Ahead of the Governorship election in Edo State this year, political calculations about who occupies Osadebey Avenue after November 12, have started even when campaign activities have not officially commenced.
Two political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the most visible parties on ground, but the stakes appear higher in the APC , which for now parades 11 aspirants on its platform.
The aspirants are the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, former Minister of State for Works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon, popularly known as the ‘rice man’, former Governor of the state, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor, Gen. Charles Arhiavbere and the State Commissioner for Works, Barrister Osarodion Ogie. Others are Godwin Obaseki, Head of the Economic Team of Oshiomhole’s Government, Barrister Omo Irabor, Don Pedro Obaseki, former TUC President, Mr. Peter Esele and Blessing Agbomerhe.
Those aspiring to wrestle power from the APC on the PDP platform include former Secretary to Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Director-General of Governors’ Forum, Osaro Onaiwu, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekenwem, Solomon Edebiri and Senator Ehigie Uzamere.
As noted above, the stakes appear higher in the APC. This is understandable because apart from being the party in power in the state, it is the party in power at the Federal level. The seeming bride which the party represents, also has its problems as the expected high number of aspirants may cause accrimony during the party’s primaries.
As is typical of the Nigerian politician, many of the aspirants who will not get nomination may feel cheated and look for other platforms to actualize their dreams.
Already, tension is the air over alleged plan by Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole to impose his anointed aspirant, Godwin Obaseki as the APC flag bearer.
The Governor is said to repose so much confidence in the ability of Godwin Obaseki to build on and surpass his legacy, especially in the area of improving on the State’s internally generated revenue in this era of declined oil revenues.
But the method of marketing Obaseki is said to be causing serious heat that may degenerate to a major crisis within the APC, as party members are being allegedly coerced and intimidated to work for his emergence as the party’s candidate.
Worried by the emerging development, Benin Leaders of Thought warned against re-introduction of godfatherism which the Governor fought against in the past.
Addressing journalists in Benin, Chairman of the group and Enogie of Obazuwa, Prince Edun Akenzua, said though the group disbelieved the rumour of Oshiomhole’s alleged imposition of an aspirant, the issue has excited the imagination of obsevers of Edo politics in recent times.
Quoting Governor Oshiomhole in the Vanguard of Thursday November 12, 2009 as saying that “what makes governance difficult is that some leaders are imposed on the people. That situation creates absence of support. And people will become cynical about you”, the Benin Leaders of Thouhgt said it was against that background that they were taken aback by the rumour that the Governor has anointed his successor in this year’s gubernatorial race.
The group, while praising Oshiomhole for his achievements in the state, said the Governor, like other citizens, has the inalienable right to support any aspirant of his choice even though that right would be exercised in a manner that also respects the right of other people to freely choose who will govern them.
The Benin Leaders of Thought therefore, said it believed “that godfatherism in Edo politics was detrimental to the social, economic and political development of the state. Godfatherism is not acceptable to BLT and the good people of Edo State. It should not be reintoduced under any guise.
“The people of Edo State should be given free hands to determine their next governor. Popular participation bestows responsibility for governing one’s own conduct, develops ones character, self-reliance, intelligence and moral judgement. In a democracy there is no substitute for popular participation. Even if a benevolent despot could govern in the public interest, he would be rejected by the classic democrat. Man can only know the truth by discovering it himself”, the Benin Leaders of Thought added.
While pledging their continued collaboration with the State Government and other stakeholders, to ensure that only gubernatorial aspirants with clean past records, who have made tremendous success in their chosen fields who can consolidate the achievements of Oshiomhole and conceive innovative ideas for the betterment of the people were considered for the position of Governor of the state, the group called for proper screening of aspirants to ascertain if by their antecedents, they could further lift Edo State to the next level.
Barely one week after Benin Leaders of Thought expressed it’s view, events within the South Senatorial District of the APC have moved quickly leading to the suspension of the Senatorial Leader and Vice- Chairman, Edo South of the party, Mr. Gentleman Amegor, who was accused of anti-party activity and failing to call meetings. But in swift reaction, Amegor described his suspension from the party as illegal. In a statement in Benin, the embattled Senatorial Leader alleged that his suspension was masterminded because of his refusal to back an unsellable governorship aspirant allegedly being proposed by Governor Oshiomhole.
“My attention has been drawn to my purported suspension as the Senatorial Leader Edo South and Vice Chairman Edo South of the APC by a group of persons who have no powers to do so and for reasons that can best be described as flimsy and laughable.
“While I have no doubt in my mind that this is a pre- meditated attempt to intimidate me and coerce me into accepting to help market an Unsellable commodity in the name of a governorship aspirant which they claim has been handed over to them by the state Governor, I make bold to say that as a true Benin man I will not succumb to this intimidation and blackmail as am aware of those that will best serve the interest of the Benin people in the next election.
“It’s also important to let them know that the allegations of anti party activities arising from the last Presidential election is not only mendacious but a fabricated one intended to smear my political image. “ Regrettably today, some very prominent leaders are been represented by PDP house of Assembly members. Are we therefore extending the rules?
I wish to urge all our party members to discountenance the purported suspension as it has no force of legitimacy and lacking in merit”, Amegor said.
Meanwhile, supporters of the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu are confident that he is the man to beat at the APC Governorship primaries because of his grassroot network and wealth of experience he garnered over the years as former member of the House of Representatives and now the Deputy Governor who has assisted Governor Oshiomhole to pilot the affairs of the state to enviable heights.
They contend that as a loyal Deputy who Oshiomhole has severally acknowledged publicly, Odubu was better positioned to be the next Governor of the state.
Close aides of the Deputy Governor hinted that he is upbeat about and hopeful that the conduct of the party primaries will be free and fair. Though aspirants from all parts of the state are jostling for the Governorship position in line with APC’s constitution which did not spell out zoning, the South Senatorial District which makes up the Benin-speaking part of the state, is favoured to produce the governorship candidates of both the APC and the PDP which has officially zoned the position to that area.
Among aspirants of the APC expected to have strong showing at the party’s primaries are Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Dr. Pius Odubu, Godwin Obaseki, Kenneth Imansuangbon and Osarodion Ogie.
Ogie was alleged to have been summoned and instructed to direct his followers to support the aspiration of Godwin Obaseki, but his aides insist he has not struck deal with anyone, that he is very strong in the governorship race.
Against the expectation of many, who think that the PDP does not have enough political muscle to do electoral battle with the APC, the PDP, like a scorched snake, is not dead. It still has very potent venom to cause damage and should not be taken for granted by the APC.
The PDP which caused upset in the National Assembly election in the state last year by winning most of the seats, is hoping to cause an upset again.
Party members and political watchers believe that failure of the APC to successfully manage its primaries and allow its members freely chose the most popular aspirant will be the party’s undoing.
They forecast the scenario in Lagos State in 1992, where the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) foisted an unpopular candidate on the party, paving the way for Sir Otedola, the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate to run away with victory at the polls against all expectations, as the SDP was in total control of Lagos. The Party paid the price for imposition of Prof. Agbalajobi as it’s candidate.
Though that lesson may not be lost on the APC, how it manages its advantage of being the ruling party will prevent the Lagos experience and confine the PDP to its opposition position in Edo State.
In terms of strength, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Solomon Edebiri are said to have large support base in the PDP ahead of the Party primaries.
In the days ahead, electoral activities are expected rise to a high level, with probably more aspirants throwing their hats into the electoral ring.
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