Edo And Its Needless Political Bitterness: Obaseki Vs Oshiomhole, Obaseki Vs PDP A Case Study Of Over Bloated Egoism

Edo And Its Needless Political Bitterness: Obaseki Vs Oshiomhole, Obaseki Vs PDP A Case Study Of Over Bloated Egoism

When brothers fight to the death, a stranger inherits their father’s estate. ~ Ibo proverb.

The next big political event in Nigeria is the 2023 general elections wherein the presidency would finally exchange hands hopefully from the North back to the South, how well is the South prepared to take up this huge challenge?

What role, in particular, is Edo State playing to position itself as a major stakeholder in project Nigeria post Buhari’s era? Who are the front runners we have in Edo State that can carry the mantle of leadership and give its citizens a sense of belonging?

Today is another expository essay on how over-bloated self-images may have cost Edo State to lose out politically in the 2023 game of thrones.

Is Edo State cursed or it has decided to play the third, fourth or last fiddle in the whole political game?

Edo State was christened the Heart Beat of the Nation because it is the home of the Benin people, a people that is revered to be known for their ancient civilization, tradition and advanced political administration.

The Benin Kingdom was the first to welcome Europeans in 1472 and to get exposed to their form of civilization. Edo State was also the first kingdom in what is now known as modern Nigeria to have established a diplomatic relationship with a European superpower (the Portuguese).

Edo State was created in 1991 when the old Bendel State was split into two in a state creation exercise that also led to the birth of Delta state, this exercise was carried out by President Ibrahim Babangida’s military administration.

Prior to the epic June 12, 1993, Presidential elections, Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Tom Ikimi once held sway as the national chairmen of the two political parties, the SDP and the NRC.

Chief Anenih and Chief Tom Ikimi were the symbols of political parties across the Nation. These were proud Edo sons who battled to control the national space.

20 years later Nigeria as a nation would be undertaking another important electoral process that would usher in a fresh president/administration. The 2023 presidential election is very important as it would birth a totally new set of political appointees that would shape the country for the next four years or more. Ministers, board chairmen, new directors etc…

E b like when the Bible talk for  Revelation 21:5 say “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” In a nutshell, everything would be brand new.

Are we as political players in Edo State doing the right thing? Are we as followers doing the right thing? You see power has its time and only the wise makes good use of the golden opportunity. It is not about over bloated egoism that takes us nowhere.

Look at the deliberate attempt in bringing down our Edo leaders by Obaseki and his quest to consolidate power. When two brothers fight to the death it is the stranger that inherits their father’s estate. It is unfortunate that when we ought to be zooming ahead we are instead taking ourselves backwards.

A state known for political pacesetting is now a state divided against itself. Betrayals and deceit are the order of the day. Una don see where FROG dey jump go back?

A former PDP House of Reps member from Edo State (names withheld) called me after the last article I wrote on the law of Karma’s visit on our state political leaders.

According to him a friend of his in the North expressed his worries about why Edo politicians are pulling down their brightest hands because of petty politics that would surely outlive them. He started with, if the National Chairman of the APC which happens to be the ruling party is from his state then it is as good as them getting the presidency. He stated clearly everyone would rally around him irrespective of political affiliations.

We Edo indigenes must take a break and reflect on our FOOLISHNESS and ask ourselves if these players are our problem. When Nigerians are strategizing to take over control of power we are here shouting and cursing Oshiomhole, or Obaseki or whoever. Are we mad? The elections are just a few months away and all we can do or say is who is right amongst these players.

Let me take your time and spell the dangers of fighting ourselves to death, Oshiomhole was the national chairman of the biggest party in Africa with unfettered access to the presidential villa and its paraphernalia only for one NUMBSKULL from his ward to suspend him and people were clapping.

Ask the MUMU man that suspended Oshiomhole if his life and those around him now have blossomed since he removed a very big fish from the national limelight.

By now Edo people could have been empowered very well during this coming electoral process across the states, that old dumb man from his ward should come and tell us how many people he has empowered since he displaced Oshiomole from his high office? Do you break the pot because you want to kill a rat?

Now all the board chairmen/Federal political appointees that were removed by Obaseki during the heat of their bitter crisis in APC, how many were replaced by Edo people? Yet we dey shout Ogbane…Are we normal?

Are we ok? God forbids, if these players retire due to health reasons or whatever would Edo State retire with them?

Adams Oshiomhole, Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu, Dan Orbih, Hon Ogbedie Ihama etc are mere mortals, why can’t we just see the big picture and use our senses, but because of bitterness we have closed our discernment and now applaud foolishness.

Edo state has a rich history of taking the lead, anything that would drag us back should be condemned by any SANE Edo indigene.

Okay, Oshiomhole’s case is history, what of Chief Dan Orbih and the PDP leaders in the State? What essence are we bringing down Chief Dan Orbih that is currently holding forth for Edo State in the national space in PDP?
The Hausa man would never ever bring his man down from his high office, neither would the Fulani man do the same, yet we say Hausa Fulani is the problem we have.

The funny aspect is that these people are not replaced with other Edo people. I would talk because am pained.

Look at the greatest philanthropist ever to come out from Edo State, the late Captain Hosa Okunbo. We can never have such a great giver in Edo State for a long while, he was ridiculed and fought from all fronts by his same brothers.
The man see countless petitions against HIM business interest across the globe so TAY E TIRE… Who no go tire?  Captain Hosa, May God YOUR BLESS SOUL.

This is the only man perhaps after MKO Abiola that makes people, generations stand tall and yet Edo State has lost him just like that, what a colossal loss.

The few people that Omoregie Ogbeide Ihama and Dan Orbih carries along would lose their positions and source of living if this current crisis consumes them, yet Edo State has only a FINGER full of appointees that can not represent even a single ward. No complete EDHA members, no LGA chairmen, no SSA’s, no SA’s with half a team of commissioners and yet we are clapping.

The painful aspect is this, these wars are always bitterly fought from all fronts, which is sad and despicable, imagine revoking prominent Edo peoples properties and farmlands because they contested against you?
Forgetting that families and Edo indigenes depend on this business to earn a living.

The cold war between the Governor and his Deputy would soon be full-blown and many innocent citizens would again fall victim to people fighting because of their over-bloated egos. Do citizens deserve such victimization because of political differences by their bosses?

The criterion of bad political play brewing in Edo State must be put to an end and we need to be courageous and tell ourselves the truth. We can’t keep destroying our political rivals completely all on the altar of petty politics.
We must consolidate for the great battle ahead(2023 presidential election) while still having our political bickering. It is very shameful that we have nobody from Edo State we are projecting for President.

Politics is just a means to an end, bringing down Edo brightest citizens for the sake of say na opposition no go pay us, our mumu never do? From the way we are going, we should ask ourselves where it would lead us to post 2023? Tomorrow we start screaming marginalization not knowing say NA WE KILL OURSELVES BY OURSELVES.

We must be careful what we sow as there is harvest for every crop planted, we can not sow politics of Hatred and benefit, “who chop bellyful, must still be hungry.”

Blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make yours shine any brighter, ruining someone else’s day won’t make yours any better. Help your brother’s boat across, and your own will reach the shore.

That is how I see life, today look at the comradeship between Goodluck Jonathan and President Buhari? Why did Buhari not finish off Jonathan? We must look beyond the end of our noses and find a way of repositioning Edo State for greatness.

Must we fight to the death? There is a Congolese proverb that says a woman can get another husband but she can never get another brother. It is sad that we are dispensing so much energy on the wrong battles.

May God see us through.

My name na Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah and na me be the Chairman/CEO/Principal of Bush Radio Academy.

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