It does not matter who a political party features as their candidate so long as he or she has the backing of a ‘strong’ godfather or incumbency. This is an assumption about to be tested in the governorship election, a few days from now.
After the Edo governorship debate organised by Channels TV on the night of September 4th, the issue of who is best prepared to lead Edo state became much clearer. Apart from the APC and the PDP candidates, the other two from Labour and APGA parties were as expected just present to make up the number.
For time sake, we shall concentrate on the two most popular candidates. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, it was a matter of ‘I can do it. He used a part of the night explaining some aspects of his already documented template on how he would govern Edo people. In some ways, he was able to prove himself as already prepared for the task ahead even against his past limitations as a one time political appointee.
For Godwin Obaseki, it was more like ‘Oshiomhole has done no wrong, and therefore I can also do no wrong’. And he capped the night emphasizing that being an Oshiomhole’s candidate was all Edo people needed to consider him prepared.
By his attitude, Obaseki once again ignited the common question of whether just being an Oshiomhole’s candidate could pave the way to electoral victory? Truly, Oshiomhole has told any person who cares to listen that he attributes his ‘success’ as a governor to the brain-power of Godwin Obaseki. But since time always has ways of proving our assumptions wrong or right, this electioneering period has been subjecting Oshiomhole’s model of success to test.
Firstly, how does Obaseki feel when he is now being made to understand that it is the people who decide what ‘success’ means to them and not Oshiomhole? How does Obaseki feel when Edo traders and other business owners are being threatened to come out and listen to Oshiomhole’s ‘success story’ campaigns? What is making the traders’ to avoid such ‘success story’ campaigns as to warrant their being forced to attend? And in spite of the presumed ‘success story’ campaigns of Oshiomhole, why are the other political opponents considered not to have any ‘success story’ being denied the use of public facilities to proclaim their ‘unsuccessful stories’?
As we ponder on these, we should be reminded of that song in Benin dialect which interpretation means ‘Those who cannot love us; can never rule us’. Just as it is almost impossible for any would-be good dancer not to first be a lover of music. In all, I presumed it would have been better for Obaseki to first gain the love of Edo people than his sole reliance on Oshiomhole’s love.
Source: Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama
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