Oseyili, son of the late Chief Tony Anenih, picks PDP nomination form for House of Reps

▪︎ Says he is running on his own merit, pedigree having undergone necessary political tutelage

Oseyili, one of the sons of the late Chief Tony Anenih, on Monday, picked the nomination form on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to contest for Esan North East/ Esan South East Federal constituency ticket in next year’s National Assembly election.

Anenih, who spoke with journalists shortly after obtaining the form said he would be focusing on water and security issues which, he stated were the major challenges facing his people.

“My constituency has a problem with access to water. I know the Federal Government and State have done some work and we will be focusing on ensuring that work is sustainable and my constituency has access to free, clean healthy water.

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”We will also be focusing on general insecurity. Currently, you have trouble traveling between towns. So even though the towns are relatively safe, travelling between towns are very unsafe. If you can recall a couple of weeks ago, there was this deadly bank robbery that happened in Uromi, my town, where robbers came and held the town for almost three hours, unmolested and I strongly believe that the way out of this current security troubles is state police in restructuring our security architecture and I will be pushing very hard to make sure that is done.

”I actually came out to run in 2010 for the same seat; so, this is actually the second time I am expressing interest and intent to run.

”Sergius Ogun is my friend and my brother. He was a brilliant House of Rep member who I think I’m one of the best in the current House of Rep cohorts. If I can even match him I will be more than happy to. He did a lot of work; he has almost forty bills in the house but there are still some work left undone.

“I think his focus was more on education and I will be tackling fundamental issues we are suffering in the constituency such as water, security, general insecurity and a more specific focus on education that is relevant to the 21st century.”

Responding to a question on whether he wanted to step into his late father’s shoes, he said: ”I am not trying to fit into anybody’s shoe. I think everybody has their shoes; they need to fit and he never actually contested for elective office and his own politics is slightly different from mine. I am looking to contest specifically for legislative office because I believe that democracy is literally built on the law that State House of Assembly and House of Rep members has.

“Nigeria is in a precarious situation where we’ve seen strong men who are not really cut out for a democratic club can bring the nation to the edge and I am hoping that my tenure in the House of Representatives will safeguard our democracy a little bit more than it is currently protected.

”If you go into some spaces and the fact that I am a son, they open doors but you go into some other places and you don’t get such a warm reception; so I think it balances it out and I had to stand on my own pedigree. like I said I came out 12 years ago and I have had more than a decade to develop myself, professionally; I have two master’s degree; I am a project manager; I have served the party for 12 years at the state and federal level and I am not here as chief Anenih’s son. I am here as Ose Anenih.”