Whether anyone likes it or not, It is all over. All tensions, boasts, and threats regarding the Edo State governorship election has come to an end. Edo people have spoken very loud and clear; they have resolved to take their destinies in their own hands. It is clear that nobody can make a fool of Edo people anymore. These were clear messages from the Edo State Governorship elections.
It was clearly a straight battle between the long suffering people of Edo State and the forces of oppression and darkness in the state. It was a fight between development and underdevelopment. It was a direct fight against godfathers that had prevented overall growth and development of Edo State and the democratic forces that want Edo State to continue to make progress. And the people came all out to take the opportunity provided by the democratic space on September 28.
In retrospect, various new dimensions were introduced in the election. We saw politics of ethnicity introduced by the PDP and their few supporters who banked on ethno- religious sentiments to woo the electorate during the campaigns. There was also reliance on blackmail, obvious lies and deceit and abuse of the social media as a strategy to win the polls. On the part of the All Progressives Congress, it was a time to showcase our report card highlighting our various developmental efforts across the state and challenged the PDP and other parties to put their report sheets on the table for voters to make informed decisions.
We equally noticed that most parties were not emphasising and pushing their party manifestos to persuade voters. Instead we saw wild resort to under-the- bridge and bear palour character assassination, mindless propaganda as well as unbridled abuse of social media and high tech desperation of the PDP activists.
Again, Edo people saw the attempt to politicise traditional institutions. The PDP made deft attempts at dragging the Benin Traditional Palace into the murky waters of politics. But many thanks to the Edaiken N’ Uselu who made it clear that the Palace does not play partisan politics. There were accusations and counter accusations. But in the end, the traditional institutions emerged unscathed because as representatives of the people and custodians of the customs and traditions, they knew how to cut short excesses of politicians who overstepped their bounds no matter how highly placed.
The September 28th polls showed the high level of maturity Edo State has assumed over the years as eligible voters defied the heavy military and para-military presence in the state, shunned all ethnic tendencies and cleaved onto the performing party led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. In fact, the Edo Central Senatorial district that was being emasculated by the influence of the Uromi godfather and his few cronies, saw the people throwing away ethnic and godfather sentiments and identified with the forces of light and progress in the state. They showed their penchant for the mainstream of Edo State politics as their scion is currently the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. It is my considered opinion that this should be sustained in the overall interest of growth and development of the people of Edo people.
I remember my friends in the PDP and their loquacious Chairman, Dan Osi Orbih. They arrogantly bragged that they were going to “form Government in Osadebey Avenue” and that they would probe Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s regime. Where lies that Government now that September 28th has come and Oshiomhole has been overwhelmingly told by Edo people that his successor remains Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki.
Earlier at the commencement of media campaigns I told some PDP loyalists that the vacancy in Dennis Osadebey avenue was for the APC candidate. That has now come to pass. I remember a local television which threw caution to the winds publishing all kinds of wild allegations ahead of the polls. Today, how are the mighty fallen? I remember my name sake, Mr. Dan Osi Orbih who mounted several podiums tearing his mouth and speaking from both ends like a demented man.
Unlike the 2012 Governorship election, this time around Dan Orbih himself was the ethnic jingoist and arrow head of the ethnic politics. I am sure you know by now that the Lord God is on the throne in Heaven watching us all. He knows those who mean well for his people and the hypocrites. I equally remember the godfather himself; I recall counseling him to take an honourable exit from politics, but it was like he preferred an ignoble exit, having lost out again! The Uromi god father said he was going to reply Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s promise to retire him from politics at the polls. We waited for the reply and it didn’t come until the day came to pass. However, as promised, the godfather has been compulsorily retired from active politics. He has to give way for young Turks to emerge and contribute their quotas to both state and national development. Today, I am convinced these men would all have come to the conviction that “you can fool some of the people some of the times, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”
I told one of the candidates to be careful of the agenda of those around him; that the plot was to dispossess him of his little wealth. I warned that by September 28, he would be shocked at what hit him because there was no way he could win any election in Edo State being scion of of a godfather. That has now come to pass.
But this is the time to be forward looking. We need the PDP and other parties in the state to join the good people of Edo Sate in positive thinking and bond with Godwin Obaseki who is leading the Army of Edo people to rebuild the once battered state. We expect constructive, not destructive suggestions for government to move on with the current massive development of the state so that it would at the end of 2020 be the envy of all other states in the country.
In all, we commend the Independent National Electoral Commission for conducting an unbiased election in Edo State. Some failed political parties and observers say some political parties used money to induce the electorate, But this is beyond the control of INEC. Those crying wolf unfortunately also distributed money and were said to have been beaten in their own game. Yet, they are shamelessly weeping like babies. For me, it is better for them to eat the humble pie and clear the streets of the mess called protests. The APC succeeded in dismantling all devices and apparatuses of rigging. The INEC chairman in Edo State kept faith with his words and INEC did a good and commendable job and the joy of the people from all around the state know no bounds. I salute all Edo people for Voting APC and for voting Obaseki. I urge Edo people to give Godwin Obaseki all the support they gave Oshiomhole to enable him continue to put the building blocks of development in the state.
- Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State.
