The recently concluded general elections have thrown up salient issues and personalities in Edo political landscape, especially in the South-South geopolitical zone. Before now, there were numerous insinuations as to who controls the political nerve of the zone. The contention was more pronounced in Edo, where political vampires denigrate Governor Adams Oshiomhole as either a neophyte or lightweight. Because Governor Oshimhole remained modest and taciturn in the face of unnecessary provocation, it was assumed as weakness on his part.
Governor Oshiomhole was a loyal labour leader for some years in Nigeria. The way he tolerated and managed the frustration of the Nigerian workers became strength of his political zeal, and building of followership by the masses of Edo State. In Edo State, the performance of Governor Oshiomhole in the past six years remains a template of success many progressive administrations shall emulate. Governor Oshiomhole introduced a concept of bottom-up strategy of development that opened up rural areas through interconnectivity of roads. He adequately provided potable and clean water as well as electricity to the rural areas. Farmers have been empowered through needed input, equipment and cash. The effort resulted in increased food production for local consumption and sale of surplus produce. Farming is the strength of the Edo. Governor Oshimhole exploited this opportunity maximally. The youth population was empowered through resuscitated educational infrastructure, construction of new ones with provision of teaching and learning material, and institution of motivational dynamics which stimulated tremendous increase in school enrolment of boys and girls.
GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State is excited in presiding over what he described as the political funeral of people he described as political godfathers in Edo State during the 2015 elections. He confessed that it was not an easy battle because the godfathers were being shielded by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP- led Federal Government, but that with the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government, come May 29, “it is all over with the godfathers in Edo State.” The governor said “If you recall where we are coming from in this state, you will appreciate how I feel. When Oshiomhole came in as governor, every councillor in Edo state, local government chairmen, House of Assembly members, the governor and of course you have the Presidency, all PDP members. Now to imagine that from ground zero we came in to challenge this order and of course we must not forget that when they talk about god fatherism in Nigeria politics, it is a small, powerful, unaccountable, un-elected group.”
Governor Oshiomhole said few years back that Edo people terminated godfatherism when Edo people voted again and again to bury the godfathers but as Edo people bury them, Abuja puts them on political oxygen mask. They have been on political oxygen for so many years.
In Edo State, the endless exodus from one party to the other started in earnest during the second term of Gov. Lucky Igbinedion when, after securing his undeserved victory at the polls, he decided to wean himself from the grip and control of Chief Anthony Anenih. To effect that breakaway, a group was formed under the code-name of “Grace Group” with the fighting slogan of “no man is God”, suggesting that Chief Anenih alone could not monopolise the politics of the state.
It was under such a divided and resentful condition of the PDP in Edo State that Oshiomhole emerged as governor. Fully aware of this situation, he was convinced that the only reason he could wrest power from the PDP via the court was the demise of godfatherism in the state, which necessarily paved the way for the emergence of the famous “one-man, one-vote” philosophy.
In consequence, he took it upon himself the task to “liquidate the godfather and godfatherism in the state. This determination became the operational mantra of Oshiomhole’s first term in office and to that effect, he erected several loud billboards all across the state proclaiming the “war against godfatherism.” Jingles were aired endlessly on both the state radio and television stations proclaiming “the end of godfatherism”. Everyone was happy.
The shock that recently struck Edo State like a tsunami is the Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State led thousands of APC faithful on a 10-km road show round major streets of Benin City, Monday, April 13th to celebrate victory of the All Progressive Congress in the House of Assembly elections held in the state. The “Thank You” road show which commenced from Ramat Park on Auchi-Abuja road took the Governor and the party faithful through Ikpoba slope to Ewah Street, through Gani Fawehimi layout, to Guobadia Street down to new Lagos Road, to New Benin through Mission Road to and ended at the Oba Ovoramwan Square, in the heart of the state capital.
Addressing the mammoth crowd and party faithful who danced all through the road show singing melodious victory songs, at the Oba Ovoramwan Square, Oshiomole said, April 11th Saturday’s victory of the APC was the final nail on political coffin of expired godfathers in the state.
Oshiomole said, “You remember the President came to Edo and said Edo will fall in 2015 and 2016. I said in the name of God our creator, He will not abandon us and I said Jonathan will fall, has he not fallen? And I said the godfather will fall, has he not also fallen? Where are they today? From Edo Central to Edo South, all the godfathers have finally perished.
“We now have a completely new energetic, imaginative, rugged and dogged political leadership. I am proud of Edo people and I want to thank you so very much for being there for me and I promise that I will be there for all of you. I will give my all for the Edo people because if you imagine plans of the enemies, while we were campaigning for change for progress and development, they were plotting to use acid to bath my political life. “They did advertorials, they did all kind of abusive campaigns but God said the devil is a liar. Today, like I told you at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, people like us conquered fear many years ago. We will stand on our feet and fight on the basis of our convictions. We will not go down on our knees to beg those who themselves are living on the quick sand of time.” He said, “I am very happy for the referendum that took place on Saturday, 11th of April, 2015. The election of Saturday was a referendum between the godsfathers and the great people of this great state. We know who the godfathers are of course, one or two escaped the first day but by Saturday we finished them.
Governor Oshimhole, as the campaign coordinator of the south-south zone of APC, has effectively delivered overwhelming number of elective offices to the party. He did it for APC in 2011. The emerging political hurricane of Governor Oshiomhole, has swept the cynics and skeptics to inevitable retirement. The recent general elections have finally settled the unfounded polemic of the generalissimo of Edo State politics. That is Comrade Governor.
Mr. Inwalomhe Donald, a public affairs analyst, writes from Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria- [email protected]
