Barrister Neda Imasuen is the Senator -Elect on the platform of Labour Party for Edo South Senatorial District in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25, 2023. He speaks with Ben Peters on his victory at the polls and the Labour Party.
Excerpts:
First and foremost, the new Senator-elect, congratulations, sir.
Thank you very much.
Do you see the victory as a surprise? Bearing in mind that Edo South you know, looking at the peak, with the kind of personalities that have occupied that position up till now even your immediate boss.
I will answer that question from two fronts. One, for me I’m very humbled and thankful to the good people of Edo South Senatorial District for their overwhelming support to all the Labour Party candidates. We cannot thank them enough, we will not take them for granted, we will do the will of the people and by God’s grace ,we shall all move the state forward. Generally, it is not a surprise because the people were already tired of the status of the old government; so, they were looking for a new direction. Thankfully, they saw the worthiness in Labour Party, and we are grateful for that. It’s a surprise personally but generally it’s not a surprise because the people have spoken.
Ok, let’s look at your co-contestants from the other parties, APC and PDP. You didn’t really have the kind of money they had, they saw you as an underdog. Did you see yourself that way?
Yes, I was indeed an underdog ,but I didn’t believe that people were going to be bought with money. Yes, money will play a factor but I didn’t think it was going to play enough factor to change the outcome of the people’s will, and for the election, I congratulate them for a good fight and for putting up gallantly. They are both gentlemen and I respect them individually and I know that they are people who also have good intentions for the state and want to move the state forward, as well. We shall all become partners in this endeavour so that our people will benefit from our collective way of effort to do well for our people. So, yes, I didn’t have money but I had God; like I always say, they may have everything but I have God and God came through for me and I’m very thankful to God Almighty and I understand the responsibility that is on my shoulders and by God’s grace, I will not disappoint the people.
Will you say very soon you will have to reach out to the two parties, APC and PDP?
Of course, Matthew Iduoyekemwen is my brother and my friend and we will always remain friends. Mr Valentine, I barely know but I also see him as a very humble man and yes will indeed reach out to them for collaboration so that we can move this state forward.
I feel very humbled and i understand also the enormity of that office. I feel good about it and I’m sure that the Distinguished Senator Matthew Urhoghide also feels good about it because I became a successor to him and so I will take every knowledge that I learned from him and run the office and improve it in any way I can. It’s a good feeling
Will you say your personality or the obedient wave that gave you the victory?
Well, it’s a combination of both ,but yes we thank God for the obedient wave and that is why we are also concerned about the collation of the presidential results as we speak and we are hoping that INEC will do the right thing and they will be an unbiased umpire in collating and announcing the results. It is the will of the people and the will of God. The people want change of direction and that direction is Peter Obi and the Labour Party and I just pray that the will of the people and voice of the people be heard.
People see you as a greenhorn going to the Senate, not just the House of Representatives. You may be one of the youngest in that seat. Are you a green horn regarding the National Assembly or in the legislature?
Green horn? No, I couldn’t be that because I have worked in National Assembly for over seven years. So, I know the in and out of the National Assembly, I wouldn’t be a green horn because I’ve been involved in all the legislative activities, including bills and running the office generally and I know all the corridors of the Senate. So, I have all it takes.
You are the second person who will be breaking records in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, taking over the seat of their immediate boss. This time again, you are going to take over your immediate boss’ you worked with before you resigned to contest for this position. That is Honourable Matthew Urhoghide. How will you feel about him being your former boss and you taking over?
I feel very humbled and i understand also the enormity of that office. I feel good about it and I’m sure that the Distinguished Senator Matthew Urhoghide also feels good about it because I became a successor to him and so I will take every knowledge that I learned from him and run the office and improve it in any way I can. It’s a good feeling.
Ok, bearing in mind that he held a sensitive committee which was so tasking and the committee is normally zoned to an opposition party, do you think the committee wants you in?
Well, like I told you I was involved practically in all the phases of the administration as the Chairman, Senate public committee, I know the task that he faced. He worked so hard to bring that committee to where it is. For instance, when he started, there was a backlog of auditing as far back as 2015, and he moved it up. Before I left, we were at 2019 and I know the committee is still working and by now they would have moved it closer to 2020 or 2021. But whatever it is, I leave everything to God but I have the experience and I know what it takes. I’m a lawyer and I have enough experience.
Well, we are not taking anything for granted, we will also work hard to make sure our candidates win and for all the candidates that presented themselves for the House of Assembly, I will say authoritatively that Labour Party parades the best of them all and so we will go out to campaign for them and to also plead with the people to finish what they started
I asked him if he gave you his blessings…
(Cuts in) Why not?
Has he called you since you won the election?
I actually called him to tell him and thank him for giving me the experience because I was with him in his two outings in campaigning for his own seat 2015/2019. So, I learnt a lot from the campaign which I brought alive in my own campaign as well. So, I called him to thank him for the experience I got from him and, of course, he prayed for me.
What lesson did you learn from the election?
Humility for me, and I also learned that all power belongs to God and he gives it to who he wills. I pray that we all learn from this and be humbled, and let the will of the people prevail in all circumstances.
So what is your message to your senatorial district?
To my Senatorial District, I say thank you very much for this overwhelming support that I got and also my fellow Labour Party candidates got from you all. Many of you stood in the rain, many of you waited till night time, many of you travelled distance to go cast your votes, many of you waited to make sure your votes were defended. I cannot thank you enough for such sacrifice, such I have never seen before. I’m humbled and thankful and on behalf of all the Labour Party candidates, we say we are grateful and we will not disappoint you all.
Will you say you were humbled that your party defeated the governor of the state in his unit, defeated the SSG in his unit, and other parties’ contestants, will you say you were humbled by that?
We were very humbled by that and we are thankful to the people for exercising and making their voices heard.
So now, have you been presented the certificate of return?
No, we are still waiting on INEC to make that available.
So, what are we looking up to for the House of Assembly, since there is no governorship election in Edo state?
Well, we are not taking anything for granted, we will also work hard to make sure our candidates win and for all the candidates that presented themselves for the House of Assembly, I will say authoritatively that Labour Party parades the best of them all and so we will go out to campaign for them and to also plead with the people to finish what they started.
With your current position now, a big burden has been placed on you. How do you intend to pilot the affairs?
It’s by the grace of God, I pray that God gives me the wisdom to do the best that I need to pilot the affairs. We have other leaders from Edo State, I’m just one of these many persons and together we will do the best for Edo South Senatorial District.
On a last note, as a legislator in the upper chamber, the person you are succeeding has done a wonderful job in Edo South. How will you be able to surpass his achievements?
Well, for me it’s a continuity and I will make it even better. As I told you, I was involved in everything that he achieved, there is nothing that he did that didn’t come through my desk. Remember, I was the senior legislative aide, meaning everything comes through my table. There is nothing that is new to me, I’m going to better it this time.