If the government of Adams Oshiomhole is still as popular as it used to be, mostly in 2012 when the last governorship election took place, the kind of desperation we are seeing on the part of APC and its strategists would never be much in evidence. This is the first time since 1999 that two candidates of major political parties participating in the State Governorship Election are canvassing for votes and attention as if their entire lives are at stake! As a former Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff, Government House, under the Lucky Igbinedion administration in Edo State (1999-2007); and as one of the chief backers of Governor Oshiomhole, before he decamped back to the PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu unequivocally represents a real thorn in the flesh of the ex-labor leader-turned Governor.
At last, the hour is here – a moment of significant electoral decision in Edo State, after it had been suddenly postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from September 10, 2016 on the excuse of security concerns.
It was a very unpopular decision that elicited a barrage of backlash from people, especially concerned Edo people across Nigeria and around the world. For those against the government and interest of the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, it was a postponement of the evil day.
Apart from some of the candidates, who lampooned INEC for the decision, a chunk of the civil society groups, in defense of democracy and civil rights queried the sudden decision, which they saw as unnecessary, panic-driven, fear-mongering and ill-advised, given the fact that the electoral umpire had earlier sworn to go ahead with the earlier date picked for the election.
The sitting Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who had made known, in an unambiguous manner that he was ready to install a god son as his successor, come November 12, 2016, said he did not conjure the security report made available to INEC by the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Police in Edo State, as alleged by a cross section of the public.
Comrade Oshiomhole said he and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) were absolutely ready for the election before INEC cancelled the earlier date.
But a closer look at the handwriting on the wall by Thursday September 8 in Edo State pointed to the fact that the ‘Comrade’ and his political war machines were ‘afraid’ of something they could not really ‘handle’- the unknown, which could have come in the form of electoral tsunami.
The point being made here is that the Comrade Governor and his campaign team are being seen to be panicky, even after almost eight years in the saddle with all the instruments of power at their disposal.
For instance the posters of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are visibly displayed in every available space within the capital city of Benin, including the entire popular Ring Road, otherwise known as Oba Ovonramwen’s Square in the heart of the city, leaving little or no space for the posters of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Is it in sponsored deafening political jingles running non-stop on both the private and government owned radio and television stations, where the camp of the Comrade Governor has been running neck and neck with that of the PDP?
How about hate campaign during political rallies where the ruling party of the Comrade Governor has thrown caution to the winds in the merciless character assassination of Pastor Ize-Iyamu, instead of addressing germane issues of the state?
What about the alleged politically motivated arrest, detention and intimidation of staunch supporters of the PDP candidate shortly before INEC cancelled the earlier date slated for the gubernatorial election?
If the government of Adams Oshiomhole is still as popular as it used to be, mostly in 2012 when the last governorship election took place, the kind of desperation we are seeing on the part of APC and its strategists would never be much in evidence.
This is the first time since 1999 that two candidates of major political parties participating in the State Governorship Election are canvassing for votes and attention as if their entire lives are at stake!
As a former Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff, Government House, under the Lucky Igbinedion administration in Edo State (1999-2007); and as one of the chief backers of Governor Oshiomhole, before he decamped back to the PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu unequivocally represents a real thorn in the flesh of the ex-labor leader-turned Governor.
As the first ever clergyman-candidate of a frontline political party in Edo State, he has not let any stone unturned in his massive mobilization of the entire Christendom in the state towards his governorship aspiration.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where Pastor Ize-Iyamu is a serving religious minister, is solidly behind him, while a chunk of the churches in Edo State have endorsed his governorship agenda.
The critical role of the churches cannot be ruled out in who wins the governorship election slated for today, Wednesday September 28th, 2016.
If the political permutation takes hold, it will not be the first in the history of election in Nigeria. The RCCG did it for the sake of the present Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Yemi Osibanjo during the March 28, 2015 Presidential Election, because of his pastoral identity with the church, where the revered Pastor E.O Adeboye is the General Overseer.
In 1991, the legendary Arch Bishop of the Church of God Mission, Benson Idahosa, dashed one of his trusted pastors, Rev. Peter Obadan to the then Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a running mate to Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who went on to become the Executive Governor of Edo State.
Not that a lot of people have forgotten the reasons that made majority of voters to trust Adams Oshiomhole with power in 2007 and 2012, by rejecting the PDP, but in this 2016 governorship, given his noticeable short-comings a lot of sentiments have come to play that might turn the table against his perceived parochial interest.
Majority of the well informed and critical civil society organizations have allegedly decided to ‘change the change,’ at lease to humiliate Adams Oshiomhole for some of his ‘sins’ against the people.
Godwin Obaseki, a political neophyte, god son of Adams Oshiomhole and a seeming robot who has been with Oshiomhole for about eight years now is unknown to many voters.
It is on record that since the days of the Second Republic in 1979, only Prof. Ambrose Alli of the then Obafemi Awolowo-led Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Chief John Odigie Oyegun of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1991, and Adams Oshiomhole since 2007 have been elected visibly by popular mandate.
Many social commentators have alleged that the security report that was given as an excuse by INEC for shifting the election was cooked up or orchestrated by Adams Oshiomhole and his political brain trusts to scuttle the huge sentimental goodwill that was already going for Pastor Ize-Iyamu prior to September 10. It was reported that Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s camp was visibly bitter about the postponement.
Now, between the two alleged god sons – Ize-Iyamu (allegedly loyal to the renowned god fathers like Chief Lucky/Gabriel Igbinedion/Chief Tony Anenih, and Obaseki (undisputed god son to Adams Oshiomhole/Alhaji Aliko Dangote), who will wear the crown of the coveted Edo State power house in 2016?
Will the people of Edo State choose with their conscience like what happened in 1979, 1991, 2007and in 2012? Will they truly change the so called change because of the prevailing debilitating and choking economic circumstances?
In sixteen years of return to democratic rule in Edo State, both the so-called conservative and progressive political adherents have had eight years each. Now, will the pendulum of victory move back as it happened before or remain with those chanting the hymn of ‘change,’ even when there is no genuine change in the land?
Edo people must decide by voting their conscience! – Alltimepost.com Editorial
