By Levinus Nwabughiogu
Chief Solomon Edojah was a former Commissioner in Delta State and member of the House of Representatives. A stalwart of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he was in Kwara State for six months to revive the state chapter of the party after the mass exodus of most politicians in the state from the party to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC last year.
In this interview, he spoke on the PDP’s loftier chances of winning 2015 elections across the state and why he wants to represent the people of Delta Central in the senate in 2015.
Edojah
MANY people were surprised to see a man from Delta State and from the south chairing the PDP caretaker committee in Kwara State. How?
Delta state is entirely PDP and in fact, its presence is overwhelming and solid to the extent that even the national body of our party had to nominate me to go and resolve the crises in Kwara state.
We used the experience we have in Delta State to once again reassemble a functional party structure in that state. And that experience became the guiding point for the party that never again, would our party be placed in the hands of one man.
So, the PDP is now saying never again, would they allow one-man anywhere to have absolute control of the party. Kwara state as we speak now has a party that is built around the people, unlike in the past. So, no one man will leave the party and it will ever shake it. For me, that was a turning point in my life.
To leave my state to another and do what the PDP ought to do, became a turning point for me, because the knowledge I have would be useful at the national level.
National interest
I have experience as former state commissioner, Special Adviser and also as former House of Representatives member. So, I think, the Senate is just the best place for me, where you look at issues from the perspective of national interest or a statesman.
Zoning of positions has always been a problem in Delta state. Would you say zoning has favoured your aspiration for
Senate in 2015 ?
The people of Ethiope federal constituency are heavily marginalized. We have been the patient dog in the last two or three decades. Beginning from the days of Senator Dafinone who represented us from 1979 to 1983 in the Second Republic.
In 1999, Senator Brume had it for four years.
We have three federal constituencies that make up our senatorial district. The first two people were from Okpe and they had five years all together. Then Brume from Ughelli had it for four years and the former governor of the state, Felix Ibru, also from Ughelli represented us for another four years.
The late Senator Pius Ewherodo is also from Ughelli and the current Senator is also from Ughelli. So Ughelli would have had it for 12 years and Okpe for nine years. Ethiope, the third constituency that makes up the senatorial district has never occupied the Senate seat. So, the sentiment is in our favour and we feel 2015 is our time.
But we are also looking for a vibrant person as senator because it is going to affect the quality of laws we make, as it affects the people. But you cannot give out what you don’t have and because I have seen it all in these areas, I think I am a better choice.
And in doing my consultations, so many people have told me that I am a good candidate, including our respected elder and famous father, Chief Edwin Clark.
Your quest for Senate is spurred by many years of public service. So, what is your vision of representation at the Senate?
My vision for the Senate is a Senate that would be totally representative.
If you are a member of the National Assembly (NASS), you are supposed to be the people’s voice in a modified manner.
You should be able to know or say, this is what my people want and when you come to the NASS, you should be able to espouse the interests of your people and to situate them within the national interest.
PDP favours zoning and continuity. Don’t you think it will be fair to allow the incumbent to continue in office as decided by the party?
In PDP, we favour zoning, but we don’t favour continuity when you are not performing. Continuity comes into play when you are doing well because there is no need to change a winning team. These are the principles of my party. So, if you are not performing and you are preaching continuity, nobody will continue with you.
Continue in failure? No! Not in PDP. We only continue with celebration and pleasant testimonies of good representation. You don’t continue because you want to hold the people in bondage. So, PDP is a performance driven party and once you are not performing, you are already singing the song of ‘let my soul rest in peace’ for yourself.
How do you intend to face opponents?
I believe politics is supposed to be for men and women who have seen it all. It is not a game for those who want to jump-start life, but those who have worked and gathered experience, to deploy it to the service of mankind. So, it is not a question of a job seeker wanting to go to the parliament.
To offer what? You have nothing to offer. So, let’s now begin to set standards, we have had enough of experiments. The legislative arm of government ought to be a check on the executive, but not to compete with them.
How would you describe the level of success with your consultations so far?
I live with the people and in fact, I am one of the very few politicians who live in the village with my people.
I believe that the only way to resolve the complexities we have today is to stay with the people and explain the situation.
A lot of persons need to be talked to. This is what President Jonathan is doing politically because when you say transformation agenda, many of them don’t understand. You need to explain to them to say this is where we were, this is where we are now and this is what we are aiming at.
APC has shown intimidating presence in national politics. Is PDP threatened by it?
I don’t think APC as a party is still working. I don’t see any serious politician worth his onion still remaining in the APC. In PDP we had our challenges, but we have settled it through our internal dispute resolution mechanism. So, APC is unknown and so you can’t be leaving the known for the unknown.
So, PDP now has a sound mind, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, as national leader. He believes in quality and he is a game changer.
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