By Steve Oma-Ofozor
Ken Imasuagbon, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain fondly known as ‘rice man’ from Edo State has boldly and openly on national television said that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the only choice for the party’s presidential ticket ahead 2023 general elections.
Imasuagbon’s position is against the backdrop of the Southern Governors resolution for the South to produce the next president come 2023 as a matter of fairness, equity and justice.
Imasuagbon who has contested governorship elections without success in Edo State was on Channels Television Sunday Politics programme dwelling on the way forward for PDP to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) in 2023.
Imasuagbon did not blink eyes in asserting, “Atiku is the only qualified candidate who can help PDP to defeat APC in 2023.”
Enumerating Atiku’s presidential qualities he said, “Atiku is an educationist – he has a university; he is a businessman – he has a block industry; he is an experienced politician – a strategist, a person who can help stabilise the country,” among other qualities he mentioned.
Incidentally, Imasuagbon is from the South South Zone of the country that produced ex-president Goodluck Jonathan; but he was quick to say zoning should not count in this dispensation, but quality.
Thus, when asked by programme anchorman, Seun Okinbaloye, if personalities of PDP as Anyim Pius Anyim; Nyesom Wike, Mao Ohuabunwa are not qualified enough he said, “They are not experienced.”
Imasuagbon dismissed his fellow Edo State and PDP counterpart Kassim Afegbua’s position that age is not favourable to Atiku.
“Atiku’s age is not a problem; the likes of Joe Biden, Ronald Reagan are US Presidents in their 70s and 80s who helped stabilised the country when their economy and unity were under threat; same thing Atiku will do to stabilise Nigeria,” he maintained.
Incidentally, like Ken Imasuagbon, Raymond Dokpesi, a PDP chieftain is another Edo man who has been on the vanguard for Atiku’s presidential race recently in the party calling on the South East to wait till 2027 before contesting for president of Nigeria..
However, PDP as a party and even the ruling APC is yet to decide on the zoning issue which seems to be a major problem among the parties ahead 2023.
