Lagos — The tale of the stolen mandate in Edo State spun yet another notch at the weekend with the allegation by Governor Adams Oshiomhole that former Governor of the old Bendel State, Samuel Ogbemudia, had tried to bribe him to drop his court case which ensured his victory two weeks ago.

Oshiomhole made the allegation in an exclusive interview with Daily Independent in Benin, where he also vowed not to share power with any one, not even Tony Anenih, the purported power broker in the state who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He did not mention the amount offered him as bribe, but said the negotiators promised to refund his campaign expenses and to integrate him into the power base of the PDP, complete with other largesse.

His words: "After the rigging and announcement by the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission), of course the reaction of the people instantly reassured me that they were not cowed by what had happened and they were ready to stand if I was ready to provide leadership.

"My burden was made easier by the enormous goodwill which I had enjoyed from people across the country; incidentally including PDP people outside Edo State, and professionals and very ordinary people.

"My business therefore was to reassure them that we have not given up and we are not giving up. In particular, after they made the effort for me to surrender by trying to monetise the mandate, which I refused.

"Our people became even more excited; because in the past, the PDP trick could be fairly simple: they rig you out, you complain and they tell you 'oh boy' you know we are here, there is nothing you can do. We will look after you.' And then you join in and they give you some money.

"Samuel Ogbemudia tried to play that trick and I told him that I didn't go into the race because I needed money to complete my family house. And therefore the issue of monetisation did not count."

How much was Oshiomhole offered?

"Oh! They said I should just tell them the cost of whatever I incurred. They spent billions ,and by their own experience they could imagine how much I spent. Of course I didn't spend as much as they did, because they spent money to buy the security agencies, and to buy INEC officials both in Abuja and in Benin.

"They spent money to buy Returning Officers, and for all sorts of things, as well as to hire thugs and to buy weapons for the thugs. They spent money on some traditional rulers who allowed their palaces to be used for rigging and things like that.

"I didn't spend such money. So they were ready to spend good money. But the issue was that I wasn't even ready to negotiate."

Oshiohmole said it never crossed his mind to relinquish his mandate for whatever reason, but had a plan 'B' which would have played out if he did not get justice in the courts.

"We cannot give up on Nigeria until we fix it. We can't give up. The more obstacles they placed on my way, the more determined I was, and the more I realised that there was more work to be done. In the morning of the judgment, I sent a message to some of my friends saying, 'whichever way this thing goes today, we must not be discouraged, we must sustain the struggle.'

"If we had lost, we would have continued to engage the system. All those people who trooped out jubilating, I don't think that anybody would have been able to hold them back. That is not due to anything I had planned. But on my own, I was going to make a statement that I would dedicate my whole life to the struggle to fix this country and to engage those who are determined to pull us back. And that I would throw every little influence I have to energise those who are ready to be mobilised to that struggle."

Oshiomhole said one other thing that influenced his determination to pursue his case to the end was the need to ensure that the blood of innocent people allegedly killed by agents of the PDP is not spilled in vain.

"They killed many people. They murdered people in cold blood to send a message that to vote for a candidate other than that of the PDP can be a life-threatening affair. The blood of those people must not be allowed to be shed in vain. Even though we can't bring them back to life we can fight for the ideas they died for."

He said he is not a reluctant Governor, having chosen to run for office and pledged to take responsibility for his actions.

"I have no agreement with any other person, including Ogbemudia, Igbinedion, et cetera. None of them can tell what I must do and what I must not do."

"The only agreement I have is with the people of Edo State, and it includes that I am opposed to godfatherism because it is inconsistent with democratic principles; that I do not need godfathers because what is needed in a democracy is God-inspired people. I didn't say that in hush tones. I made it a subject of electioneering campaign.

"The only contract I have is between me and the Edo people. There is nobody else in this state that I cannot look in the eye and say no for what I believe is wrong or say yes for what I have made up my mind to do.

"I respect our elders, because I grew up to respect elders and my father tells me that whoever wants to grow old must respect elders. But he also tells me that elders must respect the rights of the young to grow and even to grow bigger than themselves.

"So, I will give respect to all the elders, but the governance of Edo State is in the hands of Adams Oshiohmole and I will not share that power with anybody. I will guide it very jealously."