01122019 - 13 states struggle for 7.5 metric tonnes of rice

The struggle to free Edo State
from the hands of godfathers
which was started by Comrade
Oshiomhole is still on. He started
the struggle to secure Edo so that
our resources will be available for
our people.
How is your current
relationship
with
Oshiomhole?
He is one person I will continue
to respect. He is my father and
I was a
victim of a
stepmother.
It created
that strong
mind in me. I
am learning
to be
romantic
nothing has changed. What has changed now is that
people are now able to read my role as a son and my
role as a politician. We have political differences, no
doubt about that but it has not changed our
relationship. Even when he made some statements
that suggested what I am not, I refused to reply
because when the chips are down, I will be the one to
still apologise not minding whether he is right or
wrong. He is the one talking and I am not talking. I
am comfortable with him talking. That shows I was
properly brought up by my father and by him not to
elders. I am not the first to disagree with his father
politically and I will not be the last. The good news is
that it has not changed our relationship.
How do you describe your relationship with
Governor Obaseki?
I have learnt from Comrade’s style of leadership. I
am learning another style of leadership from
Obaseki. One part of governance I learnt from
Comrade is the communist aspect of governance. I
am learning the capitalist aspect from Obaseki. You
can imagine if I have to combine both how effective
I will be. Obaseki is like an elder brother to me.
What does it feel like living a life of
struggle?
I thought the struggle was over when I became
Deputy Governor. Each time I think it has stopped,
something else comes up. At 50, I am concluding
that maybe God created me to fight oppression. I
have submitted to the will of God. He placed me in
leadership positions to fight oppression. The 18
months I spent in the House of Representatives, I
created a movement called the House of Commons.
I created it to fight oppression. Those of us that were
not given committees decided to form a union. As
Deputy Governor, I thought I was just to hide behind
the governor but I found out that the struggle for the
emancipation of Edo people from the godfather is
continuing. The joy I have is that godfatherism has
not come to stay in Edo. We thank Oshiomhole for
leading that struggle. We are helping him to sustain
it. Like he said you need to fight these people to a
standstill for you to be able to free the resources for
the state to deliver dividends of democracy to the
people.
Were you at any time scared for your life?
If what I know about government now I knew it
then, maybe I would not have taken those risks. I
once told President Obasanjo, “you are the President
of Nigeria and I am the President of 40 million
Nigerian students”. The men of DSS were looking at
me. I said he must listen to me and that we could
cripple the economy and the country. I did it when I
said then-US President Clinton could not come to
Nigeria. That was how powerful we were at the time.
We learnt your wife was also an activist...
I met my wife while in the struggle. My wife was
the Vice President, Students Union Government,
SUG, of Auchi Polytechnic when I went there to seek
their votes as an aspirant for NANS presidency. I
went to the 36 states of Nigeria and I came to Edo to
campaign and I visited all the higher institutions in
Edo State. When I got to Auchi Polytechnic, the SUG
President was not around. The Vice President received
us and, after the campaign, I left and they formed an
alliance to support me when they discovered that I
am from Edo. They had thought I was a northerner
having come from Jos. They only knew me as Shaibu,
they did not know that my name is also Philip. When
I came, I asked her where she hails from and she
said Etsako. I greeted her in our dialect and she was
surprised. I told her I am from Jattu. That was how
we met. Eventually, she was in Bauchi where the
election held and she gave me all the support and I
became President of NANS. On her invitation, I came
to attend Auchi Poly Student Union Government,
SUG, Week which is normally organised by the office
of the Vice President. That was where I started
recognising her as wife material and, subsequently,
I started visiting. It was during my fifth visit that I
told her I wanted to marry her and she was surprised.
She thought I was joking but I was
already convinced and the next time I
came I said I wanted to visit her family.
Do you see yourself as
romantic?
My wife used to say I am not
romantic. I think it was the way I grew
up. I don’t like to share that aspect of
my life. I didn’t grow up with much
affection. That part is not there. Maybe
that is why I grew up to fight
oppression. That aspect of my life was
not a pleasant one. I was a victim of a
stepmother. It created that strong mind
in me. I am learning to be romantic.
How do you cope with work
and family life?
I am blessed with my wife. She is an
activist and understands what activism
is all about. She gave me that freedom.
She knows how to tolerate me. The
reason I succeeded during
Oshiomhole’s administration when we
were fighting the godfather was that
she was always awake to provide not
only prayers but also the logistics to
face the struggle.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2019, PAGE 19
ABOUT THE MOON
WEEKLY HOROSCOPE
Periods of the Moon's fluctuation as given here-under,
are when unexpected frustrations and disappointments
are possible .And those are the times when other people
should not be taken for granted. Any period with hysteric (*)
should be handled more carefully. However if I write
that such periods/days favour you, you have no cause
to worry. Therefore you are advised to plan your week
carefully. Such periods/days are:
1.28pm of Monday to 8.1226pm of Tuesday*
9.16 am to 8.46pm of Thursday (same day)
4.02 pm of Saturday to 8.30am of Sunday
11th degree of Pisces will host First Quarter Moon on Wednesday. The Moon will
go through Aquarius, Pisces and Aries. By 7.21pm of Monday lucky Jupiter will
move into Capricorn.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec21)
BUSINESS; Mid-week pressure within your base of operation. It s important you
are consistent.
MONEY; Unusual opportunities to enhance your finances will come on Tuesday.
Be stead fast.
LOVE; Excitement and pleasure are indicated during the weekend. Money cant
but real love.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
BUSINESS; Jupiter – the planet of good luck comes to your Star and signal
success.
MONEY; Tue & Thurs will prove successful, particularly Thursday. Be practical.
LOVE; Try your best to resolve domestic challenges before the weekend. Be tolerant.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
BUSINESS; You’ll start the week on an ambitious note to the betterment of your
prospects
MONEY; Whatever happens, you will get your bearing rightly on Tuesday. Be
bold.
LOVE; Exciting attractions indicated on Thursday but it can lead to illicit and/or
secret affairs
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 19)
BUSINESS; Many of you may be tempted to look straight into the eyes of your
superiors.
MONEY; Positive actions on your part’ll earn you mid-week success desired by
you and yours.
LOVE; Friends may unconsciously put your finances under pressure you can not
resist.
ARIES ( Mar 20 – Apr 19)
BUSINESS; Expansive Jupiter goes into Capricorn and influence many to see
green light.
MONEY; Mid-week success indicated for those of you who are more consistent.
LOVE; Much will depend on your initiative ; your being self assertive’ll bring
good result
TAURUS ( Apr 20 – May 20)
BUSINESS; Lucky Jupiter at positive angle will signal good signs. Be your
practical self.
MONEY; Whatever your choice, mid-week success’ll be yours. Dont give in to
blackmail.
LOVE; Reason with your tried and trusted friends, especially around mid-week.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)
BUSINESS; Frivolity’ll not appeal to you. Its good to be conscious of your image.
MONEY; Pressure’ll lead to situation you’ll have good opportunities. Be your
smart self.
LOVE; If you are receptive to your good friends, you’ll have more to be happy
about.
CANCER (June 21 – July 22)
BUSINESS; First Quarter Moon warns you to take the LAW and its agents
seriously.
MONEY; Opportunity to lay good foundation may come today (Sunday). Beflexible.
LOVE; Say no to aggressive instinct trying to come to the fore on Thursday.
LEO (Jul23 – Aug 22)
BUSINESS; Your business parners’ll come with good suggestions early in the
week.
MONEY; It’s important you resist temptation to gamble at all around the midweek.
LOVE; Those of you trying to mix business with pleasure pay painful price.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
BUSINESS; Good ideas on best way to improve your working pattern’ll come to
you.
MONEY; Other people’ll work favourably for you on Thursday. Be steady.
LOVE; Mid-week success indicated for many male Virgo born people. Be moderate.
LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 22)
BUSINESS : Severe pressure’ll come with much needed success during the midweek.
MONEY; Gambling around weekend can lead to avoidable loss and/or trouble.
LOVE; Refusal to reason with your spouse can lead to weekend misunderstanding.
SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
BUSINESS; Take advantage of good ideas coming to you in order to enhance
your prospects.
MONEY; Nothing easy indicated but success not forbidden for you. Utilise midweek
influence.
LOVE; You will be in good mood after few challenges Take advantage on Tue,
Wed & Thurs..