A VOTE FOR ASUE IGHODALO

The PDP candidate is fit and proper to lead Edo State, reckons BENJI IHENYEN

In this season of campaigns and politics, it is easy to accuse anyone of partisanship. This is moreso in the current campaign for the governor in Edo State where the stakes are so high and the political divide is so wide.

  Comrade Adams Oshiomohle, the current senator representing Edo North Senatorial District of the state is a reoccurring name in the election campaign for good and for bad. He brought the current governor Godwin Obaseki to the state as an adviser. The relationship soon blossomed to the point Godwin Obaseki was the senator’s best man at his second wedding. The wedding attracted media attention. Buhari as president graced the occasion as well as the leader of APC and now the current president Bola Tinubu. They were on hand to wish the couple well.

  Godwin Obaseki soon became Oshomhole’s favourite and it did not come as a surprise he influenced his emergence as Edo governor under APC ticket. But the relationship soon turned sour, and Obaseki decamped to PDP and the rest as it is said is history.

 It has to be noted that another technocrat Oshomhole invited to assist him in governance was Asue Ighodalo. He worked as an adviser to Oshomhole for eight years. And when Oshomhole lost his first wife, Clara, who hailed from Ewohimi (the home town of Asue Ighodalo) Oshomhole stayed in Asue Ighodalo’s country home throughout the duration of the burial. Does it not sound curious that Oshomhole is now telling the world Asue Ighodalo has no house in his village? In a very rare outburst, Asue Ighodalo said Oshomhole talks before thinking.

 Ordinarily, the race is supposed to be between the candidates: Senator Monday Okpebholo of APC and Asue Ighodalo of PDP. While Ighodalo has visited all the 18 local government areas and wards selling himself and his manifesto, his opponent is hardly seen and sadly, hardly heard. Instead, his surrogates are the ones speaking on his behalf.

 On few occasions he has tried to speak at campaigns, but it has been a disaster and a serial embarrassment. His campaign has shielded him from interviews in print and electronic media. How can a candidate seek to be a governor without speaking to the people? The Esan people are worried that “a puppet” who will easily be manipulated by forces outside Esan land is desperately at work for his selfish interest. In the view of most people, Esan man may be in office and the power may be elsewhere. What is office without power?

 It is even more concerning when Senator Monday Okpebholo’s campaign structure is dominated by people outside Esan. Who for instance was Oshiomhole’s first choice as candidate? It was the current deputy governorship candidate who has now be foisted as the deputy to Senator Monday Okpebholo. Do you smell a rat? From day one, this ambition has been established and loyalty in question.

 Compare this to how Asue Ighodalo emerged as candidate. Godwin Obaseki from day one said it was the turn of Esan, that is, Edo Central Senatorial District has to produce the governor for the sake of justice, equity and fair play. Edo North had produced Oshomhole, and Obaseki the current governor js from Edo South. He never imposed any candidate on Esan.

 Chief Tom Ikimi, an elder statesman and the committee he led was mandated to screen interested aspirants. All the aspirants attended interview at the country home of the chief. At the end of the rigorous exercise, Asue Ighodalo came out top. Where did Godwin Obaseki influence the choice of the candidate from this transparent process? Chief Tom Ikimi is highly respected in local and national politics. Does he look like someone that can be manipulated? We should thank Godwin Obaseki for stating from day one that an Esan man or woman has emerged as the next governor of Edo State.

 A few people have expressed the fear that Godwin Obaseki may influence and manipulate Asue Ighodalo in office. The question to ask is: does Asue Ighodalo look like someone that can easily be manipulated? His educational background, his work experience including boardroom background at the highest levels are there for all to see. He is a University of Ibadan- trained economist; London School of Economics and Political Science-trained lawyer; former chairman of Nigeria Breweries; former Chairman of a bank and board member of many thriving companies and lots more. We should be grateful

to have such a man at the helm of affairs in Edo State. He is eminently qualified and well equipped for the position he seeks.

Ihenyen, a Journalist, writes from Benin