Chief Jacob Idinye is a seasoned and successful media practitioner with many years of indelible achievements in his career.
He was one of those who ran for the governorship primary of Action Congress, AC, in 2007 but lost out after the leadership of the party endorsed Governor Adams Oshiomhole and granted him waiver as the candidate of the party.
The astute politician also participated as one of the aspirants in the 2012 PDP gubernatorial electoral process alongside Kenneth Imasuegbon, retired Major Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and others. Idinye later stepped down for Gen. Charles who eventually clinched the PDP guber ticket during that election year.
Apart from Idinye’s professional excellence in broadcasting, he is equally an ambitious and loyal politician in Edo State from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke extensively with some media executives on Saturday, 24 hours after Governor Godwin Obaseki defected to PDP, giving his assurance that PDP will secure landslide victory at the poll come September 2020.
Excerpts
As a PDP chieftain how will you react to the defection of Governor Godwin Obaseki to PDP?
Ans:
For me as a loyal and committed member of PDP, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Friday, June 19, 2020 joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a declaration that he would lead the party to victory in the governorship election scheduled for September is the greatest excitement for me as a politician and I have no doubt that PDP will win. Obaseki is ordained by God to give victory to our later this year. Obaseki is a political tactician who made a well measured decision, no wonder he was accompanied by a retinue of his aides and loyalists all raising their hands to signify 4+4, which is a good sign for victory.
I also use this opportunity to congratulate our state party chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, for bringing goodluck to our party and his goodluck will usher in victory for us at the end of the day.
Whats your advice for aspirants like Kenneth Imasuagbon and other PDP aspirants at a time like this?
Ans: PDP is a unique and great party that doesn’t joke with the rule of law, internal democracy and it’s a party that upholds the principle of zoning. And in any case the party is supreme in its entirety, no individual can be greater than the party. Now looking at the issues specifically, Kenneth Imasuagbon who is my brother and a good party man should realise that he is from the same zone with the party Chairman. Some people said he would go to Court to seek redress. Seek redress over what? A real politician must win in an electoral process not through the Court. He should remain in the party and use his expertise and strength to work for the victory of the party that is what we need now and all of us are relevant to make this happen this time around.
What is your view about the waiver given Godwin Obaseki?
Ans:
The PDP NWC has legitimately exercised the power of NEC in accordance with our party constitution by giving approval for waiver as requested by the ward executive for His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki to participate in all activities of the PDP including voting and be voted for in any intra party elections, for me that laudable decision remains sacrosanct. And don’t forget it is done in the overall interest of the party, devoid of pecuniary interest.
Meanwhile, waiver isn’t new in politics. Let me remind you, in 2007, we were then in ACD, we later metamorphosed into AC and later ACN, it was a time when I started my gubernatorial ambition in Edo State, then Governor Adams Oshiomhole who was in Labour Party suddenly came from the blues, decamped to ACN and he was given waiver and subsequently the party primary purportedly went in his favor, you know the rest of the story. I later left AC and pitched my tent with PDP and my loyalty remains intact with PDP since then.
Unfortunately, the present party structure doesn’t favour Ken Imasuegbon, while the Governor is from Edo South, the Deputy is from Edo North which is where I come from, the state party Chairman is from Edo Central where Imasuagbon comes from. He is still young and vibrant, he can still wait and redeem his ambition in the subsequent years.
In whose favour do you see this election going in September this year?
Ans:
I have said this earlier, PDP will record a landslide victory at the poll this year and from all indications that is already a done deal. Look, since the days of former President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP has always been winning elections, but unfortunately was rigged out by anti democratic forces, but that can no longer happen this time, the jinx is already broken. See all the Local Government Chairmen are now in PDP; already we have two Senators from Edo South and Edo Central and all the supporters of Obaseki are now in PDP, so tell me how can APC survive in such circumstances?
The PDP has consistently exhibited and shown that it is a party that is rooted in democratic practices. The party that believes in justice and fairness; a party that respects its people. So these unique virtues will definitely offer our party victory in this contest come September. My appeal to my colleagues in PDP is that if you have money to play politics and you didn’t get the ticket instead of going to Court and giving money to lawyers to challenge your defeat, use that money instead on youth empowerment and create employment. The tenure is just 4 years in politics, you can try your luck another time. In advanced countries do you see them going to Court? It is sad to see that some people now see politics as daily job which is not supposed to be. Today, I am really glad that we now have more people in PDP, and such huge numerical strength is a good sign for victory.
What is your advice to PDP faithful in Edo State and the entire leadership?
Ans:
My advice to PDP members is that we should make sure that the level of progress, the level of hope and the level of participation in the political system by our party should remain unrivalled in this country. And I truly want our people to be very careful this time around, as I expect them to align themselves dispassionately with the current realities, what we should be thinking and working towards should be victory, nothing less. Look, Obaseki is a sitting Governor and has performed well in the state and he has been able to manage the state resources in a most prudent ways, the records are there. Impressively, his Deputy Philip Shaibu is another man of integrity who shares in the dreams, vision, and aspirations of his principal. These two illustrious sons of Edo State should be allowed to continue in this joint ticket in order to do our state proud socio-economically.
I must also give kudos to the leaders of our great party at unit level, ward, state and national levels. I also want them to continue to exhibit sheer patriotism and shouldn’t compromise their integrity under any guise, we are indeed proud of them for showing strong will and commitment which have the potentials and capacities to yield us positive results. In the game of politics, the more the merrier and our leaders have demonstrated excellence in that regard.
More importantly, I want to also say a big thank you to the Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike, Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and their Akwa Ibom counterpart, Governor Emmanuel Udom for a good job well done. I also extend my sincere appreciation to my Chairman and founder of Daar Communications, High Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi for his support for our party, similarly my gratitude also goes to the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and our national Chairman, Uche Secondus, a man with clear vision for the party. Its new dawn for PDP and I am proud to be part of this uncommon progress and achievement.
