Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Former Director of Media for the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2024 Governorship Campaign Council in Edo state, Mr. John Mayaki, has sworn never to support his party governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo in the September 21 election in the state.
Mayaki who indicated his resolve not to work for Okpebholo at a Roundtable with Friends in the media, said his decision was anchored on the fact that the APC candidate lack the vision and sagacity, tacts required of a leader.
The former APC Spokesman spoke in a prepared message titled, 2024 Governorship Election: Party Supremacy, Competence, and the Future of Edo State: Text of the Speech Delivered at the 5th Edition of Mayaki’s Roundtable with Friends in the Media on Friday, June 14, 2024, at the NUJ Press Centre, Benin City.
According to him, the Edo governorship election should not be about party but about a man who will help to develop the state, adding that a party that is currently factionalised and fragmented may not throw up a competent flagbearer.
He said “What mattered to him is the development of the state and not party supremacy; one who has the capacity, competence, connections, experience and sincerity to provide the leadership required to tackle the enormous challenges in governance and take the state out of the woods.
“My candidate is the man we can all trust. The man who has networks and connections both home and abroad. The man with ‘moral’ or ethical reputation, not a novice to governance system. This man is not of the APC stock because irrespective of party supremacy, the future of Edo state is more supreme in my heart. My first commitment is to the state while the party is secondary.
“Lets not forget that the measure of a leader’s skills refers to the required leadership abilities, from the communicative to the managerial and cognitive. Does the leader know what to do as a leader at every point in time? Is he always available? Does he have vision and good understanding of what to do? If he does, does he have the required skills and political will to do same? I have accessed all the candidates and have come to the conclusion that the candidate I will campaign for has all these qualities in abundance.
“The strength of a leader’s vision, the methods he employs in driving the vision, his communication and ensuing goodwill and popularity, all add up.
“I mean the candidate who has a clear vision and thorough understanding of the mandate he’s seeking for. One who has remained focused and committed to taking development to all corners of Edo State and alleviate the sufferings of the people in our various communities. The one who has equally applied the right leadership style and judiciously applied his limited stock in governance.
“Remember some leaders have great communication skills and popularity, but not the vision but the man am going to support has all these in abundance. Many other leaders are also known to have vision but lack all other leadership skills. The candidate of my choice is a visionary leader with enviable leadership skills. I mean a serious minded candidate.”
Mayaki while calling on Edo people to embrace the candidate who has demonstrated competence and the ability to govern the state, regardless of party affiliation, in the upcoming September 21st governorship election in Edo State, noted also that as a committed progressive, how was bound to react negatively when presented with a candidate who has no clear ideology or manifesto, and likely to set the state back 20 years?
Giving a classical example classical example of party supremacy and competency, Mayaki cited the case of former Governor of Rivers State and now Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike who took a decision to work against his party presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the last general election and was proudly appreciated by President Bola Tinubu who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the above simply tells one that even Tinubu who is a core party man appreciates people who went out of their way to support a better and credible candidate to emerge as president irrespective of party affiliation. And today, Wike a foremost PDP national leader is adding real value to the APC led government.
“For me therefore, I have made up my mind to commit myself to encouraging my numerous supporters across the state, especially in my local government area, ward, and unit, that they vote for the candidate who will best develop the state, regardless of political affiliation. I mean a man who has the carriage, clout and charisma befitting of a governor”, Mayaki said.