From the onset, let it be clear to you, my esteemed reader, that I am not a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). I am also a non-member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Similarly, I have no membership with the Labour Party (LP). I am 100 percent Obidient and will remain patriotic and obidient until iniquity is found in Peter Obi, the leader with a clear vision and possesses the four Cs (character, competence, capacity, and compassion) required to transform Nigeria from mere potential to economic reality of prosperity.
Definition of Peter Obidient
Being Obidient means recognizing and accepting Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the LP in the 2023 election as your leader, and admiring his leadership qualities as noted above. And as you follow him, you also recognize leaders at the same level as him; leaders with similar creativity and records of political and economic achievements. Consequently, in the spirit of Obidience, you can truthfully identify quality candidates across all the political parties and vote for the individuals, not the parties. Therefore, an Obidient is that patriotic Nigerian who always looks for the best candidates, irrespective of the political parties, and casts his/her vote based on character, competence, capacity, and organic compassion for the people.
In principle, Obidients are not necessarily members of any political party. They don’t cast their votes along party lines. Peter Obi may be a LP member because, under Nigerian law, a political party must present him for election. If our law permits independent candidacy, a man like Peter Obi would not need the platform of a political party to win an election.
Aisha Yesufu, a human rights activist and businesswoman, serves as a perfect example of how to be a good Obidient. True Obidients are Nigerians who vote for candidates with the quality to deliver the speedy development Nigeria desperately needs, not minding the candidates’ political party. This is because political parties in Nigeria don’t always present the best candidates. The tradition is to anoint a stooge who will only be loyal to the political godfathers.
Thus, this article is to objectively examine the three major contenders in the Edo State gubernatorial election coming in September, so that the Obidients in Edo State can vote rightly.
Campaigns have started in earnest. About 17 candidates are hoping to take over from the incumbent, Governor Godwin Obaseki. But it’s clear that the race is between three horses. We have Barr. Olumide Akpata (LP), Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC), and Barr. Asue Ighodalo (PDP). As stakeholders, we will examine the three of them individually, to see who among them can deliver the required goods to the Edo State people in particular, and Nigerians in general.
Olumide Akpata
Olumide Akpata was born on October 7, 1972, in Edo State, Nigeria. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Benin in 1992 and was called to the bar in 1993. He began his legal practice in Delta State, under the tutelage of Dr. Mudiaga Odje, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was one of the most seasoned litigators of his time.
In 1996, Akpata relocated to Lagos and teamed up with his cousin, Oghogho Akpata, who had just set up a law firm, Templars, the previous year. Akpata joined in the formation of Templars at the age of 23 and has grown the firm into what it is today, as one of the largest law firms in Nigeria with a workforce of about 100 lawyers, including two SAN, both of whom practice proficiently in diverse areas of Nigerian law. Akpata was a senior partner and head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group of Templars. He has participated in some of the major ground-breaking transactions that have shaped commercial law practice in the Nigerian economy. He was chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL). On July 30, 2020, he was elected as the president of the NBA.
If elected, Mr. Akpata has promised to prioritise the people of Edo State because they have been “serially disappointed” by the other actors in the political space. According to him, the LP is the vehicle that has the potential to rescue Nigeria, adding that people are relying on the party to make things better.
“So, I think I would be focusing on the people and what is important to the largest number of the people of Edo State. So, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, those are the things I would look at and you might say that these are things that everybody else talks about, but I think most people seem to talk the talk, I want to walk the talk.”
Unfortunately, Mr. Akpata has not been so convincing in selling his vision. Yes, he’s qualified but is he the best?
Monday Okpebholo
Senator Monday Okpebholo currently represents Edo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly. He’s the candidate of the APC for the upcoming Edo State governorship election.
Born on August 29, 1970, in the Udomi-Uwessan community of Irrua, Okpebholo attended Udomi Community Primary School and Ujabhole Community Secondary School, both located in Uwessan Irrua, Esan Central LGA. He completed his secondary education and obtained his senior school certificate in Jos, Plateau State. Subsequently, he pursued a degree in Business Administration from the University of Abuja, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Policy and Leadership Studies at the same institution.
In a statement released by his media office, Okpebholo promised not to disappoint or deceive the Edo people, saying key issues affecting Edo people would form the thrust of his administration if elected as governor of the state. Up till this time, not much is known about him, before he became a Senator. Meanwhile, there are a lot of things that have been written about him that my team and I have not been able to independently verify as true.
A source claims that Okpebholo pursued higher education in Uromi, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Benin. He later earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the same institution and furthered his academic pursuits by obtaining a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan. Additionally, it is claimed that he holds certificates in Legislative Studies and Management from reputable Nigerian institutes. This is confusing. The question would then be who is Okpebholo, indeed? However, information available on his website (mondayokpebholo.com) supports the latter.
Similarly, Okpebholo is reported to have established Interweb Satcom Limited, claiming that he’s a prominent player in the ICT sector, specializing in broadband sales and development, as well as Chapman Computers Limited. Both companies are said to have gained recognition in trading and importing, competing with global industry players in Europe and America. However, we discovered that there is no website for either company. While Chapman Computers Limited is certified by the Corporate Affairs Commission, Interweb Satcom Limited is not. In this age, it’s impossible to have companies that have been transacting businesses in billions of naira over the years and not have functioning websites. And yet, his estimated net worth is reported to be $250 million. His website, mondayokpebholo.com only has information on his work as a Senator. Since these two ICT companies existed long before he contemplated joining politics, it’s common sense for the websites to be functioning, especially at a time like this. Enough information about these companies should have also been provided on mondayokpebholo.com, since it’s a personal website, not government-owned. The APC candidate certainly has some questions to answer.
Members of the Concerned Edo Central Youths (CECY) have already raised the alarm over his alleged embezzlement of over N650,000,000 constituency funds approved as Emergency Relief by both the Presidency and National Assembly to cushion the effects of the current hardship being experienced by most Nigerians. The concern of CECY is that the Senatorial District is yet to feel the stimulus package claimed by Okpebholo to build a Tech Park. Thus, calling him to account for the huge sum he received on behalf of the people.
Asue Ighodalo
Asuelimhen Ighodalo is a product of King’s College, Lagos. He obtained a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1981, an LL. B from the London School of Economics and Political Science (1984), and a B.L from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos (1985).
Asue worked as an Associate in the law firm of Chris Ogunbanjo & Co. between 1985 and 1991, and in 1991 he set up Banwo & Ighodalo in partnership with Femi Olubanwo. The firm today is consistently ranked as a leading Nigerian law firm in the areas of Capital Markets, Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions. Mr. Ighodalo’s core areas of practice include Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, Energy; Natural Resources, Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking; Securitization, and Project Finance. Ighodalo in 2014, successfully advised Zenith Bank Plc in connection with a $500 million Eurobond issuance and Diamond Bank Plc in connection with a $200 million Eurobond issuance, respectively.
Ighodalo has presented several papers on capital markets issues both within and outside Nigeria and also authored many articles in leading law publications. He sometimes lectures on corporate governance, directors’ duties and responsibilities, and entrepreneurship at the Institute of Directors, Lagos Business School, and FATE Foundation entrepreneurial training sessions, respectively.
Asue was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sterling Bank Plc, Dangote Flour Mills Plc, and The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). He has also sat on the boards of other public and private companies, NGOs, and statutory bodies including the Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), FATE Foundation, etc.
He is a member of the NBA, and a past chairman of the NBA – Section on Business Law (NBA SBL). He is also a member of the Association of the International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), USA; the International Bar Association (IBA); the Nigerian Maritime Law Association; the Commercial Law & Taxation Committee of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry; the London School of Economics Lawyers’ Group; and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
At the moment, it’s only Dr Asue Ighodalo, who is urging his opponents to ensure the campaigns to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki remain issue-based. He’s yet to abuse anyone but rather focuses on how he will transform Edo State into a world-class economy.
“On our part, we are ready to play by the rules. We will focus on issues. Edolities want to know and hear us talk about what we are bringing to the table to solve the problems of insecurity, poverty, infrastructure, and many more. We will make decorum our watchword. Therefore, I want to appeal to all the other political parties, and in particular, their candidates to please let us dwell on issues and not on inanities. We must do everything to avoid campaigns of calumny, character assassination, deliberately peddling falsehood against individuals, and trying to tie and link them to what they know nothing about. “We will be intentional in our campaigns by selling our manifesto to the electorate and persuading them to vote for us. We expect others to do the same. Let’s refrain from attacking individuals and personalities and stop throwing dirt and mud on people because of their political persuasions.
“If we all play by these rules, the atmosphere will be convivial for all of us and thus reduce the possibility of electoral hostilities and violence. We must bear in mind that we are brothers and sisters and all we want is the progress and development of our dear state”.
You will almost believe you are reading Peter Obi’s thoughts. Without a doubt, Asue Ighodalo has a similar political ideology, and he’s certainly a presidential material that Edo State cannot afford to miss.
So, in measuring these three candidates, four main qualities are in focus, namely: achievement as private citizens, present status, their respective vision for Edo State, and the vast contacts available to them. As applicants applying for the CEO position of Edo State, what have they done in the past? Where are they now? What vision are they selling to the Edo electorates? Additionally, who among the three has the most contacts they can leverage? As the saying goes, “the quality of your life is as good as the quality of your contacts”. So, these are the things we will use to measure them, to know which candidate Edo people should vote for if they are serious about developing their state.
Olumide Apata is a lawyer; Asue Ighodalo is also a lawyer. Both are still lawyers, even though they have resigned from their respective firms because the laws of Nigeria make it mandatory for them to do so, to be eligible to run for this office.
For emphasis’ sake, let me reiterate that I am very apolitical. I don’t belong to any political party. I have friends in the three political parties in view. For instance, Mr. Gideon Obhakhan was a former commissioner of education in Edo State, under former Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He’s a good friend. He was an APC governorship aspirant before he stepped aside. I consulted for him. He was serious when he said to me “Guys like you can speak for me if I become Governor of the state”. I told him plainly and firmly, “I can never be a spokesperson for any government official, federal or state”. And I gave him my reasons.
First, the media organization that I lead is very apolitical, we don’t join parties, we are truthful and apolitical. We say the truth as we see it because we have friends across boards. “Secondly, I am too busy with my work to have the time to speak for a governor or a president”. I don’t see myself going into partisan politics. It’s not my calling. I am cut for the media. And I am also passionate about the development of Nigeria. It’s the reason God in His goodness and mercy has not allowed me to “japa,” like several of my colleagues. So, this is purely in the interest of Edo State.
Who among them is the most qualified?
Now, when you look at the three of these candidates, who is the one that is best suited for the position of Governor in Edo State? As an employer, if Olumide Akpata applies for this job, and Monday Okpebholo applies, will you consider them ahead of Asue Ighodalo? This is what we should be looking at, not the political parties.
I have given you their respective backgrounds. Olumide Akpata is a lawyer, that’s what we know about him. As for Monday Okpebholo, we are not sure about him. We have been researching him; everything about him, his computer company does not have a website. We can’t find any information there, Firefox gave us feedback that it’s a security risk, if we proceed and enter the website we will be exposing our computer and devices to great risk or danger. This means that his candidacy is highly risky for the good and long-suffering people of Edo State.
His other company, Interweb Satcom Limited, which is reportedly transacting business in billions of naira by exporting and importing computers since 2005, has a suspended website. What’s going on here? At the time of this write-up, he doesn’t have a website where we can access and have information about these companies. Of course, the Corporate Affairs Commission has shown that one of the companies was registered in 2005, but the other one is inactive. It’s no coincidence to have two companies transacting business in billions and yet without websites: one is suspended, and the other one is internet security risk. What that shows is that Monday Okpebholo is a risky candidate, we don’t know much about him, and he has no message to pass. The only thing we have heard him say is that his political opponents are baby politicians. He doesn’t have any message to pass. This is actually where APC shot themselves in the foot. They have credible and competent candidates and yet they settle for the less. For instance, Gideon Obhakhan was MTN’s General Manager, network planning. He was hired as an expatriate, even though he is a Nigerian, and paid in dollars. For the telecom giant to have hired him in that fashion means that he was well qualified. There are candidates in APC who are stronger and more credible but APC pushed them aside and gave us a man who does not understand the desperate hour we are in.
More painfully, Okpebholo does not have a message. We also cannot verify his claims. Apart from his experience in winning a senatorial election, he has no other experience, namely economy or finance. We don’t want people who are experienced in rigging elections or bullying opponents to divert attention. Being a political methuselah is not going to help us. The good people of Edo State should employ someone who understands the financial system and is a prudent manager of resources, based on records.
Before it’s too late, Mr. Okpebholo should be telling us what he wants to do, how he wants to go about it, and where he intends to get funds. He should tell us his vision. So far, he has not told us anything, he’s only bullying, engaging in propaganda, and attacking opponents. If I were to hire somebody for my company, I would certainly not hire him because he doesn’t have the capacity and the vision; or he’s unable to communicate whatever he has for Edo State. He’s only going about bullying his opponents and attempting to sow the seeds of hatred in the hearts of the electorates and to divert their attention from what matters.
Although a learned fellow, Mr. Akpata also tends to behave like traditional politicians by subtly attacking opponents, levelling unfounded allegations and playing politics with Governor Obaseki’s spirited initiatives, like the increment of the state’s minimum wage. And yet, he’s still a better alternative to APC’s Okpebholo, in terms of our measurement indices. He appears to be relying on the Obidients to win the election. Unfortunately, the Obidients are not members of the LP. If Olumide wants to be taken seriously, he needs to be saying what he wants to do and convince the electorates that he’s the best for the job.
Last month, he was on X social media platform, which was a great opportunity for him to market himself. He was asked about the Benin Seaport, and how he intends to fund it. But to the surprise of people who were on the platform, Olumide could not tell us what he would do. Instead of answering the question, he started to talk about the impracticability of zoning for the LP. “Why should it be zoned to Edo Central, when Edo South has the voting strength, the largest voting bloc in Edo State”.
Meanwhile, he was asked solely about the Benin Port and how he intends to fund it, how that could bring revenue to the state, but Olumide could not answer. Rather, he was dancing around it. He left the question asked and started to talk about an entirely different subject! People started to leave the platform while he was still speaking because he was speaking out of point. For a curious and intelligent observer, such cluelessness is an indication that he’s not fully prepared or does not have what it takes, even though he’s far better than Okpebholo. Such inability reveals a man who does not comprehend the issues at stake.
Akpata wants to be Governor, it’s good, it’s his ambition, and it’s his right to contest. On the other hand, Okpebholo is just being pushed by the godfathers who are desperate to take charge of the state’s resources. The odds that the next governor of the state comes from Edo Central favours Okpebholo, but that is not good enough at all. There are great people in the APC from Edo Central who could have done better.
Asue Ighodalo is better than their best
In all fairness, in a monarchical race, both Olumide and Monday could be asked to step down for him, if they truly mean well for Edo State. But such will be undemocratic. Both Akpata and Okpebholo are no match for Asue Ighodalo, on all fronts of our measurements’ yardstick.
Frankly, he’s a presidential material, who’s a leader in the order of Peter Obi. And if Edo State desires the kind of speedy development in the state the way Alex Otti is doing it in Abia State, Asue is not only the best candidate but the only alternative. The traditional politicians, particularly in APC and the Philip Shaibu-led splinter group, are aware of this fact. It’s the reason they have been trying to carpet him as the underdog and a stranger.
Meanwhile, he has been part of the economic adversary teams of both Oshiomhole and Governor Obaseki in the last 17 years. Edo State should take Asue Ighodalo very seriously. If we miss the golden opportunity to put the state in the hands of the best, we will regret it. Governor Obaseki has done his part by identifying and supporting the best man to continue from where he will stop come November. The governor recognizes that success without a commensurate successor is equal to failure.
Asue vs Olumide on the Benin Seaport
In an on-the-spot and unplanned interview on their way out from the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, journalists asked Asue questions about the Benin Seaport that Olumide was asked on X, the man who knows his path didn’t think twice before responding in a manner that inspires hope. He spoke about what Governor Obaseki has already done regarding that port, what he will do, and how that can attract $10 billion to the Edo State economy within a short period after completion.
More so, among these three horses, Asue’s contacts are the richest, due to where he has been. He indeed has the contacts that he can bring to develop our state as quickly as possible. We cannot be experimenting again. Now is the time for us to get it right in Edo State, just as Alex Otti is doing in Abia State.
Journalist, author, and publisher, Nathaniel Akhigbe, is the Founder and Executive Director of The Surveillance Media Limited, Lagos
