I love Comrade Adams Oshiomhole very well. That was why I gave him all my support for eight years that he served Edo people as our governor. We needed him to put an end to the madness we witnessed in the PDP and he was such a great comrade.

At the end of his tenure he introduced Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki as his successor as the right man who would perform even be better than himself. The likes of his Deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, Secretary to Government and even my friend Barrister Osarodion Ogie, General Charles Ariabhere and of course Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu were interested but Comrade Oshiomhole told Edo people and anyone who cared to know then that Mr. Nogheghase Obaseki is the right man for Edo people.

Three years down the road, Comrade Oshiomhole has been proven right by Governor Obaseki who is busy fixing Edo state from where Oshiomhole let off. Several roads are being constructed and rehabilitated and employment generation is daily going on. The social sector is being addressed and many more within his power and available resources. Edo State is now a hob of business and efforts are in top gear to open up the Gelegele sea port. The road from Benin City to Gelegele is being dualized and the man is still working as “wake and see” governor.

Most importantly, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki since coming into office has been working round the clock to end human trafficking menace in the state and had approached the palace for support. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, on their part, had pleaded with the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to prevail on Juju priests in the kingdom to stop administering oaths on victims of human trafficking. The Oba responded and the rest is history.

Much more, the Edo State Governor had taken a very proactive and pragmatic step to permanently halt human trafficking as he has sent a Bill to the State House of Assembly to proscribe all human trafficking activities in the state. The House has since passed the bill and it is now a law in the state. The law established the Edo State Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons.

Given the enormity of the crime and the interwoven and complex nature it had assumed over the years, Obaseki and the palace adopted a multi-pronged approach as the best way to go. The approach included a law, aggressive campaigns at markets and across the broad spectrum of the media, stakeholder engagements, and partnerships with the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and international governments and bodies, in tackling the menace.

What about the menace of the CDA which our respected Oba, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare 11 and our Governor also worked together to end in the state? It has brought relative peace in acquisition and development of properties in the state.

The sour point from my understanding is this: At the commencement of the current state Assembly, Comrade Oshiomhole was said to be interested in putting in place a structure that will be loyal to him as the godfather of Edo politics. That was what led to some persons appearing for inauguration and some other elected candidates decided to go and stay put in Abuja to serve Oshiomhole instead of their constituencies. This is absolute nonsense because these persons were elected by their constituents and not one man.

I state this because for almost four to five years, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole took time to fight godfatherism in Edo and he fought all political godfathers and said he was going to retire all of them. His slogan was “let the people lead.” “One man, one vote.” We were all part of that sloganeering. But was is the same Oshiomhole doing today? He has assumed the same role of godfather that he condemned and fought till some of them died. Oshiomhole must be careful with the kind of battles he embarks upon. You don’t embark on struggles for selfish reasons, but on grounds of principles and values.

Last week, Edo State was thrown into turmoil because Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu wants to leave PDP to join APC because Comrade Oshiomhole wants him to come and fly the party’s flag as has been touted. That in itself is not a bad idea. What was bad was the mayhem unleashed on the state by agents purported to be working with the National Chairman of the APC to achieve this aim. This in my view is not only a wrong approach but outrightly condemnable. Edo State deserves some peace.

But if comrade Oshiomhole enjoyed eight years in office because he was performing, why does he not want Mr. Godwin Obaseki to enjoy same support from Edo people as he was performing?
As far as Edo people are concerned, Mr. Godwin Obaseki is doing well as governor and he should be encouraged to continue for a second term. Burning down houses and vehicles cannot stop him from the second term because Edo people wants him to serve again.

To put it mildly, Governor Godwin Obaseki deservers a second term, no one should stop him. Godwin Obaseki will be returned as the peoples governor and nobody should make any mistakes about that. The Benins have a saying Ama hama Oria Evbo n’oria Evbvo, Ote wen nodoleyi. Meaning: If you do not tell the man destroying the community that he is doing so, he might go with the illusion that he is fixing the community. Oshiomhole must be told that he is now a spoiler, burning down Airport Road that he built with tax payers money in his time as governor and burning down cars and all ascribed to him name is bad for him.

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• Mr. Dan Owegie, is a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State.