Part Three: Why Oshiomole Should Not Be Allowed Access To Edo State Treasury

Having analyzed the visionless purpose of Comrade Adams Oshiomole, his lack of leadership qualities and how he has miss-managed his goodwill in the past, using anti-democratic means to achieve his ad-hoc programmes and activities, now is the time to look at the fallouts from his disastrous adventures in politics. First, as the Igbo would say, “when a palm branch reaches its height, it gives way for a fresh one to grow”. Children are the leaders of tomorrow. It is time for Oshiomole to give way. Nigeria is not an experimental grounds for all sort of muscle-flexing. We have had enough of how Tinubu has been ruling Lagos State by remote control; we have also seen the severe repercussion on the democratic process. Would you call what Lagos is passing through as democracy? The governor does not even have a say in the day to day operations! Surely, we would like to see a transparent democratic process in that State. Mind you, we are not in a military dispensation. Now, Oshiomole is bent on a similar mission in Edo State. Should he succeed, it would become unprecedented that all first-time governors are in danger; secondly, the principle of zoning that our forefathers so practised successfully would have been finally buried! Zoning gives a sense of responsibility, direction and focus; the late Alhaji Shehu Musa, Shagari, Uba Ahmed, they all practised this successfully. “If one were to remove every smoking wood from the fire and condemn it as bad, one would be killing the fire itself”, says another Igbo proverb. We cannot wait for perfection, but we have to make good use of what we have. We are a nation of diverse tribes, we need to have peace, stability and patriotic leadership. “It is little by little that a bird builds its nest”, through patience and perseverance, success is attained. Elections are conducted in Ghana—even neighbouring Togo without much ado; remove Oshiomole and Tinubu from the scene and there would be peace in Nigeria. We should have leaders who talk about development, we should have leaders who are vibrant and focused. It is not all the time people are called out to elect leaders that you have such a heated environment. It would be catastrophic for Oshiomole to again ascend the throne in Edo State; that would mean he is stronger than the symbol of our unity, growth and stability. Our children must learn values and be prepared for tomorrow; we cannot bequeath to them a system that is dysfunctional, stagnant and poisoned by personal ambitions. It is clear that Oshiomole wants Obaseki out because of his personal disagreement with him; it is also clear that Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu wants Obaseki out because of his own personal ambition; none of them is in the field because of the State! And surprisingly, we read of youths saying by this time next week “Edo will be Lagos”. This is a shame. It shows the type of youths we are breeding; educated youths would question the veracity of destabilizing a smooth process rather than join issues. This is two Benin sons fighting—spurred by an outsider; Oshiomole had scorned Benin by saying “throw corn on the ground and they will all rush for it”; this cannot be complimentary. Besides, are they saying it is now only one term for all first-time governors? Who gave them that authority to change the rules that they so much enjoyed? Nevertheless, “However long the moon disappears, someday it must shine again”. Our only hope is that change is constant. The changing equation at the federal level may swing opinion in favour of Godwin Obaseki. The president is believed to have sympathy for Obaseki and would not sanction the use of military or police during the elections. INEC has been under close watch since day one and thanks to the overwhelming influence of social media, few infractions can be expected. The strong revulsion against the injustice perpetrated against Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos is very much simmering and Edo voters are poised to abort a repetition in Edo State. Tinubu’s declaration of Obaseki as a dictator was read with mixed feelings by the hierarchy of the APC. They felt taken shocked by such audacity—in a clime where you have a sitting president. We are not in a country presided by the Stalinist or Josef Lenin; this 2020, and we must do the right thing. That statement was supposed to have been made by either the Campaign Committee chairman or the Acting National Chairman—not from someone who has no officially recognized position within the party. That was desperation taken too far! “One’s finger cannot remove lice from the head”; it is through unity that problems can be solved. This attitude of removing elected governors through crude means and money induced process must be discouraged. We must make good use of our opportunities; we must be determined to succeed; this is where the activities of the revered Capt. Hosa Okunbor is regretted. He allowed his stomach to miss-guide him. This time, his reputation before the eyes of the new generation of Edo people has dropped to the rock bottom. “When the teeth fall off, the nose is sure to collapse”, meaning when there is a problem with your character, it is bound to affect your life. Captain has no business taking sides in this election. Benin must develop; light must shine again in Edo State; the roads must be repaired; houses must be built for the homeless and new transport system must be in place. Obaseki must be allowed to accomplish his mission and prepare the State for the next generation of leaders. Development does not consist of buying and riding a fleet of cars, living in mansions, travelling abroad for lavish holidays, training your children in Ivy League schools; the poor have the right to live; the jobless has the right to be gainfully employed; the homeless have the right to be given shelter. Whoever says this shall not be possible will never have peace; it is for this and other reasons that Oshiomole should never be allowed back to Edo State government house! Finally, Obaseki may be regarded as an ant by his enemies, but they should remember this: “it is the strength of their number that the ants in the field are able to carry their prey to the nest. (Success is only achieved through cooperation—gbagbati)