IN PRAISE OF IGHODALO

 John Owolabi argues that Asue Ighodalo will work for Edo people if elected as governor

It appears to me that the Morning Show presenters at Arise TV, a formidable and adept team featuring my own role model, Dr. Reuben Abati, and Mr. Emmanuel Efeni, may have embraced the ambition and political aspirations of Mr. Asue Ighodalo, a luminary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State. In a parley with these astute journalists on Wednesday, his oratory unfolded.

In the court of discourse, he, with noble bearing, declared that Governor Godwin Obaseki extended no invitation to the gubernatorial quest. An oath sworn, he pledged allegiance solely to those who, in the electoral dance, would anoint him as the shepherd of Edo State.

With the alchemy of words, he addressed detractors, his gaze fixed on the realm’s tribulations, envisioning a metamorphosis into a first-world enclave. Plagued by allegations of political godfatherism, he, in soliloquy, proclaimed that he wasn’t summoned by Governor Obaseki’s behest, for the journey was propelled by his final push – laboring on the sovereign investment authority’s board.

His narrative unfurled further, recounting the social investments wrought, an epiphany of the dividends of uplifting lives. A conjurer of destinies, he envisaged a journey, guided by accumulated experiences and connections, to elevate Edo State, casting it from the third world into the first. Just like the Arise journalists, I was carried away!

Addressing the question of fealty, Ighodalo, with the conviction of a noble bard, declared that he would be elected by Edo’s virtuous folk; his allegiance reserved for their weal. And that he would toil for their elevation, rescuing them from the shackles of poverty, and erecting a first-world economy.

To those who labeled him an ‘outsider,’ he, with unwavering resolve, dismissed the cacophony, deeming it a mere distraction from the veritable issues besieging the state. He proclaimed his deep roots in Edo, recounting 16 years of traversing Benin, intricately entwined with the economic tapestry of Governors Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki.

The refrain of his familiarity with Edo’s denizens echoed, punctuated by deeds unsung, an anthem of quiet impact that need not trumpet its existence. With a flourish, he painted a canvas of readiness, vowing to attend to diverse sectors – from the economic crucible to the corridors of education, infrastructure, and a government infused with technology to burgeon revenue.

In addressing the financial labyrinth of Edo’s debts, he, with a maestro’s touch, declared that debt, if wielded for developmental metamorphosis, is no malady. It is the alchemist’s elixir, and the quandary lies in its wielder. With sagacity, he envisioned a judicious use, ensuring debts metamorphosed into the renaissance of the economy, guarding against leaks that could render them a nemesis.

In the tumult of party divisions, he, as a diplomat of the political theatre, acknowledged misalignments. Like a skilled mediator, he harmonized discord, laboring to align missteps at the national and state stages. In whispered counsel, he traversed the familial chasms within the party, urging unity for the greater good.

For me, therefore, in political stratagems, Asue Ighodalo emerged as the protagonist, weaving a tale of allegiance to the people, a visionary’s journey from poverty to prosperity, and a bard of governance, poised to script Edo’s ascension into the echelons of a first-world tapestry. If given the ticket of his party, he sure would make a marketable product!

Owolabi, a multimedia journalist, writes from London