwin Obaseki. An unfounded rumour, baseless. It was spread around by two irresponsible online blogs, who I shall be going after, with all the venom that I can muster. Because my approach to fake news is that you nip it in the bud and you deal with it before it fester.
And it is also being spread around by some disgruntled politicians, in both camps, including my party. And I say to them that, that is a very weak argument or weak reasoning.
My relationship with the governor has never been hidden. It is only politicians who don’t know how to agree to disagree that quickly conclude that when two politicians sit together they must belong to the same camp.
In Bendel state, my father’s elder brother, Senator Olu Akpata, represented Bendel state in the UPN in 1979. His cousin, Tayo Akpata was chairman of NPN in this same state. They had lunch and dinner together.
The family I belong to, we are honourabe people. Those who knows the Akpata family in Benin, know we are a honourable. If I cannot go into politics on my own and get the prize that I am looking for, I will stay at home.
Politics is not my job. It is out of interest that we have come, to rescue this state and Nigeria. I cannot be the hireling of anybody. He get something we person dey big pass.
Sir, are you the Homeboy, that has become the popular slogan
Homeboy, What does that mean?
My friend, the deputy governor calls himself a homeboy.
I don’t know what that means. But as you see me so, nay Warri I grow, nay Benin I be. I go UNIBEN.
You know, when one needs to start calling himself homeboy, then maybe there is some doubt to your homeboyness.
I don’t need to remind anybody about who I am, dem know me, dem know me. I no need to talk pass like that.
