Last week, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State held a strategic meeting to reconcile Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu, following actions and inactions which precipitated a frosty relationship between the duo prior to the party’s primaries.
It was disclosed at the meeting that politicians who were bent on destroying the cordial relationship which had existed between the two of them since 2008 when they came into office, were fuelling the crisis for personal interest. But the rest is now history. Those fuelling discord are the losers and both men are back together as best of friends, united for a progressive Edo State.
Also, our highly distinguished Engr. Chris Ogiemwoyi was reconciled with the Governor and other party leaders locked in differences. He has also gone ahead to call on his supporters statewide to sheathe their swords and forge a united front for the party ahead of the forthcoming September 10 governorship election.
Our Comrade Governor had earlier led the State Chairman of the Party, Anslem Ojezua to the party’s national Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to apologise to him and mend fence with the former governor of the state who was hitherto aggrieved over some issues pertaining to the primaries, all of which have now been amicably resolved.
Many thanks to some well meaning members of the APC such as the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Chief Lucky James, member representing Etsako federal constituency in the House of Representatives and Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC, Mr. Philip Shaibu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Patrick Obahiagbon, State Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie, Publicity Secretary of the APC Mr. Godwin Erahon and some top traditional rulers in the state for their initiatives in brokering the much desired peace.
The APC must not yet go to sleep. There is the need for the reconciliation and forgiveness to percolate to the grassroots of the party. There is need for the mosquito campaign around the party in the state, so that all would be on board to face the main election ahead.
The reconciliation and forgiveness that have swept through the party is awesome. It goes to demonstrate to the larger public that the APC is one big, united family with many people who do not only mean well to the party, but are truly committed to the Edo State project. The reconciliation that have taken place is a significant push forward towards consolidating on the party’s grip of power. It is also important for the party’s victory in the upcoming September 10 gubernatorial election in the state.
The reconciliatory successes in the APC has finally nailed the coffin of the PDP in Edo State. It means that the party is moving ahead to re-new its social contract with the Edo people. The APC mega rally at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium tells the story of what is ahead better. The multitude that attended the rally is a reflection of the acceptability of the APC in the state. Little wonder so many PDP members, including my friend Samson Esemuede defected to the APC last Saturday.
Moving in one accord means the forthcoming governorship election is as good as won by the APC. At the last checks with the Independent National Electoral Commission, 19 candidates would be standing for the September 10 poll. But from every indications, most of the candidates just want their names to be in the ballot paper, so that after the election, they would add it to their CV that they were former gubernatorial candidates in the state! Most are not in contestation in the real sense of election.
The PDP on its part is enmeshed in the biggest internal quarrel that has dealt a death kneel on their chances. They lack inter-party conflict resolution mechanism and are daily raining abuses across the conflict divides. The independent National Electoral Commission received names of two candidates for the September 10 poll from the smoldering PDP, but it chose to recognise one. The second faction sees the action of INEC as a mere rumour as they are out to ensure that the name of their candidate also makes the INEC list through the on-going legal battles further tearing the party to shreds. The various legal fireworks in different courts in the country, shows that all is not well with the PDP and those they are throwing forth. Several judgments have been given by different courts and all eyes are looking at the supreme court which may be the court to give the final judgment that would decide who the party’s candidate for the election is. This may come even after the September 10 election date.
No doubt, the chances of the PDP is being narrowed and ruined by the infighting, mudslinging, campaign of calumny and dog- eat- dog syndrome that have remained their lot over the years.
Interestingly, everyone in Edo knows who the next governor of the state is. Godwin Obaseki of the APC is the toast of the electorate. Undoubtedly, he would emerge victorious with a very wide margin for the very obvious reasons.
Aside the crisis ruining the PDP, Edo State is an APC State and other parties are spectators. I say this because of the “Oshiomholenomic” political machine that has crushed opposition in the state through developments going on in all parts of the state. It is unprecedented in the history of the 25-years old State and nobody wants to risk being in opposition to the federal government that is stamping out corruption and moving on to put developments on ground again at the federal level. Edo people would turn out again to give APC the massive votes as usual because the APC government has established confidence in their hearts over the years. They cannot also forget in a hurry their bitter experience in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Some say it is People Deceive People and they are just correct. The PDP cannot deceive Edo people again and they know it.
Edo people know those who looted the nation’s treasury for 16 horrible years. They know those in the PDP who received a bullion van containing N700million. They know the party that deceived and fooled them for ten horrible years. They know those who cared less about the floods in Benin, they know those who ensured that roads were death traps. Edo people know those who made their children study under trees and leaking school roofs without teachers.
Today all that have changed for good. Public schools have regained the appeal they were known for with well motivated and disciplined teachers. A good number of roads are wearing new looks. Old ones are being re-constructed and new ones opened up. Communities that never had potable water in areas we were told that water can never be gotten are now enjoying clean potable water. Who does not want to sustain this development? Who will see light and says he prefers darkness when you are not a witch or wizard? These are the issues playing out now.
Election is payback time and those seeking leadership positions must always have this at the back of their minds. People do not only want development, they want sustainable development. That is why Edo people would not want to toy with retrogression. A vote for any other party outside the APC is a vote for retrogression, a vote for backwardness that would be unimaginable. Edo people would have every reason to rejoice by sticking with the APC come September 10. Edo people need to punish the PDP for fooling and deceiving them for 10 years and reward the APC with their votes for the many developments this past seven and a half years.
Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State.
