“It’s a Win for the People of Edo State” _Prince Muhammed Okhumeode Hassan Kadiri
By: Enaholo J.K.
+234 806 905 018
Edo Governorship Election has come and has gone with all it came with but the result of same will forever echo in the hearts of Edolites as history was made in the September 19th polls.
Contrary to the predictions of violence that rented the air before the conduct of the election, the people of Edo state conducted themselves in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation to ensure that the polls were not only held but that same was successful to the bemusement of prophets of doom.
On this Episode of Our Guest, Hon. Muhammed O.H. Kadiri bears his mind on salient issues that played out and culminated into victory not just for the People’s Democratic Party, but more so, for the people of Edo state in view of the need for Reconciliation.
Hon. Muhammed O.H. Kadiri is the Ward 1 Councilor of Etsako West Local Government Area and hails from the Kadiri Idaeo Royal Family of Auchi Sacred Kingdom. He is the son of the late Local Government Council Boss and Legal Luminary, Hon. Barr. Prince Hassan Kempis Kadiri. A member of the People’s Democratic Party he is and is popularly referred to as the Governor of Ward 1.
He will be responding to the issues around victory for his party and more importantly the need for peace through deliberate reconciliatory steps.
Victory is sweet. Tell us about it.
To be candid, I am happy. During the course of the election we had a very heated atmosphere in the family (Kadiri Royal Family) and the polling unit (Ward1 Unit 6). A lot of false claims were proliferated by many who had the intent to cause problems between us as family and unit but despite all these, I am happy. I’m very that my party came out victorious but not in the manner that will make members from the other side of the divide feel irritated. There are ways I’d have loved to show how happy I feel but because I do not wish to make people feel or think my action is targeted at mocking them, I have decided to be on a low key. You should know that we are all one in our ward, polling unit and family and so it will be wrong to instead of towing the path of peace, decide to be too merry and offend people’s feelings.
A lot of violence was anticipated just before the election, what was your view about that before the election?
I had mixed feelings but then, even though I feared for Edo state, I knew that as a people of Auchi Sacred Kingdom, we are not violent. I thought of the boarder communities of our state and prayed we don’t record loss of lives because elections can be volatile in these areas. People thought that the presence of Wike, Okowa and so on, would spark some clashes but as God would have it, no punch was thrown on the day of election. Worthy of note is the fact that Unit 6 (in Ward1) is a peculiar unit in Etsako west. A lot of persons from other units and wards were interested in unit 6 and came to observe what would play out during the polls. They wanted to see the war they predicted and how it would go but the reverse was the case. To God be the glory there was no fight of any sort.
Why is Unit 6 (in Ward1) a peculiar unit?
ward1, unit 6 is peculiar because it has a lot of history and is situated in the Kadiri Royal Family. The Unit is largely influenced by the decision of the family to support whichever candidate/party they wish to support. That’s one of the reasons. Again, since the history of elections, PDP has never come close to the APC in votes there at the Unit since the dawn of democratic dispensation.
So, What Informed your Decision to Defect from APC to the PDP?
If I want to be very direct, I’d say it’s as a result of loyalty. My loyalty to my principal, the person of the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu. The other reason was largely due to the absence of internal democracy within the All Progressives’ Congress. The political future of the party had become bleak at the time as we were uncertain of what to expect. You saw that in the case of Zamfara, there were so many litigations. Too many court cases. Then the President, General Muhammadu Buhari had to intervene by dissolving the National Working Committee of the Party. Any sane Party faithful would be afraid of the party’s future at points like that. When the Governor was disqualified from contesting the APC primaries it became known to everybody that if he wanted to return elected as Governor, there was only one option remaining, to change party. In my thinking at the time, I didn’t wish for Governor Obaseki to go to the People’s Democratic Party. I prayed that he should seek re-election under any other party so that I can go with him easily but at the end it became clear that he needed a party with already established structures in the state and the only party that had this was the PDP at the time.
Even when the Governor and his Deputy announced their defection to the PDP, it took me some time to reconcile with the development. I had to consult with family. I had to prepare their minds for my defection in conformity with the Governor because I believe in his agenda for Edo state. Besides, APC was becoming a one man’s show. I had to deliberate the decision with my brother, Abdulazeez Osikhena Kadiri who has shown me so much support to push forward. It was for me a great gamble because many were of the opinion that I was gambling with my father’s legacy. Even when I made the decision to effect my defection, my conscience was in the way to stop me from announcing same.
In all, I feel I owe the deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu and thus I reciprocated his good works towards me with loyalty.
Looking back at all the clash of interests that came up just before the election would you say the squabbles were worth it?
On a personal note I will say it was worth it. Even though we’ve had our differences as family and friends, there is always room for reconciliation. I am a very simple and open person who easily forgives and moves on so, even though there have been clashes of interests, it was a race to earn victory. I am proud of the outcome of my struggle for the PDP and the results that came out of it but then, it’s important that we reconcile the differences we’ve had and move on with life.
What was it that gave the PDP the victory they had in the polls?
In the course of our campaign, some people were coming up with the saying that PDP is a dead party, PDP is this, PDP is that. PDP was actually never dead. It was a party that was warming up. Our coming in only made it stronger. When we came into the party, we were all received and given a warm welcome. I was surprised how at ease they made us feel. It was an experience like I’ve not felt politically and so I retorted, ‘this is how a political should be’. Everyone is welcome under the umbrella and more so, we all had our roles to play given that everyone of us had a voice. The respect is massive. The PDP is a party that does not allow internal crisis linger. Even when there’s a problem within members, such are quickly resolved in view of the bigger picture. The APC, Edo state chapter has not less than 20cases in court and all these are problems that could have been resolved internally. The PDP has no such litigations and this is because they have a way of settling internal crisis. Even though our coming to the PDP was in a short time before the elections came up, all hands were on deck to ensure victory for the party and as you can see, it showed in the results of the polls. For me the party is formidable and deals amicably with issues as they come to ensure a smooth ride for all in view of what the big picture is.
What have been your efforts towards reconciling your differences with friends and family after the Election?
I immediately commenced reconciliation with all through all avenues available to me. Firstly, I reached out through the social media. I sent reconciliatory messages to our people to let them know that Edo has won despite Party Affiliations. I’ve taken my time to reconcile with brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers as well as reflect on the activities that may have played out just so I can properly extend my hand of fellowship to any aggrieved person, party or body of persons in my constituency.
I’ve acknowledged the fact that peace is priceless and so, all avenues for seeking peace should be exhausted and that is why I have ensured and still taking steps to ensure that I am on the same page with my people so that we can support the Government of Edo state to move further since the elections have come and have gone.
Worthy of note, is that even before now, our elders have warned that it would be dangerous to put all eggs in one basket because doing so might amount to a big loss supposing the party we all support loses. This again is a reason why the reconciliatory moves I’m making have been easy to execute.
I’ve held a meeting with mothers and wives of Kadiri Idaeo Family to reckon with them. Despite the party anyone voted for, it is important that we encourage women to always exercise their voting power. I thanked them for coming out to vote and it went well. I will keep doing that which I can for the good of the family and party affiliation cannot come in the way of family.
What has Edo2020 Guber polls taught you?
It was an interesting time. I have learnt that in the course of electioneering, there are forces that will act against political actors. Such played out on me when some people made me feel like an outcast but then, in the process I learned how to deal with such and keep pushing on. A lot of persons came up with cooked up stories to cause discord within us as a family. That too taught me that a lot of challenges, especially from one’s immediate circle may pop up in the course of political struggles but then, what matter is how one deals with same in order not to destroy family ties.
However, my joy in all is that, though a lot of tension was built up before the elections by those who told the world that I had bought weapons and hired boys to disrupt our polling unit, no fight whatsoever came up to the bemusement of those who had prepared themselves to hear and or see a battle of some sort during the election. It taught me that we can do better than resort to fracas in a democratic system. It was peaceful and not a single gunshot was fired. This goes to show that as a people, we can only do better. I’m sure that our people have also learnt that elections can be free from violence. For this reason I’m positive that subsequent elections will be better without politics of bitterness, in-fighting, killings and so on.
Edo state is the not known for violence and has shown this through the most fair, peaceful and credible election the entire country has ever had.
What was responsible for the peaceful coordination and conduct of the election in Edo state
The victory earned is a victory for the entirety of Edo people. I’m sure our people have come to realize that whoever wins becomes Governor of Edo state and so, everyone played their roles in the process. Traditional rulers, corporate bodies, civil societies, social groups, politicians down to the common people have come to realize the need for peace and thus decided to jettison violence through their interactions and so on to ensure loss of lives didn’t become the order of the day. The electorates have come to accept that the days of violence are gone and gone for good.
The orientation and reorientation of the people by bodies like the Auchi Dynamic Youths and Auchi Development Foundation as well as other bodies like INEC were very effective. There was an atmosphere of maturity during the polls and this shows that the people have attained a new height of maturity.
The presence of the security agencies also created a coordinated interaction and acted as an umbrella shielding the people from danger/harm of any sort. It may have been possible that some people had planned to perpetuate nuisance but the presence of the army, police, NCDC made it impossible for such acts to come into fruition.
INEC though had some little challenges as regards network issues in some remote areas, they were able to learn from previous elections and use their experiences to make better the Edo governorship elections. The process was seamless and voting was relatively fast. The use of technology to drive the process has shown that INEC knows its mandate and is determined to perfect its operations.
What’s the place of Peace in all?
The place of Peace cannot be downplayed nor can it be over-emphasized. No government functions well in the absence of peace as no meaningful or tangible developmental progress can be attained if there is no peace in the land.
At the personal level, when one has no peace of mind, one cannot perform maximally.
When there is peace, the state will thrive. Imagine the spate of transformation that would have been made in some states in the North if not for the lingering adversities of insecurity occasioned by the dreaded boko-haram terrorists. Insecurity and other vices of violence hamper progress. People oriented projects that would have been created and given to the people to make use of within specific timelines are delayed and even when completed are again destroyed by insurgency.
Truth is, peace is priceless.
How did you take the defeat of PDP at Unit6 (Ward1)?
I and Abduljelil Abdulkadir (who happens to be a stakeholder of the APC in the ward) have always had mutual respect for each other even though we are not always together. We interact well whenever we get to communicate and you saw that during the course of the elections in our polling unit (Unit6). As soon as the votes at the unit were counted and my Party loss to the APC, I went to him to congratulate him for the win. I shook hands with and hugged him even though some persons were expecting a fist fight from us.
I was happy that even though my party polled less, the numbers we were able to get from that unit was amazing. Such has never been had from the unit because of the nature and peculiarity of the unit. It gave me hope and I’m sure that come next elections, whenever that may be, we can do better to improve on previous results.
While I felicitated with my brothers for wining at the polling unit, others came in and before you know, it had become some sort of festivity for all present but then, I had the believe that my party, the People’s Democratic Party would eventually emerge victorious. Having this strong belief that we will eventually win didn’t deter me from celebrating with my family at the unit.
A note of advice to our people
In politics, the electorate (the followers) are used to create tension between politicians. Followers of politicians argue and fight to the extent of cutting ties and creating enmity but you see, the politicians they fight for are not always as divided as the common people. Our people should know that these people you carry arms against each other for, they don’t do any fighting.
I am happy that Edo state has shown the entire Nigeria that Elections can be won and lost without bloodshed and this is evident in the acceptance of the outcome of the election by the President and international monitoring organizations who had their eyes on the activities that made Sept. 19th memorable. Now, am urging other states to emulate what we have done here so that Nigeria will be a country of our dreams.
Election is not a do or die affair. When you support political candidates, do that constructively rather than fight. When you fight each other, people you are fighting for may be seen together having fun and felicitating. Let’s be careful not to throw stones into a market place because you don’t know who will be hurt by such actions.
Going forward, our people should always ensure they exercise their voting power whenever the time comes because that’s one of the ways you contribute your quota to the development of the country and bringing about good governance.
For all those who thought they were going to be entertained in a show where members of the Kadiri Family (Unit 6) would be tearing themselves apart, I’m sure they were disappointed as they got a show of maturity and magnanimity instead. Elections are over and it’s now time to accept the results, reconcile our differences and continue as one indivisible family. This for me is the way to.
0 Comments