EDO 2020: TIME TO RETIRE OSHIOMOLE PERMANENTLY FROM POLITICS

 By now, Obaseki should know that he is not facing a democrat. This should be clearly spelt out; he is facing a well-known determined and self-made aristocrat (some call it tyrant) who is unrestrained by law; his major goal is to usurp the authority of legitimate rulers like Obaseki, using oppressive and cruel means.  They see the act of governance more as racketeering rather than a channel to provide amenities.  In doing so, they subject the people to misery, victims of their selfish and unjust desires. so those goading comrade Adams Oshiomole on, in this macabre dance, must know that he is only after his own interest—not theirs; that is why he is so ruthless about the mission—lying openly with vile intentions, peddling falsehood and leaving a trail of carnage; to say the least, this style is absurd, crazy, seeing a former national chairman, two-time governor of a State and Labour leader become so rascally not minding his reputation before the youths. Ironically, we can all remember the likes of late Ambrose Alli, Alhaji Inu Umoru, Samuel Ogbemudia, Tony Anenih, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Chief Odigie Oyegun, Uyigue, Chief Tom Ikhimi; those who made Edo State politics tick as complete gentlemen. Years to come, how would Oshiomole be remembered? As someone who dismembered Edo politics? He is misjudging a governor’s simplicity for foolishness. Was there any tangible result when he was governor? Why are people not asking?  Benin remains in darkness till this day; the same eight years it took visionary leaders in China, Thailand to turn around cities into paradise. Turkey will soon commission its 100^th airport designed to accommodate millions of passengers, yet they have not killed themselves over election matters. If Oshiomole is a good student of history, he would know that barbarism has no place in the modern world.  He should be wary of being placed in the mould of infamous leaders like Genghis Khan, Ivan the Terrible or even Pol Pot of Cambodia--blacklisted forever by history. Why won’t Oshiomole allow peace reign in Edo State? He pretends to be comical although he is not a comedian. The way he does it will make kingpins like Ali-baba, Basket mouth and Akpororo throw up. His vicious quest to bring down the house he helped build with Obaseki is nothing but a gross abuse of power and hatred. The truth is that Obaseki should be thankful that Adams Oshiomole is a civilian; if he had any military training, perhaps we would have been witnessing gunfire’s by now just like bandits and terrorists. The entrance of a Benin based billionaire into the race is another matter entirely; the skewed reportage spearheaded by two national south west newspapers against Obaseki is another worrisome development. Do we now resort to lawlessness and allow the previous status-quo to return? We are talking of a democratic process to elect a leader—not military manoeuvre to capture a wanted person! This appears to be the way Oshiomole and his fellow travellers view the September 19 governorship elections. They see Obaseki as a mere “prisoner-of-war” who must be captured and unfortunately, no one is intervening from the very top.  This is how they look on while people are being slaughtered daily—oh, how the nation is left to bleed!  The domino effect of allowing Oshiomole to return through any door—whether back or front-- would be too much to bear.  Now is the time to stop him. As incumbent governor, there is no more pretence. Oshiomole in power would never have allowed anyone to breach his authority. If Beelzebub, known in demonology as one of the seven princes of hell was curtailed, why not him? Obaseki must now spearhead a renaissance and retire this evil permanently. It is unreasonable for Oshiomole to think that another Benin man would come and rule Edo State for the next eight years. That’s why the ball is in the court of Obaseki to dismantle his evil network and stop anarchy from engulfing the food basket of the nation. After all, who has Oshiomole empowered with all his bravado? Count them on your fingertips: a current serving minister; a former tax secretary, the short-lived NDDC nominee and a few others. Nobody else outside this man’s circle is eligible for any good position. People like the “English and vocabulary maestro” a former Benin based Rep Member who worked tirelessly for him, where is he today? A mere spokesman for the ailing APC party.