By Ehichioya Steve Odion
Foremost woman Governorship aspirant for the 2024 Edo Governorship election, on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, a humanitarian, Princess in
Uromi Kingdom, Amb. Princess Asha Okojie has a mission to eliminate hunger, poverty and illiteracy through sustainable social economic development.
In an exclusive interview with The Groove Watch News crew the woman of virtue said she is in the Governorship race because of her passion to help the women, children and the destitutes in the society.
According to her, "I am a humanitarian. I'm also into health and information management. I worked in hospitals and also as a business consultant. I have served as a UN Ambassador and UNESCO. I have done a lot of projects helping the less privileged, orphanages and people who need help, like paying of hospital bills, especially in Africa, like in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. I am a co-chair of a non profitable organization Tin Quest.
She further said that when it comes to politics, she usually helps to mobilize people at the grassroots, empowering the youths and teaching decision making when it comes to voting during elections. She also said that she has supported some campaigns in politics. "I have been involved in activities when it comes to justice for Women Rights. I am Keen on empowering women to be a voice to reckon with through empowerment and self sufficiency".
On the governance of Edo State, she said that with her interaction with close friends, associates and other stakeholders they told her about their dissatisfaction with governance in Edo State, adding, that when it comes to hunger, poverty and illiteracy as you can see it is becoming an epidemic.
"Not that we do not have the resources but we do not have good governance. We should be able to empower the youths and women. I believe there is a gap in leadership. I want to see more of accountability and transparency and ensuring that the indigenes of Edo State are equipped , especially the young ones to be able to fit into the first century. I am talking about education, employment and helping them to realise their dreams. As a UN Ambassador, I have been to other countries and seen how their government have been able to help the poor people and those who are not employed. They have a system where they support those poor households among the people. That is a working system we don't have here".
"I look at the health disparity and sometimes feel pained. There are lots of people out there who require help but they don't get it, especially the pregnant women who have difficulties in paying their maternity bills. In the US when you are sick or have an emergency, there is a policy that takes care of such situations. Back to Nigeria and Edo State where I come from, I have seen people die in emergencies because there is no one to take care of them, especially in public hospitals. I have an empathy for people whenever I come across those kinds of things. I think the problem is that there is a disconnect between the people and the government. It is very wrong for someone to lose his or her life simply because they cannot pay for treatment or bills up front".
The Governorship hopeful said another reason for running for the Governorship election is to support the youths because there a lot of talents in them, adding that they don't have the opportunity to tap into what they know. "I feel that it is that they don't have parents to pay or the opportunity to have jobs due to some factors. I think it is part of the reason we have cultism among the youths. That has been a problem when it comes to security of lives and this has also created the avenue for kidnapping and armed robbery.
She said amongst her other priorities are infrastructure, which includes roads. She said the state of the dilapidated roads in the state is not acceptable. She said it has resulted to several accidents that has claimed a lot of lives within the state. She promised to work on the roads to make it passable for all the road users in the state.
"I'm also looking at the elderly, who do not have good care. Many of them do not have pension payments that come to them. I mean those who have worked and spent their lives as civil servants. What they earn cannot sustain them. In Edo here they are not given what they have worked for with the government and that is not fair. If you have people who do not get anything from the government, they become a liability to their loved ones. My passion is taking care of kids and to make sure there is no health disparity in the populace".
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