The die is cast.
Edo State All Progressive Congress (APC) primary election comes up June 2
baring any unforeseen extension. With
all attempts made to settle the warring titans proving futile, the stage is set
for the battle royal. Unlike in the past when the suave and quiet Obaseki
enjoyed the support of his now turned adversary, the coast was clear. Now, with
the reverse the case, Mr Obaseki seemed to have a Gordian knot to crack. Undaunted,
however the tough, firm and determined Obaseki is all but set to upset bookmaker’s
predictions. Comrade Adams Oshiomole on his part is adamant; the pint sized, diminutive
former governor is buoyed by his added position as the National Chairman of Obaseki’s
party with the seeming influence of his acclaimed Federal might. As a result,
the man who boasted that Obaseki cannot win his “local government” election has
lined up regular faces in the political scenes such as Pastor Osaze Ize Iyamu,
Dr. Pious Odubu, Engineer Ogiewonyi, etc., to slug it out with Godwin Obaseki.
No amount of persuasion was enough to persuade the former labour leader to soft
pedal and give his now turned “arch enemy” a second chance; and as he had often
boasted that he has “never lost any election”, the June 2 primary therefore
will be litmus test on how to teach his former godson a lesson. With the
alleged support of the national leader of the party himself, only a miracle –as
it is—would save Obaseki from the hangman noose. Barring any changes,
bookmakers, are confident and staking their necks out backing Comrade Adams
Oshiomole to emerge victorious, probably because of the criminal and shoddy
manner the 2019 primary in Lagos State was “stolen” by merely writing and
announcing the results to pave way for the godfather in Lagos. But they are
wrong. This is democracy and not battle field. This is not the Stalinist era or
the Niccolo Machiavelli period when the end
justifies the means. Back in Lagos, the “victory” was possible because President
Buhari was looking to be re-elected and so found no need to interfere in the
primary. Now the President is not looking for any election. Secondly, the
public is now sufficiently informed; Obaseki’s stronghold is his massive
performance and the support of the grassroots. Just as his predecessor
rubbished the late Anenih for corruption, he too has been rubbished for the
crap they did, for example, at the Benin General Hospital. On top of this, the Benin’s’ have suffered
terrible humiliation under the same comrade Adams Oshiomole who engineered the
ouster of their son Chief Odigie Oyegun from power. The same comrade also presided over the
disgrace of the late political maestro Chief Tony Anenih and infact retired him
from politics. It is now in public domain that virtually everything he accused
Anenih of, he is guilty multiple times. These factors coupled with the fact
that some bigwig’s within the National Working Committee are not happy with his
so-called iron-fisted style is still lingering. The Police themselves are wary
to be unduly used as a result of past experiences. Be that as it may the era of
godfatherism is abating; “comrade wants to be a deity and be like the late
Ogbemudias and Anenihs; this is not possible because these legends were not
limited in their largesse to the people”, said a youth leader in Edo North. According to him, “Comrade Oshiomole has few
followers he empowers; you know them: the Clement Agba, the Odubus, the
Ihonvhere, etc. None else ever benefits from his closed circle”. Elsewhere,
recent events have shown that unless Oshiomole makes peace, he is heading for a
bitter defeat. A case in point to buttress this, is the bitter feud between Kwankwaso
and his godson Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. Ganduje served Kwankwaso for 8 years as
deputy governor, yet handed him a resounding defeat at the polls; in Benue, the
battle was between two heavyweights, George Akume and his godson Ortom. Against
the odds, Ortom roundly defeated his estranged godfather. Akume had even lined
up one Emmanuel Jime who at the time occupied a juicy position as NEPZA chief.
In Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko was acclaimed godfather to Aminu Tambuwal who
because of disagreements crossed over to another party and yet fell his former
godfather. In Cross River State Godswill
Akpabio fell out with his alleged godson Udom Emmanuel, who stood his grounds
and trounced him; what about Abia State tango between Orji Kalu and his godson
Theodore Orji? Have we forgotten how Willie Obiano in Anambra assailed his
bitter foe and former godfather in Peter Obi? Ditto Liyel Imoke and Ben Ayade? The
case of Yahaya Bello of Kogi State cannot be forgotten so soon. Tried as hard
as they did, their efforts came to nought. Bello triumphed. If it was difficult
to unseat Oshiomole in his days as governor, why does he think Obaseki’s case
will be different? Well, maybe because of his much vaunted position as National
Chairman! Nevertheless, Oshiomole has not played his cards right this time. He
would have been the greatest hero had he succumbed to his obdurate pride and
settle the rift with his foe. This has not been possible given the voracious appetite
of his factional leaders urging him to drop Obaseki. To them, democracy has
suddenly become “persona racy”,
government for me, by me and for my family! Whoop! All said, there is still time to make peace.
The likes of Pastor Osaze Ize Iyamu, Dr. Pious Odubu should tarry till 2024. They
are still young. Everyone knows they are not coming to serve Edo people but
themselves and those angling for “stomach infrastructure”. There will not be
room to “write” results this time; the will of the people cannot be trampled upon
this time. The laws of Karma will take its course. So far a recent Opinion Poll
carried out by our reporter’s shows Obaseki is strongly backed by the
grassroots and the elites. Thanks to social media no secret can be covered. Our
reporters would monitor events in Edo State as they unfold until after the
primary; to see whether an individual who was brought to political limelight by
the combined strength of the Anenih’s, Igbinedion’s, Ogbemudia’s and the
Ikimi’s can prevail against the State and the wishes of the people.The die is cast.
Edo State All Progressive Congress (APC) primary election comes up June 2
baring any unforeseen extension. With
all attempts made to settle the warring titans proving futile, the stage is set
for the battle royal. Unlike in the past when the suave and quiet Obaseki
enjoyed the support of his now turned adversary, the coast was clear. Now, with
the reverse the case, Mr Obaseki seemed to have a Gordian knot to crack. Undaunted,
however the tough, firm and determined Obaseki is all but set to upset bookmaker’s
predictions. Comrade Adams Oshiomole on his part is adamant; the pint sized, diminutive
former governor is buoyed by his added position as the National Chairman of Obaseki’s
party with the seeming influence of his acclaimed Federal might. As a result,
the man who boasted that Obaseki cannot win his “local government” election has
lined up regular faces in the political scenes such as Pastor Osaze Ize Iyamu,
Dr. Pious Odubu, Engineer Ogiewonyi, etc., to slug it out with Godwin Obaseki.
No amount of persuasion was enough to persuade the former labour leader to soft
pedal and give his now turned “arch enemy” a second chance; and as he had often
boasted that he has “never lost any election”, the June 2 primary therefore
will be litmus test on how to teach his former godson a lesson. With the
alleged support of the national leader of the party himself, only a miracle –as
it is—would save Obaseki from the hangman noose. Barring any changes,
bookmakers, are confident and staking their necks out backing Comrade Adams
Oshiomole to emerge victorious, probably because of the criminal and shoddy
manner the 2019 primary in Lagos State was “stolen” by merely writing and
announcing the results to pave way for the godfather in Lagos. But they are
wrong. This is democracy and not battle field. This is not the Stalinist era or
the Niccolo Machiavelli period when the end
justifies the means. Back in Lagos, the “victory” was possible because President
Buhari was looking to be re-elected and so found no need to interfere in the
primary. Now the President is not looking for any election. Secondly, the
public is now sufficiently informed; Obaseki’s stronghold is his massive
performance and the support of the grassroots. Just as his predecessor
rubbished the late Anenih for corruption, he too has been rubbished for the
crap they did, for example, at the Benin General Hospital. On top of this, the Benin’s’ have suffered
terrible humiliation under the same comrade Adams Oshiomole who engineered the
ouster of their son Chief Odigie Oyegun from power. The same comrade also presided over the
disgrace of the late political maestro Chief Tony Anenih and infact retired him
from politics. It is now in public domain that virtually everything he accused
Anenih of, he is guilty multiple times. These factors coupled with the fact
that some bigwig’s within the National Working Committee are not happy with his
so-called iron-fisted style is still lingering. The Police themselves are wary
to be unduly used as a result of past experiences. Be that as it may the era of
godfatherism is abating; “comrade wants to be a deity and be like the late
Ogbemudias and Anenihs; this is not possible because these legends were not
limited in their largesse to the people”, said a youth leader in Edo North. According to him, “Comrade Oshiomole has few
followers he empowers; you know them: the Clement Agba, the Odubus, the
Ihonvhere, etc. None else ever benefits from his closed circle”. Elsewhere,
recent events have shown that unless Oshiomole makes peace, he is heading for a
bitter defeat. A case in point to buttress this, is the bitter feud between Kwankwaso
and his godson Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. Ganduje served Kwankwaso for 8 years as
deputy governor, yet handed him a resounding defeat at the polls; in Benue, the
battle was between two heavyweights, George Akume and his godson Ortom. Against
the odds, Ortom roundly defeated his estranged godfather. Akume had even lined
up one Emmanuel Jime who at the time occupied a juicy position as NEPZA chief.
In Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko was acclaimed godfather to Aminu Tambuwal who
because of disagreements crossed over to another party and yet fell his former
godfather. In Cross River State Godswill
Akpabio fell out with his alleged godson Udom Emmanuel, who stood his grounds
and trounced him; what about Abia State tango between Orji Kalu and his godson
Theodore Orji? Have we forgotten how Willie Obiano in Anambra assailed his
bitter foe and former godfather in Peter Obi? Ditto Liyel Imoke and Ben Ayade? The
case of Yahaya Bello of Kogi State cannot be forgotten so soon. Tried as hard
as they did, their efforts came to nought. Bello triumphed. If it was difficult
to unseat Oshiomole in his days as governor, why does he think Obaseki’s case
will be different? Well, maybe because of his much vaunted position as National
Chairman! Nevertheless, Oshiomole has not played his cards right this time. He
would have been the greatest hero had he succumbed to his obdurate pride and
settle the rift with his foe. This has not been possible given the voracious appetite
of his factional leaders urging him to drop Obaseki. To them, democracy has
suddenly become “persona racy”,
government for me, by me and for my family! Whoop! All said, there is still time to make peace.
The likes of Pastor Osaze Ize Iyamu, Dr. Pious Odubu should tarry till 2024. They
are still young. Everyone knows they are not coming to serve Edo people but
themselves and those angling for “stomach infrastructure”. There will not be
room to “write” results this time; the will of the people cannot be trampled upon
this time. The laws of Karma will take its course. So far a recent Opinion Poll
carried out by our reporter’s shows Obaseki is strongly backed by the
grassroots and the elites. Thanks to social media no secret can be covered. Our
reporters would monitor events in Edo State as they unfold until after the
primary; to see whether an individual who was brought to political limelight by
the combined strength of the Anenih’s, Igbinedion’s, Ogbemudia’s and the
Ikimi’s can prevail against the State and the wishes of the people.
Comments
Post a Comment