| Godwin Obaseki |
DISCLAIMER:
Let me quickly disabuse the minds of those who think this article is aimed at casting aspersions on the personality of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, one of the leading contenders for the gubernatorial ticket of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the forth coming election in Edo State and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole's Chief Economic Adviser.
Also,
am not writing this on behalf of my preferred aspirant, the Edo State
Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu who is in the race for the APC ticket
as well.
Neither has his campaign group nor any other political group authorized me to write this.
I
am writing this piece solely in my personal capacity as a valid card
carrying member of the APC, a bonafide Edo man and an observer of the
political intrigues and horse-trading in Edo State, the heartbeat of the
nation Nigeria.
Furthermore,
this write up is also not intended at undermining, relegating and or
reducing the political relevance and sagacity of the ever great and
wonderful people of Edo North.
This is not an article done in bad faith to prejudice any ethnic group or Senatorial District in Edo State!
To
start with, I want to congratulate Mr. Obaseki on his collection of
nomination form which was done by some National Assembly members mainly
from Edo North on his behalf and I humbly welcome him officially into
the race.
I
might be very small in size and in height and not yet advanced
politically and in age, but when it comes to politics and political
strategies, I know that my Creator has blessed me with such little
skill, insight and foresight which can enable me to observe and draw a
clear dichotomy between a good campaign strategy and a poorly conceived
campaign strategy.
Flowing
from the above, the purchase of the APC Governorship Nomination form by
the National Assembly members from Edo North for Mr. Godwin Obaseki
last week does not deserve any form of celebration because it one of the
poorest political strategies and reasoning I have ever seen in recent
electioneering.
This
singular action of the Edo APC caucus in the National Assembly has only
attested to the various observations and claims which I shall be
outlining shortly and unfortunately, the APC chances in the election
will certainly be affected if APC makes the grave mistake of handing
over the much coveted guber ticket to Mr. Obaseki!
Firstly,
in a situation where National Assembly members from another Senatorial
District will pick the nomination form for someone from Edo South
without anyone from his own Senatorial District (Edo South) or the
closest one (Edo Central) joining them is the poorest and unwise
political strategy I have ever seen.
It points to a very big EDO NORTH AGENDA.
It
shows clearly that Mr. Obaseki does not have the support and the
necessary backing of anybody or better still, any Legislator from his
Senatorial District which has the highest number of registered voters.
This
is an ominous sign for Aspirant Obaseki. The Edo South people may have
sent a signal that they are prepared to reject any candidate foisted on
them through the wrong process!
Secondly,
Mr. Godwin Obaseki's unwise decision to purchase the nomination form
through Edo North APC legislators shows a potent threat and conspiracy
against the Binis and Esan people. This is because, should Obeseki
miraculously wins the september 10th governorship, he is surely going to
put the interest of the Afemai people first because they bought the
nomination form for him.
I
was not therefore surprised during an interactive session, some Bini
youths complained that the few projects Obaseki has directly been part
of recently were for the interest of the Edo North people and they
expressed their fears that if he becomes Governor, he will no doubt
still project and protect the interest of the Afemai land (Oshiomhole's
Etsako tribe mainly) just like the way their own brother Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole has done for the past seven years.
I
tried to allay their apprehension and attempted to defend him because
of the Party's interest. These youths overwhelmed me with copious and
verifiable facts.
They
listed projects like the newly established EDO STATE UNIVERSITY (of)
Iyamho, the Dangote Cement Company (which will generate jobs for
Oshiomhole's people) and several other projects scattered in and around Edo
North.
Thirdly,
this wrong political calculation has justified the views by many Edo
citizens and some of the aspirants in the APC that God-fatherism has
crept into the Party.
This
is a source of serious concern to well meaning members of the Edo APC
because all the National Assembly members who went to pick the
nomination form for Obaseki are people who rode on the back of the
Governor to win election in Edo North. These Legislators are core
members of the Oshiomhole's political family.
In
fact, one of them, Hon. Philip Shuibu (former Majority Leader in the
Edo State House of Assembly and current member of the House of
Representatives) has been widely speculated as Gov. Oshiomhole's
prefered choice for running mate to Obaseki.
Little wonder Hon. Shuibu
was conspicuously present at the APC National Secretariat where the form
was purchased for Obaseki.
Except
the contrary is proven, it is safe to say that in Oshiomhole's
political family's mind, the APC governorship flag will be jointly flown by Mr. Godwin
Obaseki and Hon. Philip Shuibu.
This
would automatically bring a strong signal to the Esan people and
delegates that Godwin Obaseki's ticket will not guarantee them the
deputy Governor slot which they are currently clamouring for and they
are surely going to reject him at the primary or the general election.
Furthermore, it also ridicules the National Assembly as an institution and our party.
It
is sad that these NASS members have never showcased any of their
projects on the media unlike their PDP counterparts in the National
Assembly. Rather they were seen gleefully displaying the nomination form
of somebody who ordinarily cannot contest councillorship election and
win.
The
so called Honorable members who went there to pick the form for their Man Friday have reduced themselves abysmally, mocked the National
assembly as an institution and insulted all well-meaning Edolites.
If
indeed electoral fortunes are determined by the number of the National Assembly members supporting you, then automatically, the PDP has won the
election because they currently have the highest number of members in
the National Assembly from Edo State.
It
would have been politically smart and wise if they had used some House
of Assembly members or groups from his own primary constituency.
Edo
South is the main focus of this election and where one fails to get the
backing of electorates from this District, what magic would you do that
will guarantee victory?.
APC
delegates should ponder on these candid observations of mine. Delegates
to the State Primary slated for next month must be bold and fearless.
They
must not allow themselves to be cowed, cajoled and or intimidated into
submitting to the whims and caprices of the God-father(s)!
Our
Party must not make the mistake of nominating a man who has no
political base primarily in Edo South and Edo Central Districts of the
state.
FELIX OSEMWENGIE ISERE.
For and on behalf of the Truth Vanguard"
