Take Heed Oshiomole: Under Estimating The Powers Of Government.

Watching the once-powerful Comrade Adams Oshiomole spit fire on his colourless maiden appearance on popular television and hurl insults on the persona of the Executive Governor of Edo State, the immediate reaction was that of a pittance. He looked slightly unsettled. This two-time former governor, one-time labour leader and ex-national chairman of a ruling party was labouring hard to make an impression; clearly he was trying to hide something—probably the psychological effect of the loss as national chair. Worse is the fact that the same thing he is trying to achieve with all that bucketful of grammar against Obaseki was accomplished with just one word –against him–by his Abuja nemesis: you have been removed as a national chair! That effectively sealed his fate—and silenced any other opposition henceforth. Now Obaseki must take the brunt; so he is turning on the heat. But the twin mistake he is making here is that he is addressing people who are fed up, hungry and facing imminent death– exposed to the scourge of COVID-19; but he ignored this; secondly, he was in government before, so he should know the powers wielded by the government—be it local, State or Federal. The government is a moving train and no one dares it. Oshiomole as a floor member of the APC should be civilised with his choice of words. The act of democracy has not yet reached that stage of violence or free for all fight. You cannot aim to put food on the table of your supporters by first taking them to war and cause deaths to occur; this is the matter with Oshiomole—always trying to impose his authority on people—without principle!  As the Igbo would say “the age of a man does not determine the level of his wisdom”. It is possible that he lacks wisdom; otherwise, he would have learnt his lessons—to know when to retreat.  He shouldn’t wait for people to tell him that he has overgrown what he is doing now—standing at the podium to throw bats and rubbish at his former protégé;  they heard him in 2016, but to repeat same in 2019 is sheer delusion, failure of intellect; Oshiomole, as national chairman of a ruling party who ought to be distributing employment letters to unemployed youths, advising the Federal government on how to rebuild the Okpella –Okene death trap, fix the failing portion of Ekpoma to Iruekpen bad axis is the one instead hurling invectives at a serving governor!  This does not show morality and character! Well, the message to him—using an Igbo proverb again–is this: “nobody is superior to the chief priest in his own shrine”. Obaseki as the chief priest (governor) of Edo State is in control for now. But for Oshiomole’s notorious antics, Obaseki would still have been an APC member. He may have shifted to PDP, but he is still the governor. Again to use an Igbo proverb “the effort of one native doctor is countered by another more powerful native doctor”. Truly Oshiomole may be a native doctor with masterly control of English language—but Obaseki is a bigger Native doctor—as governor of the State! It is his duty to maintain order and responsibility. From what is playing out, it is clear that Oshiomole’s mission is to make the State ungovernable and cause so much commotion. But he has to that within the ambit of the law—and level of tolerance. His supporters may be goading him on as bold, fearless; but he should not forget the cold facts of life: only change is constant! His time has come and gone. It is time for the new generation of Etsako, Ishan and Benin people to move on with their life. As a retiree, he should recline to his sleazy Iyamho palatial mansion—windfall from previous escapades–in government and enjoy his loot. The reigning champion, for now, is Godwin Obaseki a.k.a. G.O. Though people deride him as a “Lamb”, the reins of power are under his control. Just as federal goment pushed Oshiomole out as national chair; so also State goment will take measure to prevent chaos and anarchy—and also retire him permanently. Obaseki is no fool and cannot be a lamb waiting to be slaughtered by his sworn enemies; this Oshiomole should know. The powers of government are enormous— no one should underestimate this. It is a pipedream for them to think that the APC will ever come back to rule that State after throwing away their chances with that needless disqualification by Oshiomole.  They had it before—but threw it away out of foolishness. The Child whose mother is in control of the kitchen does not go hungry. Obaseki is in charge of Edo State kitchen (government) for now and must come out boldly to top Oshiomole in his tracks–whether through proxy or otherwise.