Karma: Why Edo Residents Are Eager To See Hostilities Between Obaseki And Philip Shaibu And The Fall Of The  Esan Agenda 

Karma: Why Edo Residents Are Eager To See Hostilities Between Obaseki And Philip Shaibu And The Fall Of The  Esan Agenda

“Some people create their own storms and then get mad when it rains.”

The proverb “What goes around comes around”, also known as karma has a powerful effect on the human race. It simply means the consequences of one’s action would be dealt with ultimately. You must reap what you sow this is inevitable.

I have taken a hiatus in analysing Edo political gimmicks for obvious reasons, but today I must be drawn out of my shell to predict as usual what to expect with the high political manoeuvring going on in the State.

Yesterday we woke up to a hot gist that Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon Philip Shaibu was on his way out of the PDP, the news although denied by Philip Shaibu has refused to be deleted from the hard disk of Edo residents. It was later reported how Edo citizens celebrated the news with much fanfare.

So why would residents derive joy to see hostilities between Philip Shaibu and his Oga Godwin Obaseki? Who would take sides when the bubble finally burst?

You see Edo story na real story wey dey worth reading seriously, first of all when Adams Oshiomhole started the journey of bringing in Obaseki this same thing surfaced. Sorry to take your time on this historical journey, just have it in mind that it is worth the while.

Oshiomhole for reasons best known to him decided on bringing his friend and best man, a little unknown Godwin Obaseki into the scene against formidable political gladiators already tussling for the job.  Voices were raised, tempers flared but in the end, Oshiomhole fought bitterly against all odds to make Obaseki’s candidacy sail through.

During this process, Oshiomhole succeeded in putting the PDP’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in a tight corner. Karma later played its role again during the last elections when the words of Oshiomhole was tactically used by Obaseki to box Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu again. This is karma, never take it for granted.

Well, we have since crossed that bridge and lessons must have been learnt from that episode with all due apologies to the major players then. Politics abhors a vacuum so it is time once again for political hostilities by the same forces who deployed all their political arsenals to defeat the status quo.

Philip Shaibu who was meant to be a check to Obaseki on his part betrayed his party leaders and instead swore his loyalty to Godwin Obaseki. Philip Shaibu’s moves is a smart one if it works out eventually, play loyalty to your boss for eight years and become the Governor for another eight years which translates to 16 years of uninterrupted tenancy at Dennis Osadeby Avenue, how sweet and awesome it sounds.

But like I always explain expectations and reality are two different ball games altogether, Philip expects Obaseki to hand over to him in return for his loyalty while in reality, no Governor hands over to his deputy, NEVER.

The two precedences in Zamfara and Kano would tell you it is a “no-no” option by any Governor, na dat one we dey say ” KILL YOURSELF BY YOURSELF”, who no like take cover?

Again let me take you back to history, Oshiomhole’s second term re-election was the most successful election of any Governor in the annals of Nigeria’s history, that honour can never be erased from Osho Baba’s enviable records, the comrade Governor scored 18 over 18 in all the local governments in Edo State, no Governor has an impressive scorecard like Adams, but like Karma would have its day the same Oshiomhole was a subject in the last gubernatorial elections and Obaseki somehow triumphed.

Karma as it relates to Obaseki, Philip Shaibu, the Esan Agenda and PDP.

In the last Edo 2020 elections, the Esan agenda was a major topic, Obaseki convinced the Esan people that it was better he had a second term for them to quickly achieve their Esan agenda. This sank into their minds and it became a major issue. They started shouting Esan agenda upadan, while this was going on Philip Shaibu who obviously has a gentleman agreement with Obaseki that he would succeed him kept quiet obviously in order not to rock the boat.

Karma is a bitch and must strike back, while giving the Esan people HOPE they forgot to ask what happens to Philip Shaibu who happens to have the structure Obaseki relies upon and his own ambition to become the Governor after Godwin Obaseki?

They did not see it as injustice on the part of the deputy governor who staked his all for Obaseki to manoeuvre his reelection bid. Now the reality is drawing on every player and the residents who are full of pride are all set to savour in joy the expected open confrontation between these major players.

The PDP on its own part that offered OBASEKI its PLATFORM have turned themselves into perpetual wailers, they have started begging the PDP governors to please talk to Obaseki, one year after his reelection no single cabinet has been inaugurated and yet the party are fighting every day for cabinet positions.

You must be familiar with the story of the man who proposed to buy the son a bicycle on his next birthday which was about four months away only for the son to jump with joy and started demonstrating to the dad how he would ride the bicycle to the admiration of all ” Daddy if u buy the bicycle ehhh i go ride am like this, I go ride am like dat , I go even use am they go fetch water from the stream, the father then angrily got up and started flogging the son, shouting YOU WAN SPOIL AM? WETIN DEY DO YOU?

Bicycle wey papa never buy pikin wan spoil am and papa don begin beat pikin put already, and the funny aspect be say the papa never even see the money we e wan take buy the bicycle in the first place, that is the current fate of PDP, fighting for positions that are not even available.

So they have turned serious wailers under Obaseki, the same reasons that made his former party the APC become wailers. Edo people now want to see wahala break out eagerly, they want to see who Philip Shaibu would cry to, they want to see how the Esan agenda would play out bearing in mind that Obaseki has gone mute on the agenda and finally they want to see how the PDP would become a frustrated opposition under the stewardship of a PDP party member.

According to the reports making the rounds both Philip Shaibu and the PDP are angry over the late constitution of a state cabinet. The local government elections is a different ball game entirely as Obaseki must squarely deal with the threat from the PDP and even his Deputy before even contemplating an election into local councils. The promises would keep coming yet the date keeps shifting.

Then for the APC members, they are grinning and telling everyone who cares to listen that they don’t care what happens to the State under Obaseki and his party the PDP.

For Philip Shaibu, how he battles the jinx of a Governor not supporting the Deputy and the famous Esan agenda is left to be seen.

Interesting times lie ahead and how it eventually plays out would unfold in due course.

For me oh, we have to reap what we sow, so we should spend our whole life in a positive way, especially treating everyone with kindness.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the principal of Bush Radio Academy.

Source iReporteronline.

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