Hon. Dr. Joseph Ikpea is a development angel whose enviable political career and experience have inflamed new leadership quests in Edo State politics. In this interview with our political editor, Dr. Ikpea signposts his agenda for Edo Central Senatorial District. Excerpt:
Journalist: You have remained constant in Edo political space in recent times. What gives you the inclination you will be elected into the Senate this time?
Hon. Ikpea: If you say I have remain constantly firm in Edo politics, it true because am a foundation member of the party, is not what I leave for others to inherit, rather I continues to be part of it and to give my support in every aspect that I can so that the party continues to grow from one stage to another.
Secondly, in the Bible Jesus said my father knows me and I know my father. People across the Senatorial district and beyond know me and believe in me and my integrity as well as concerns for humanity. Go and find out about me, there is no day in my life I don’t give support to people, I mean everyday, you can as well find out of my performance while I was in Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, covering the five local government in Senatorial district, all the red roof and beautiful school structures in Senator Adams Oshiomhole administration was part of achievements, because I ensure compliance to contracts we awarded are done to specifications.
And I want you to go find out, I don’t accept envelope from contractors when they complete their jobs, because am not a greedy man and by God grace am doing well, I have never been a politician without business office, and if retire from politics I still have office to go, unlike some politicians who have no job profile. Esan people want someone like me who is not going there emass wealth for himself and his family, the people in my background.
You can do a background check about me. I was a local government council chairman from 2013 to 2016, I was the best performing chairman. Esan South East Local Government is the poorest in terms of revenue generation in the 18 local government areas in the state, but am proud to tell you I paid workers salaries to date before leaving office in 2016. At the time, some councils were owned up to 22 months. For that reason, the governor gave me a letter of commendation as one of the best performed council chairmen.
_Journalist: Many believe you’re riding on your elder brother’s shoulder, Dr. Lee Ikpea to get the APC Senate ticket.?_
Hon. Ikpea: In life anyone you think can help you build your concern, either in business, careers opportunity or even politics, there is no harm asking such person for assistance, like I said earlier am not a politician without background, and in politics people who believe in you will ordinarily want to support you, even without asking, because they believe in you, so if my brother chose to assist me it is only natural to do so.
_Journalist: Some say your Senate bid gives your people a sense of consolation since you’re from Agbazilo and the governor is from Okpebholo._
Hon. Ikpea: In politics there is what we call equity and fairness, it gives a sense of belonging. Esan is naturally divided into Okpebholo and Agbazilo constituencies, and since the Governor is from Okpebholo, it’s fair the Senate goes to Agbazilo, and in Agbazilo we have two constituencies Esan North East and Esan South East. Under the same fairness and equity, since Esan North East already has a siting House of Representatives member, it’s natural the Senate goes to Esan South East.
If you may know, Esan South East has 14 gazette traditional rulers, that means 14 communities, and each of them is independent on its own. In Ewatto where I came from, we have never gotten any national assemblies office for once, and we have also never been a Minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria for once. So in the spirit of fairness and justice and equity, Ewatto person should please be considered since I am in the race for the senate. Without being proud but humanity, plead for everyone’s support, most especially stakeholders.
_Journalist: The major crises plaguing Edo Central are inaccessible roads and lack of portable water, are they part of your blueprint, if elected into the Senate?_
Hon. Ikpea: It is obvious by nature that it is difficult to get water in Esan land, but while I was a Local Government Council Chairman, I sank a bore hole in the council and we got water, and the people that were within the council areas came to fetch water.
So, the water there is full assurance for our people’s accessibility of water in Esan land is not rocket science. On the issue of bad roads, you can see that since our governor assumes office that there is drastic improvement, even on federal roads, he is working on them. So as a senator, I will join the Governor to pursue his laudable drive on road infrastructure development and as a Senator I will ensure that the Federal Government impact is seen on road projects and other basic areas of development.
Our people are more into farming, so the roads are key for our farmers to get their produce to the market.
Courtesy: trojan insight.
