The primary elections of many political parties threw up surprises. While many political heavyweights lost their bids to pick their parties’ tickets, some others considered as neophytes, clinched tickets.
For instance, Gideon Obhakhan, who resigned his appointment as general manager, Network Planning of MTN Communication Limited, in September this year, was not given any chance to win any election as he was regarded as an “unknown quantity”, politically. But he decided to take a plunge, eyes wide open- leaving certainty for uncertainty. He was almost laughed to scorn when he announced that he was going to represent Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency, Edo State, on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives. Today, Obhakhan has cleared the first hurdle, having picked the ticket at the primaries. His courageous steps appear to be paying off. One point that needs to be noted is that he contested the ticket with more politically exposed figures. Gallant Ogbomo Paul and Patrick Idiake were his opponents in the race. They congratulated him immediately the result was announced. It was clear to everybody that Obhakhan did not fly on the wings of ‘godfathers’. It was the people that decided his fate. He had met and still meeting the electorates; telling them what change he intends to bring to the constituency.
The House of Representatives hopeful, who has been shuttling between Edo and Lagos since he picked the APC’s form, told BD SUNDAY that he has already put in place a mechanism to reach out to party faithful who contested against him in order to present a formidable stand against opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
“They congratulated me immediately. I cannot do it alone. I need their support and that of the party to stand strong come February next year. I am still going to reach out to them to ensure that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet. I am happy to be part of the APC at this moment because you can see the difference in governance in states where APC is ruling,” he said.
Obhakhan said the only way one can really represent the people was by being accessible, promising a regular town hall meeting, if elected, across the three local governments that make up the constituency.
“There is no time you will come to my place without seeing between five and hundred people. Not because I am sharing something to them; it is just that I am very accessible to them. I will not be the one that will decide which project should be done. It is my people that will decide what they want done with the resources available. If I am representing them, they must be the ones to tell me what to do. It is a down-top approach of governance I intend to do; rather than top-down approach as it is practised these days. Because of the level of ignorance people tend to see their representatives as masters. I cannot leave my comfort zone just to deceive my people like others have done in the past. I have always have passion to support my people. Living in the corporate world can always give you all the comfort you want especially when you have risen to the position of a general manager where virtually almost everything is paid for. But, if I continue to remain in my comfort zone I will not be able to make the impact I am yearning for. I was already empowering people, but I won’t be able to do more unless I have a larger platform; which is why I chose to join politics at the expense of my comfort. If I am in the House for instance, I should be able to influence quality project for my people. If you go everywhere in the country today, the level of decay is not something you want to address all alone as an individual,” he said.
“What I told my people when we were going round to seek their support for the primary election was the truth. I don’t promise what I cannot fulfil. What I have told them is that I am not going for an executive position; my job is legislation. But in that same office, there is what they call ‘constituency votes’. Unfortunately, nobody knows exactly what these federal legislators collect as constituency allocation because if the people know, they will hold them accountable. They should be doing more than they are doing now. What I promised my people is that what that office is meant for, I will do it 100percent without looking back,” he added.
In terms of legislative business in the House, he said the need to push bills that will ensure accountability in terms of project execution would be paramount in his agenda. “Erosion is now becoming a problem in my area. This is something that I am going to focus on personally to push through with my influence in the House. Education is another thing because ignorance has been the bane of society. If the level of education is high, people will not sale their votes for a bag of rice and a cup of salt; knowing that after collecting such ill gifts they will not see these politicians again. I have also challenged my people to hold me accountable. I am not going to be the ‘lord and master’. I am a servant that must be called to order when not doing well. For me, the areas I have decided to focus on when elected are agriculture, education, health, environment and security, and whatever I can do as a member of House of Representatives,” he further said.
Though, he had taken part in politics both as a student and supporting candidates who were interested in elective position, he said this was his first time of taking a shot at elective office.
“I chose to contest now because the electioneering process is better with the coming of Professor Jega. I didn’t want to depend on stealing of ballot box to win election like we have in the past.
People like Fashola and Oshiomhole were another inspiration to me. The system is not good, yet, these individuals have been able to turn things around in their respective states.
The level of acceptance for me has been very encouraging. People have been asking me, how I did it-winning primary in first attempt against political heavyweights who had contested more than two times. I have to thank God and my people for the trust; I can only promise them that I will not disappoint them when I get there,” he said.
He further said that he would also be looking at the area of empowerment. “How do we influence projects that will provide jobs for our people? Not just giving them fish but teaching them how to fish. Issues that have to do with youths are issues that I take very dearly because I am actually one of them. Like I said, when you come to my house, you will see them all over the place. We are like age mates; and that will not change when I am elected.
I know their pains and dreams. What is there is to empower them. Some of them have no money to go to school. Even those who went to school have no employment. I intend to use my influence in the House of Representatives to attract those things that will engage them like industry.
Setting up a factory within my constituency for instance, is not like a brain surgery; is not about building bore holes that water will not come from like others do. They spend N1 million to build a bore hole and spend N10 million to celebrate it. I will go away from that.
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