HON JOHN YAKUBU is a former Chairman for Esan North East Local Government Council of Edo State. A strong chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party of Edo State, his bid for a second term generated state wide controversy after the result of the election was allegedly annulled by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC against the trend of collation in the constituency.
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What was the criteria used by your party, PDP in zoning the governorship ticket to Edo South Senatorial Zone?
I was a member of the committee that did the zoning.
We looked at the entire state, at the three senatorial districts and the viability of each of the three Senatorial districts taking into consideration the governorship election that would come up sometime in 2016.
So, when we looked at it, the committee agreed that it will be good and proper for the PDP as a party to look in the way of Edo South Senatorial Zone to enable us muster enough support and the available voters that will accrue to the party from Edo South Senatorial Zone.
You will agree with me that as we stand today, if we want to win election in Edo State; anybody who wants to win election in the state will first of all, rub the back of the people of Edo South.
Again, we have credible candidates everywhere, in Edo South, Edo Central and Edo North, but looking at the present circumstances, the PDP believes that looking in the way of Edo South Senatorial district would be proper and the only way we can move into Osadebey Avenue come 2016.
But your people in Esanland in Central Senatorial District are clamouring for the ticket?
Well, you cannot say that everybody is clamouring for an Esan governor, come 2016. Yes, we are aware that some persons are clamouring for an Esan governor, nobody is disputing that because we have credible men and women from Esan.
I am from there and by the grace of God; we are capable of steering the ship of Edo State.
Local government chairmen in the state have said that their allocations are not tampered by the state government. Being a former chairman yourself, what is your take on this?
Well, they would continue to deny because first of all, I am sure that they are afraid. But for me, working under Governor Adams Oshiomhole is the most difficult thing anybody can think of.
I worked under him and that was the most difficult period for me as a human being.
I will tell you; not only did the state government deduct money from the allocation; it is only what is available to you that you take home.
What do you think that should be done to ensure that local government councils collect their allocation without illegal deductions from the state governor?
For now, the governors will not allow it, members of the state Houses of Assembly will not allow it because that is an easy way for them to take money.
It was always a battle for me between the governor and the State House of Assembly because when you are called to the House to give account of what you have done and what you have not done, it is bring money for us.
If you go to an allocation meeting with the governor, by the time you finished, about 20 percent of the money would have been removed.
You remember about two or three years ago when the issue of constitutional amendments for autonomy for local government councils was moved, you saw how the governors and members of the State House of Assembly fought to make sure that the amendment did not see the light of day.
It did not see the light of the day because that was the easiest way they got money: don’t forget when there was a small problem in the Edo State House of Assembly recently, what do you hear, that members of the House were saying that money contributed from the local governments in the state, that the Speaker could not account for it.
Tell me which section (s) of the constitution that allows local government councils to contribute money to the State House of Assembly? They said it openly.(Vanguard)
