Richard Elesho, Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State, spoke to RALPH OMOLOLU AGBANA in Lokoja, on behalf of his principal. He said the added months to the Idris' tenure were a 'great blessing in disguise,' describing the man as an extremely lucky politician.LOOKING at the extended period he was in office, wouldn't Alhaji Ibrahim Idris count himself lucky'I think it is reasonable to say that he counts himself lucky indeed in so many ways: one, he is the first governor in the history of Nigeria to have stayed in office for nine years, not even under a military regime did such happen before. The tenure extension was granted to him, first by the Federal High Court, which was reaffirmed by the Appeal Court, before the Supreme Court now reversed the decision.We will say that he considered himself lucky for such privilege. He is also the first governor who had his election quashed by the law court. In so many ways you will see that the man is first; among the five governors whose tenure were quashed, he was the only governor who was serving a second term.How did he receive the Supreme Court judgment'Alhaji Ibrahim Idris is a true Muslim and a believer in God and he believes it is the work of God and that it is just destiny at work. He believes there is nothing that can happen to a man, except it is ordered by the Divine. He often said that his emergence as governor was not because he was the most intelligent among his co-contestants. He believes it is an act of God. It is the same manner he took the judgment of the Supreme Court. He does not habour any bitterness towards anyone as a result of that judgment.Would you say he ended his reign on the positive side of history'We would say we leave that to history to judge. It is not for a man to judge himself. But I believe he deserves a pass mark and I say this with deep knowledge.What were the concrete achievements recorded by your principal in these extra months'It was great blessing indeed. Virtually in every sector of the state's economy, the governor utilized the extra months for the progress of the state and for the people generally. If you take it sector by sector, we have quite a lot of achievements to point to in those added months. It is true that yes, some of those projects might have started before the expiration of his normal tenure, but the fact he had those extra days gave hive the opportunity to nurture them to fruition.For instance, Greater Lokoja Water Works; this was an idea he conceived immediately he was sworn in for his second term. Unfortunately, he couldn't complete it before that tenure would have ended. But the extra months he had gave him the privilege to complete that work. Today the water project is working perfectly.You will also recall that it was also during the extended period that President Goodluck Jonathan came visiting during which he commissioned projects. The Ganaja-Ajaokuta Federal Road and Iyamoye-Ponyan-Jege Road, the Government House extension and the new Deputy Governor's office were completed and commissioned. Virtually every ministry was given a face-lift. Structures on ground were renovated while some were started from the scratch and completed.There are also mistakes that the extra months gave him the opportunity to correct. Don't forget that the report of the screening in the civil service came about the time he was to leave office. The added time afforded him the opportunity to rectify the anomalies. Workers erroneously laid off were recalled. As at today, more than 30 courses in Kogi State University are fully accredited. God might just have granted him the extra time for him to write his name in gold.Idris was able to replace the man who won the first primary of the PDP, Jibrin Isah Echocho, with Capt Idris Wada who is now installed as governor' Some brinkmanship you would say. How did he work that out'Again, this is an act of God. Even the opponents of Idris could attest to the fact that he is a lucky man; Lucky, not because he was righteous or without fault or he is perfect. He is just a man that is loved by God. I give a critical example of what happened to his three children in an air crash. Seven passengers survived; three of the survivors were the children of one man! The man is loved by the people.It is true he supported Jibrin Isah Echocho, the man who emerged as the candidate of the PDP in the January 2011 primary election and probably would have won the election if conducted in the state in April same year, but for the extended tenure.But given the extra tenure in office, things changed. The dynamics of politics dictated another direction. I don't want to go into details of those dynamics, but the only thing that is constant in life is change. He shifted his support to Capt Idris Wada and the people shifted with him. Wada did not only win the primary election, he went on to win the general election 'Go this way' and the people obeyed him without questions. I think only a leader who is very, very popular with the people can do this.I am sure you know him. Alhaji Idris is an extremely humble person. People believe in his leadership and always want to give him a second chance. It is this trait that was making things going for him. I don't want to say he imposed Wada but world over, there is no leader who would not want to have a hand in who succeeds him. It should be the desire of every leader to be able to influence the emergence of his successor. I don't think any politician who finds himself in his shoes could wish for anything more.The dithering of the PDP gave the opposition some space to boost its strength; to the extent that the ruling party seemed not to be as strong as when Alhaji Idris was first elected in 2003. Would you say he left the PDP stronger or weaker'To answer this question, we will have to take a very brief lesson; if we go by 2003 when Alhaji Idris came on board, defeating the incumbent governor elected on the platform of ANPP and consider the elections that held in 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2011, I think Alhaji Idris left the PDP stronger, much more stronger than he met it in 2003.How do you measure the strength of a political party' PDP has emerged victorious in virtually every election that has taken place in Kogi under the leadership of Ibrahim Idris. By the time he took over in 2003, ANPP still had a good number of members in the state House of Assembly, but with the advent of the Idris leadership, PDP took control of more than two thirds of the seats. Four seats that went to the opposition in April last years were due to internal squabbles, which arouse in the choice of candidates in those constituencies. The people who won those seats were PDP members who contested on the platforms of opposition parties for the purpose of the general election.The events that led to two governorship candidates emerging from two primary elections and the case of two governors being sworn in on the same day obviously were some of the actions taken by Alhaji Idris, which affected cohesion in the PDP. Isn't it'It is just one of the dynamics of an emergent democracy. What happened on Friday, January 27 came as a result of the Supreme Court judgment, which did not come with consequential pronouncements. We were all in the dark and we all know that nature abhors vacuum. The governor-elect was sworn in based on the fact that Kogi had had an election and the winner of that election was declared and issued with certificate of return. That was what was considered as appropriate, until another directive came from Abuja, to the effect that the Speaker be sworn in. Agreed that the governor-elect and the Speaker belong to PDP and it is supposed to be a family affair, but then when the law is talking, you also learn to listen and act accordingly.They were just obeying directives as they came. If the party was not united, the Speaker would have forced his way into the government house, but he kept his peace, and when the leadership waded in, the confusion ended. I am not aware that he is still laying any claim to being an acting governor. Captain Wada is in his office performing the functions of the governor, while I am aware the Speaker is in Ilorin with his colleagues attending a seminar organised for state legislators.
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