The movement of gubernatorial aspirants round the nook and cranny of Edo State, soliciting support for the upcoming party primaries, has heightened the tempo of political activities. There are some despicable maneuverings, scheming, internal and external plotting within the All Progressives Congress. The politicking has seen aspirants comb the 192 wards in the state seeking the support of delegates and their leaders.
There are different sides to the political power play. Some are assuming ethnic proportion as there are suggestions that it is the turn of Edo South. Some others say it is the turn of Edo Central and others are of the view that it doesn’t matter if Edo North also produced the candidate. This explains why aspirants have emerged from all the senatorial zones with all of them asking for a level playing field.
There are views on the ground that Comrade Adams Oshimhole be allowed to lead the APC to produce his successor and such persons also have the right to express their view. Oshiomhole himself also has the right as a party member to support any one of the candidates he deems fit and proper to step into his shoes.
Another position is that it is the turn of another religious adherent. Time for either a Muslim or traditional religion worshipper to become the governor of Edo State in November. Holders of such views are equally right in their thinking.
There is yet another school of thought that Edo people have had it so good this past seven and a quarter years under the leadership of the Comrade Governor and what is important for the APC to do is to look beyond ethnicity, religion, and other primordial sentiments and go ahead to nominate someone with proven track records, administrative prowess and political cum economic sagacity, someone who can carry majority along to take Edo state to the next level of development.
In my considered opinion, it will be germane for the APC to adopt the last option which looks beyond sentiments. I am of the view that it was time to separate the chaff from the grains or the sheep from the goats. Time has come for leaders of our great party and our highly esteemed delegates to begin to look at the future of Edo State after the glorious tenure of Comrade Oshiomhole.
It is important for our party members to understand where we are at the moment before looking ahead to a successor of the Comrade Governor. Before the downturn in the nation’s economy, particularly with the tumbling of crude oil price in the international market, the Edo State Comrade Governor has raised the stakes for any successor.
Adams Oshiomhole touched all sectors of the state since assumption of office and his successor must be someone who would even surpass his record. Just as President Muhammadu Buhari is being wrongly accused of being too slow to commence action in government, that was how Oshiomhole was accused by the rag-tag PDP that he was too slow when he was on the drawing board planning massive infrastructural development for the state.
Some accused him of talking too much, just as the gullible opposition are accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of travelling too much. It was not long into his first one year when bulldozers started speaking for him. Massive road construction across the three senatorial districts of the state under the urban renewal programme. De-silting of drains and even the ones constructed by Ogbemudia as military governor of Bendel state in the king square were all de-silted with special machines imported by Comrade Oshiomhole’s government. Street sweeping machines as is available in Europe, America and other developed societies were sighted in Nigeria for the first time in Benin City.
The urban renewal project which cuts across all the 18 Local Government Areas of the State shows unprecedented modern road networks with all the latest walkways , street lights, and flower lawns. Massive drainage projects of the Oshiomhole-led administration has helped to control flood and erosion menace that was almost going to submerge the whole city of Benin City and Auchi. Queen Ede Gully erosion site which was a nightmare for those living in Ikpoba Hill, Benin City has become history as the gully site has been reclaimed under the watch of Comrade Oshiomhole.
But for the Benin Water Storm project and other drainages embarked upon by the present administration, perhaps Benin city would have been submerged in flood. The defeat of the five junction horror of flood by Oshimhole remains one of his success stories. The environmental sanitation situation has been energised and made quite functional. Every day, major streets and markets are cleaned by the state government officials as Benin City is looking cleaner by the day. It means that in spite the fact that his administration is coming to an end, Oshimhole is not resting on his oars. He has even vowed to work and deliver dividends of democracy to the people even to his last day in office. This is a rare leadership Edo people are privileged to have.
Comrade Oshiomhole Government has done excellently well in educational revolution in the state. Aside his giant strides in primary and secondary educational development, he is leaving behind two new state universities for Edo people.
His support to security agencies to combat crime in the state has greatly reduced crime rate. Before now, Edo use to be almost synonymous with banditry, but that is now history. Edo is one of the most peaceful states in the country under Adams Oshiomhole. He has dealt a devastating blow to the menace of cultism in the state. Little wonder so many foreign investors have now established several factories and companies in the state. One can comfortably say today that Edo State is an investors’ destination in Nigeria. The next governor must build on this success story. The person must work to sustain and guarantee adequate security for all Edo people irrespective of their status or where they live.
Who steps into the shoes of such a great leader counts. Edo people do not need a neophyte, or inexperienced person on the saddle. Edo people do not need a religious or ethnic bigot to succeed Oshimhole but someone with energy, courage, candour, expertise, skills and connection to deliver on the mandate that would be bestowed on him or her by the people.
There is no doubt that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has upped the stakes for all those jostling to take over from him at the completion of his tenure. It is also very important that the same Oshiomhole would be a strong determining factor as to who succeeds him. Those aspiring to be Oshiomhole’s successor must be ready to make personal sacrifices. They must be change agents and must be seen to be living above board free of corruption and nepotism. Once this is achieved at the upcoming APC primaries, the rest becomes easy ride as the PDP candidate would be trounced in the September 10 gubernatorial poll, come what may.
Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State
