As vibrant as John F. Kennedy was in his campaign for American president, Nixon’s attack on Kennedy’s softness was harsh simply because he dozed off. But here comes a candidate in the Edo Governorship election who is perpetually at sleep. Never having a vibrant moment, but always at the lowest ebb. No one wakes a sleeping candidate at this time.
Like John Fitzgerald Kennedy who was people oriented, I feel the PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo is just the same. His intelligence and courage elicit emotions from the crowd, which flows back to him, sustaining and strengthening him.
Since the inception of democracy in 1999 till date, I don’t think anyone in the recent electoral history of Edo Politics has had the same vital relationship with crowds like Dr. Asue Ighodalo whom followers followed voluntarily. Like Benjamin Franklin, the people are willing to invest their time and resources to see him succeed just because they believe their collective dream can better be achieved and sustained by his becoming the next governor.
Dr. Ighodalo has an exceptional degree, the gift of friendship and, in consequence, a great diversity of friends; part of his gift is to give each of his friends the inspirational comfort that he alone has a clue to our collective challenges. He started his governorship race by breaking down all barriers and winning full acceptance to himself. His business success also helped him.
For the opposition candidate, who will help us in waking a sleeping candidate? “Arise, thou that sleepest.” It was a biblical command, but I believe the APC candidate did not find that scripture.
I also tried to look for certain qualities about him that I can X-ray when drawing my comparative analysis. I have not yet found the right words.
Today, like never before, the opposition candidate in Edo State himself knows that the tide is against him but as David, he is expected to encourage himself, after all, courage can be defined as being the only one who knows you are afraid. I know and others also know that the opposition candidate is afraid but has hidden his timidity from the crowds to give them false hope, but of a truth APC candidate has long stepped out of the Edo guber race mentally. Like a camel you can force into the stream but can’t drink water. A man can’t give what he doesn’t have.
Those who forced their party ticket on a man who was never prepared for the governorship race are the angels whom God has placed in position to make Asue Ighodalo’s journey an easy one “because if a man’s way pleases the Lord, he will make his enemies to be at peace with him”. It is no surprise that APC members make up the majority of Ighodalo’s supporters. Wherever the spirit of God is, there is liberty.
“In a nation where intelligent governors are finding it difficult to govern their states, we can’t hand over Edo State to a man that will double our trouble. Where shall we go if we commit our state in the hands of a man who has no say in his own game? It is only in the city of the blind that one-eyed man can be the king. Not in a city like Edo, where some people have 12 eyes, others have eight, some have four, and only a few, like us, have two. So, why should a sleeping candidate with one eye be king? If the righteous shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly be?” The Bible asked once.
