Edo 2024: The Osunbor Factor in APC

Political activities have picked up in earnest in Edo state as the race for the 2024 governorship ticket in the All Progressives Congress gathers momentum with former Senator, Prof Oseheimen Osunbor and other aspirants signifying their interest to run for the coveted number one seat in the heart beat of the nation.

In politics, fame appears in myriad forms. Over the airwaves and on the newsstands, on the playing field, by dint of hard work, ability or by reputation. Very ambitious politicians tell tales of what they will do and how they will transform their state into an Eldorado in four years.

In Edo state, this is the time of the year when politicians get top billing. After all, the political season is here and it is the make-or-break period for many an ambitious politician.

At stake is the governorship of the heart beat of the nation which is up for grabs this year. To most political watchers in the state politics, the battle as to who becomes the next governor of the state is primarily within the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is poised to take over the state; and that can be determined by which aspirant becomes the party’s candidate at the primary that comes up next month.

So far, 68 aspirants from various parties have indicated their interest to take over from Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PeoplesDemocraticParty (PDP). They include 28 aspirants from Labour Party, APC 29, and the PDP has 11.

The race is particularly fierce in the APC. Former Senator, Professor Oseheimen Osunbor is in. So is the state’s chairman of the party, Col. David Imuse, a retired military officer, who has also thrown his hat into the ring, while some serving senators and members of the House of Representatives are also interested in the race.

Others battling for the APC ticket are Major Geneeal Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), a former Accountant General of the Nigeria Army and ex-Director of Finance and Administration of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); former spokesman to General Ibrahim Babangida and one time Edo state Commissioner for Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was the party’s candidate in the 2020 gubernatorial poll.

Another aspirant for the party’s ticket is Dr. Blessing Agbomhere, a South African based politician who has urged the party leadership, in a letter, to reward his “loyalty” with the governorship ticket.

In a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Umar Ganduje and copied to other stakeholders in the party, Agbomhere who is the current South South Zonal Organising Secretary of the party said it is in the habit of President Bola Tinubu to reward loyalty and dedication to the party and therefore his request to be given the party’s ticket is not out of place.

On his part, Osunbor since throwing his hat into the ring, has thrown the spanner into the gubernatorial ambition of many of the aspirants.

A man does not often change his deepest convictions, but it is not unusual for a man to change his calculation of risk. This, it seems, is what is happening to Osunbor, one-time Senator representing Edo Central at the National Assembly. So, why is he contesting the governorship again?

To him, he has the experience and integrity with a promise to deliver good governance if elected.

He said, “The state is currently suffering from bad roads and non-availability of other amenities. If given the opportunity to serve again, I will make sure that all these amenities are available.

“I have been there before and I have a lot to offer and I promise Edo people that I will do a lot to better their lots,” he added.

Osunbor solicited the support of the party leaders, promising he would take the state to greater heights following his rich history as an astute politician, whose tenure as governor recorded laudable feats.

In the period of political stress that the state is experiencing right now, all sorts of theories are entertained about the nature of problems besetting the state and how to tackle and solve them.

Osunbor believes that in the ever-changing world of politics, only change is constant. Hence, experience and performance counts. What Edo needs is a good manager of resources. He has done it before, he can do it again.

Some politicians like Osunbor who have mastered the art of governance are careful. They realise that both the good and the bad times never last forever while careful planning and management of resources help at critical times.

Such politicians are guided by facts, reality and crunchy scrutiny of the questions and answers they give. For example: what is your economic plan for the state, what is your developmental goal for infrastructure, education and the economy, will a project deliver a reasonable return on capital invested?

Would this be a second coming for him? Osunbor, a realist believes that political leadership goes beyond rhetoric and noise and unfulfillable promises. He has antecedents to show for his abilities. He insisted that he has an unfinished vision for his beloved state. These are the thoughts of Osunbor as he puts himself forward to contest the governorship position once again.

For him, governance should not be seen from the point of view of “any qualified person should be the governor,” even when that person does not have the ability. To him, government should entail competence, a proven record of capacity, capability and service for the general good of the people. He’s insisting that electing another incompetent person whose only job is to be at the corridor of power in the state is not acceptable.

According to him, Edo’s political situation in recent times is difficult and the problem? Bad leadership and bad policies, and it’s not about to go away anytime soon unless the right person is picked and elected.

He also insisted that governance is a serious business; hence the only way forward for Edo State to have meaningful progress in the nearest future is to have a reliable, competent and known achiever as governor. Someone with a proven record, especially in the business of governance. “Government business must be done business-like,” Osunbor insisted.