On Saturday, 27th July 2024, it was the turn of Edo North to feel the Obidient4Ai Crusade that started in Edo South Senatorial district and gradually moved to Edo Central three weeks ago. The State leaders led by Austin Isikhuemen, Co-Convener, and Ms Blessing Agho, State Coordinator, moved from Benin City with a team of Obidients to meet the Edo North-based Obidients for what was termed ‘Edo North Invasion’. With the Convener, Fred Atiomo in Benin Secretariat overseeing the simultaneous crusade activities in Ovia, and Sunny Dokpesi, Edo North Coordinator receiving the Obidients in Auchi, this was an impactful weekend indeed.
The movement of the Benin Team had to be routed through NIFOR Road into Ondo State before navigating back into Owan and then to Auchi via Sabongida Ora, Ihievbe, Avbiosi. This rigmarole of sorts was done in order to avoid the dangerous dilapidated Federal road via Ehor, Iruepken, Ekpoma, Irrua, Ewu, Agbede, Avbiele which has become a death trap for years now.
A welcome respite on the Owan route was the ubiquitous boiled groundnuts we bought at Sabongida Ora. Someone commented that those were the ‘fattest’ and most sumptuous peanuts she has ever consumed. This peanut belt stretches from Owan to the Etsako Local Government Areas of Edo State. This opportunity is a low hanging development fruit that an Asue Ighodalo Government can provide the enablement to become an agricultural export produce in Edo State. The soil is there and so is the expertise. A little mechanization will unlock this potential.
Driving through the newly reconstructed road linking Sobe to Sabongida Ora, it brought to mind the deliberate falsehood of those who preach the satanic gospel of “Obaseki has done nothing”. Such a beautiful road, linking many communities through rich farmlands, providing a link between Edo North and South as well as to Ondo State cannot be considered by those who commute through that axis as nothing.
With a massive reception by the Obidients of Edo North in their beautiful branded attires, a clear programme of the crusade was mapped out to enable a convergence with the planned parade through the city and environs. The first activity was the review of the venue and plan for the women empowerment programme. Then, it was time for the rally and the Obidient members in their branded T-shirts, caps, vehicles and beautiful umbrellas filed out to join the massive crowd of party supporters, Asue/Ogie loyalists and leaders including six LGA Chairmen in Edo North.
The massive crowd of drummers, dancers, branded vehicles, colourful women in beautiful attires blowing vuvuzelas and shaking ‘ukose’ gathered at Angle 90 and from there we moved like a massive flowing river. The PDP umbrellas intermingled with branded Obidient4Ai ones. The movement was a spectacle to behold. With the popular song “Forward Ever Edo, Backward Never Edo, …. Asue Ighodalo for Governor” belching out from truck-mounted loudspeakers, the crowd moved along in unison, dancing, engaging bystanders, knocking on shops and playing their various instruments.
The rally moved from Angle 90, through Igbei Road, Poly Road, Ice Road, Ap Station Junction, Jattu Market. This rally, even before the ward scheduled campaigns by the candidates themselves, has sent a clear message that Edo North cannot be led by the nose by any potentate. Taking place the same day that APC was having an event in the same city and yet pulling such a mammoth crowd, it is clear that the Asue Ighodalo/Osarodion Ogie moving train is unstoppable, even in Edo North.
The Obidients next moved to the training centre where the women who turned up for the empowerment training were addressed by the Obidient leaders present. The objective, as explained by the Co-convener, Mr. Austin Isikhuemen, is to teach the women how to fish rather than giving them pieces of fish. Asue Ighodalo’s government will rather empower people to be productive than giving them handouts like beggars. They were also addressed by the energetic State Coordinator, Ms. Blessing Agho, and Sunny Dokpesi who spoke in both English and Etsako.
The training was in the making of pastries like meat pies, doughnuts, puff-puff, etc. Many of the women were then given a little seed money to assist them towards setting up little businesses. The trainees were also presented with certificates of attendance and they expressed their immense joy and appreciation for the training received and promised to attend more planned sessions in order to hone their skills and eventually become employers in their own right.
At the final meeting held at an entertainment centre opposite the UBA, it was a jolly atmosphere with Obidient Coordinators without losing focus of the objective. The strategy for the campaigns, the structure of the Obidient movement across LGAs, Wards and Units were discussed. Clarifications were provided where required. The crusade provided an avenue for the Coordinators from all parts of Edo North to know themselves and share experiences while making suggestions for the best way to make deeper inroads into Edo North heartland.
This very successful crusade has proved that Edo North has massive support for the AiO² gubernatorial ticket. It has put a lie to the false narrative that Edo North belongs to the opposition. It is simply not true! But there is more work to be done to increase the margin by which victory will be achieved. The Obidients are ready for this next phase and will work at the frontlines and behind the scenes to get more voters to join the AiO² train and assure massive victory on 21 September 2024.
*Isikhuemen can be reached via [email protected]
