By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
One of the registered political party in the country, Boot Party, will be participating in the forthcoming National Assembly elections in Edo North senatorial district of Edo State.
BOOT is an acronym for” Because Of Our Tomorrow.”
Boot Party which was registered in 2019 will be having a shot at competitive election for the first time in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
The party is presenting Mr. Osiriame Obalabi Okhumeode Edeipo as the senatorial candidate for Edo North District.
Mr. Edeipo, is the first son of the late Captain P. Z. Edeipo, who hails from the Ayogwiri community in Uzairue, Etsako West Council Area of Edo State.
The 2003 graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, later veered to study English Language at the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City and graduated in the year 2013.
He is currently in the process of rounding up his M. Sc degree in the English Language, specializing in Literature.
Mr. Edeipo is also the Edo State Chairman of the Boot Party as well as the State Secretary of a foremost political group called Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) – the umbrella body of all the political parties in the state.
He speaks three Nigerian Languages namely Etsako, Hausa and Yoruba and has authored eight books and co-authored one.
According to him, he has been self-employed since he finished his National Youth Service programme in 2004 and have equally been a self sustained Pastor/Deliverance Minister for 20 years now.
Providing some snippets into why he chose to go to the Senate and not any other position, Edeipo said his mission is to up the ante and to be part of those who used the law-making process to change the negative narratives about the country.
“My going to the Senate is to serve the people honestly and diligently. It will afford afford me the golden opportunity to birth and midwife some bills which will take into cognizance the unity in our diversity
“Also, I will aggressively pursue a people-oriented lawmaking process to ensure that the old and archaic laws which have inhibited growth in the various spheres of our national life such as justice and security processes, education, healthcare, among others, are consigned to the dustbin of history,” he said.
Edeipo is not like the typical noisy politician. He prefers to do his things quietly, away from the media frenzy. Perhaps, this may account for why a lot of people think that until the announcement of his senatorial bid, he was a greenhorn as far as politics is concerned.
Although his name does not ring a bell or strike any chord of familiarity among the political class, he said his entry will
changed the dynamics of the race.
He said
“First, it is a thing of joy to the youths, especially those of them of voting age, that a younger personality is challenging the status quo.
“Second, the entry will certainly change the equation as well as the dynamics of the race that had been classified as a three-horse race to a four-horse race.”
“And, thirdly, my presence in the race will afford the youths a chance to make a bold statement by pushing out the old horses and replacing them with a more youthful and vibrant element. Afema Land and indeed, Nigeria as a whole will be massively blessed with a diligent, vibrant, honest and God fearing young man like Mr. Edeipo at the Senate. Your vote, mobilization and support will make it happen.”p