Akpata: Obaseki not funding my campaign — I’m not answerable to any godfather

Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Edo, says he is not being funded by Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state.

Akpata spoke on ‘Politics Today’, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday.

There have been insinuations that Akpata has been recruited to play a “spoiler role” ahead of the September 21 election.

The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said he is only answerable to the people of the state.

“Firstly, I am really flattered by the fact that there is so much attention on me. That means I am doing something very good and right,” he said.

“As I said on another channel, ‘Na tree wey get stone dem dey stone’. Nobody will come up to you if you have nothing to offer.

“Initially, I was said to be the agent of Governor Obaseki, we were able to debunk that. Today, I was said to be sponsored by the APC. I think it is a conspiracy theorising that is most stupid.

“Who is funding me? I don’t want to appear to be ducking any questions. I am funding myself, and I have friends.

“You know the popular saying that your network is your net worth. I have friends who believe in me and in this course. I have people from Edo state who believe we can do much better.

“With them working with me, we have been able to get the kind of funding that we require. Which general goes to war without first counting the costs?

“So we have taken into consideration all that is required for this race and I assure you, we are going to win.

“Those who are hoping and praying we run out of steam have something else coming for them.

“I have no strings attached. I am not answerable to any godfather. I am not answerable to any political benefactor.

“That is one reason Edo people can trust the Labour Party government because we are answerable to the people.”

‘OBASEKI’S PERFORMANCE UNDERWHELMING’

Akpata described Obaseki’s performance in office as “underwhelming”.

“There is a gulf between myself and Governor Obaseki, it’s night and day,” he said.

“I cannot and will not be associated with his government. His performance has been underwhelming.

“I have been attacked, my billboards have been pulled down. Everybody knows that I am not his choice; I am not even his Plan Z.

“I am saying that Governor Obaseki has been a failure; an unmitigated disaster. In failure, there will always be flashes of positives here and there but we are talking about the whole, in the sum.

“For 25 years, PDP and APC have been running Edo state. In the last eight years, one man has belonged to both parties.

“It is an abject failure and so we must try something else and the Labour Party presents a different approach to the subject — a people-centric, people-focused, people-impacting approach.

“Every government must ask itself, whatever resources I have available, how will it impact the greatest number of the people? That is the approach of the Labour Party.”

On Tuesday, Akpata, who spoke on Arise TV, pledged to focus on four key areas: electricity, agriculture, security, education and healthcare, if elected.

He emphasised that these sectors are crucial for driving development and improving the lives of Edo people.