SENATE: I’m Best For The Job   

Osa Director, a seasoned jounalist and lawyer wants to contest for the Senate seat in Edo  South Zone. In this interview with ADEMOLA ADEGBAMIGBE, he reveals why he wants a shot at  Nigeria’s upper legislature

•Osa Director.

You were a journalist, then a lawyer and now you want to be a Senator. We want to know what  prompted the transition…
I have been a man in perpetual transition because life is dynamic. I have to keep up with  it. I started out as a biochemist, I have a first degree in biochemistry from the University  of Benin and entered into journalism where I have been able to distinguish myself by the  grace of God. And even before I became a lawyer (I studied law at the Ambrose Ali  University, Ekpoma), I decided to also see how one can understand theoretical management of  man and resources. So I went for an MBA degree in Management at the Imo State University,  Owerri, in spite of being a practising journalist.
I believe that you will be better equipped when you are more knowledgeable. So I also took  a master’s degree in Media and Communication from the Pan African University, Lagos. And I  have another master’s degree in Corporate Governance from Leeds Metropolitan University, UK.  The focus today is on corporate governance, I am happy to know that today, there are less  than 100 of us who have been trained in corporate governance in Nigeria. I did a Masters  degree in United Kingdom in corporate governance and Iam also a lawyer. So you can see that  it has always been a transition, kind of, intellectually.
But I have given over 20 years of my life to the media practice. When I was in school, I was  highly involved in students unionism. So during my youth service, I insisted on serving in a  media house which I did. I served in Radio Kano. After then, I moved into journalism and I  was lucky to have worked with Tell magazine.
I have to use this opportunity to thank my bosses who had the vision that there is a need  to change from the military rule to democracy, good governance and rule of law. So those of  us who had similar vision and courage just keyed into it.

You almost paid with your life as a journalist. You were chained, detained and…
My situation was actually very critical because I was Tell’s Bureau Chief  in Kano. And of  course, the Head of State, the worst tyrant we ever had in this country, Sani Abacha, was  from Kano; his Chief Security Officer, Hamza Al- Mustapha is from Kano; we have General  Gumel; the Former Chief of  Defence Staff, the late General Halidu from Kano and the  National Security Adviser, Ismaila Gwarzo, from Kano. So I was in the midst of wolves  and  sharks who wanted to maintain the status quo.
I think one of the basic things is that I must give glory to God for his grace- it was his  grace and mercy that saw us through. Some of us are alive to tell our story, while some of   our colleagues, like the great Baguda Kaltho of TheNEWS Magazine, is not alive to tell his  own story today. And more so there was the training my parents gave me to always have  courage under fire and stand for what is right and what is just, no matter the cost. And  also for the fact I was given an open hand and opportunity by my bosses at Tell Magazine. So  I really felt so encouraged to go full blast, irrespective of the consequences.  I believe  that what people cherish and are afraid of losing is what they always end up losing. I had  the guts to do what I did because I believe if it was my time, it will be my time even  though I am hiding under my bed.

What are your chances against some heavy weights in Edo South?
The truth is that it is only Matthew Uroghiade that is in my party right now, Action  Congress of Nigeria, ACN. He is a political heavyweight and he has been a governorship  aspirant several times over and he has also contested for  the senate twice before. He is  well known, but what I can say is that by the special grace of God, I am going to turn all  of them to heavyweight losers. In the sense that we need a new generation of leaders.
We want to break away from the past, we want to break away from those who believe in  business as usual. I am sure with that people will want to queue behind me, people want to  know about your pedigree and the agenda you have for the people. I am sure the people of Edo  State are so sophisticated and enlightened, especially with the Comrade Governor in charge  and with emphasis on one  man, one vote. I am sure by the time we put our credentials  together, like I have just told you, without being immodest, I am the most educated and the  most sophisticated and the most exposed nationally, internationally and the most committed  of all of them to the issue of human rights. I am one of those who contributed to the issue  of human rights and the enthronement of democracy and the rule of law in this country. This  is not business as usual. Iam going to render service. I am the best man for the job.

In what ways has your experience in law helped you?
The House of Assembly is about law making, interpretation of law, guiding the country on  path of the rule of law. That is not the place you go and learn the act of law making .You  should be prepared and well equipped before you go into the National Assembly. A lawyer is  well equipped in the act of constitutional, understanding, interpretation of the  constitution and law making. My being a lawyer is one of my major advantages.

You said in an earlier interview that finance is a challenge. Does it mean you are not  prepared enough?
What I meant was that no man has enough of everything. The issue is that you have finance  and competing interests. I cannot say because I am running for an election, I have to allow  my other interests to suffer. For instance, I run my chambers, my media business, I run my  other businesses and I run my family. I will not, to the detriment of all these things,  emphasise on putting all my resources in politics. That statement is also made in comparison  with those who are in the race with me. For instance, Daisy Dajuma has  bottomless  resources, her husband openly said he made $5 billion in a deal and did not know what to do  with it. We all know that Ehigie Uzamere is one of the contractors to former Governor  Dipreye Alamieyeseigha in Bayelsa and even Goodluck Jonathan(when he was governor). He made  so  much money and Matthew Uroghide is a multimillionaire; a pharmacist.
I have said that in comparison that I do not have the kind of money they want to throw  around. But I am out to render service and emphasis should be on those who want to serve not  those who believe that they can purchase that position and at the end of the day you have no  access to them because they know they bought it.

Tags:  Imo State University, Osa Director