A former member of the House of Representatives and erstwhile Chief of Staff to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who is popular for his big grammar, Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon, speaks with LASISI OLAGUNJU on sundry issues.
Happy New Year, Honourable. Our readers would like to know what your resolution is for the new year.
My new year resolution was a petition to the great architect of the universe and the cosmic to allow divine thoughts, divine words and divine actions to continuously inspire me and infuse my being and make me a privileged agent and instrument of omneity in the universal service of Light, Life and Love in such a way and manner that my breath of life shall be dedicated only to complementing the constructive workings of the Cosmic and Divine Intelligence. The true and only purpose of man on this earth plane after all is for the progressive evolution of his soul personality, whether he is conscious of it or not.
There is a new government in your state, Edo. What are your expectations of that government?
It was a joyous delight to have a very humble and unassuming person in Governor Monday Okpebholo taking over the reins of governance in Edo State. My expectations are consensus ad idem with the legitimate expectations of Edo people who expect to see a geometric improvement in all spheres of their lives. The Edo people want inter alia, quality education in a good learning environment, adequate security of their lives and properties, employment for their youths and a living wage, durable and good network of roads, an industrialised state with an agricultural hub as it’s fulcrum, a government that is intentional in taking care of it’s elderly citizens and a government that is driven solely by the spirit of service. The Edo people will also be happy with having a listening and a very humble governor, and I can affirm that the incumbent governor is doing his best thus far.
Recently, there were food stampedes in Ibadan, Abuja and Okija. What do you have to say on the degree of hunger in the country?
It will be living in self-denial and luxuriating in a narcissistic aqua of diaphanous legerdemain not to acknowledge the asphyxiating pervasive intestinal ambience you have alluded to but like Mr President himself has said, these are fleeting moments of birth pangs that have become an inevitable corollary of the necessary reforms which reforms are a dessideratum for the extrication of Nigeria from its penelopic grip of an apple of Hesperides which it has become before he got into office, to a new trajectory of a self-propelling economy for self-determinism, progress and utilitarianism.
A new president, Donald Trump, will take over in the United States in the next couple of days. What is your opinion of that president?
Ironically, my close friends will tell you that I was one of the ardent, feisty, passionate and vocal supporters of Donald Trump and for good reasons. I certainly don’t agree with his unipolar proclivities within the matrix and praxis of a universe that is inherently and foundationally multipolar. My endorsement of his politics is rooted in the fact that he hopped into the American political space as a gadfly who was a complete stranger to the deep state and swamp in Washington and pulverized political prognosticators, election pollsters, bookmakers and the CNN establishmentarians. So from the point of view of successfully discombobulating the Washington establishment with a single-minded determination, he is a political gadfly, bohemian and iconoclast that enjoys my imprimatur. I wish he could be multipolarly inspired.
Who is your favourite musician? And why?
My favorite musician? Everybody knows naaaaa. Who else other than the legendary philosopher, encyclopedic teacher, fearless and intrepid fighter for the people, a tormentor and minesweeper of oppressors and a catalytic agent for progressive change and the ultimate Baba himself, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He was an old soul as we would say in some initiatic school. Na only the Ebami Eda himself and maybe few of them na him yarn song when make meaning to the Nigerian situation and humanity. Nor be the cacophony of kpangolo and mandibular walkabout many musicians they yarn these days my brother.
Which is your favourite football club? And your favourite footballer?
Barcelona, it is for me and the inimitable, fecund, creative, ingenious, original, effortless, dazzling, elegant, entertaining, mesmerizing and E Pluribus Unum, Lionel Messi carries the day.
Your message to President Bola Tinubu and to Nigerians as they start the new year.
My message to Mr President is to tenaciously keep his eyes on the ship of state, realizing always that he has a rare chance in history to write his name in letters of gold and my message to Nigerians is to continue to support and render their prayers for the success of Mr President.
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