The state-wide frenzy of huge celebration now going on in Edo State has been pinned down largely to the deliberate injustice meted out to former governor of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was uncharactistically denied his second term ambition by the sinister and philistine attitude of the now disgraced comrade Adams Oshiomole.
Then, Mr. Ambode had performed beyond expectations, like Obaseki; he had met the yearnings and aspiration of the people of Lagos State; but then, through conspiracy masterminded by the same abrasive Comrade Adams Oshiomole whose destructive era as national chairman saw to the loss of seven other APC States to PDP conspired with forces within the State to rob Ambode of his mandate.
Though the people cried foul, but they were powerless because of the relentless grip of the self-acclaimed monologue godfather and the deployment of federal machinery. Oshiomole saw himself as Pharaoh; he pandered to the dictates of his shadowy godfather and rubbished whatever democratic claims Ambode had. Like the sensible man he is, Ambode simply relaxed and withdrew into private shell leaving those who stole his mandate to frolic.
But today, less than a year after the robbery, the entire people of Edo State are chanting: “Edo is not Lagos; you cannot rob us as you did Ambode in Lagos”! What a sharp reminder to those in the corridors of power to be cautious of their actions. “And this is just the beginning”, claimed the sponsor of the “obaseki must return campaign”.
The APC has been on automatic gear of reverse –cum-destructive mission since the arrival of the diminutive Comrade Adams Oshiomole as the national chairman. He has, so to say, turned upside down all the democratic norms and practice adopting raw gangsterism, crude and jungle tactics—even frontal wrestling confrontations in achieving his evil mission. “That guy was not operating democracy; thank god the courts came to our rescue”, said an Edo indigene.
Many people feared that sooner or later, Oshiomole was going to steer the APC into open exchange of blows. “You cannot take that from him; his Pitman certificate obtained has not helped matters”, said another political pundit. “Look at the sham screening he did to eliminate Obaseki”, the fellow said. “He did it without qualms or whoever ox is gored”.
Another said “that’s how they steal votes. Their sins will catch up with them, not in the near future but now!” There is a parable that says “pickin wey say him mama no go sleep, himself no go sleep’. Now fire is burning the camp of the Pharisees! As it stands, Ambode has become the nemesis for enemies of democracy and the rallying point against perceived godfathers.
