Posts in category: Politics

Gentlemen of the Press.

Let me on behalf of my brothers and colleagues seated before you congratulate you all and to thank God for ushering all of us into this New Year.

This year is significant for every Edolite in a number of ways chief of which is that the Governorship elections for our state will hold later in the year.

Before you this afternoon are de facto and bonafide leaders and critical stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress, Edo State. Individually and collectively we have committed our lives to the service of our great state and nation in different capacities in the past and are therefore very concerned about the developments in the State under the current administration.

We therefore consider it imperative for us to leave our comfort zone to add our voices to the solutions that will restore peace and unity among Edo people once again.

Since the middle of 2018, the ruling party in our State – the APC- which is our party has been embroiled in needless crisis arising from the deliberate alienation of party leaders and members from the Government the party worked hard to install in 2016 through the wishes of Edo people.

Of particular concern to us is the inability of the State House of Assembly members of our state elected on the platform of our party to perform the responsibility of lawmaking for which they were elected since June 2019. This is unprecedented and does not represent the progressive character of the Edo people.

We have also observed with great trepidation the orgy of politically motivated violence across the State targeted at members of our great party who dared to hold opposing views from government. This is unacceptable in a democratic setting. Needless to bog you down with the litany of attacks on the person and office of the National Chairman of our party and the onslaught against prominent Edo sons and daughters perceived as threats to the second term ambition of the Edo State Governor.

As stakeholders we have made both individual and collective efforts at restoring sanity to the polity but it appears that as we inch closer to elections the apprehensions in the land is on the increase. We therefore commend our traditional institutions in Edo State who have taken various steps to promote peace and unity in our state.

We also commend Mr. President and the National Working Committee under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the various peace initiatives they have instituted but which have surprisingly been rejected by the Governor of Edo State and have even gone ahead to institute court actions to stop these peace initiatives.

At this point, we wish to place on record that Edo state and its people remain one of the most politically sophisticated, enlightened and pragmatic in the Federation and we cannot seat back and allow our State slide into the abyss.

We the APC aspirants for Edo State 2020 gubernatorial elections in consultation with other critical stakeholders state unequivocally that as aspirants for the gubernatorial elections in consultation with other critical stakeholders of the party wholeheartedly welcome the urgent intervention of the newly constituted Senator Ahmed Lawan’s reconciliation Committee for the party. Indeed, we are prepared with our memos for presentation to the Committee and we urge every genuine stakeholder of the party to cooperate with the committee. We collectively desire a party that is stable, virile and viable for us to realize our individual and collective aspirations so as to provide effective , efficient and productive leadership for our dear state. We also think and quite rightly too, that the attempt to close the political space and shut the doors against potential contestants for the office of Governor of Edo State by the incumbent governor is antithetical to the established norms of democracy. We must all be allowed to subject ourselves to the democratic process without let or hindrance.

We maintain our unalloyed support and confidence in the leadership of our party in Edo State headed by Col. Dr. David Imuse and at the National level under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. We thank Mr. President Mohammadu Buhari and other national leaders of the party for their insistence on party supremacy. The successes that have been recorded by the party across the country particularly the recent inclusion of Bayelsa State into the comity of APC States must serve as impetus for us to retain Edo State with firmer grip in the 2020 gubernatorial election.

We urge all our party members and supporters across the state to remain committed to the party while we collectively endeavour to navigate our party through the avoidable crisis and restore the hope of Edo people in an APC government that will once again provide an all inclusive governance and rapid economic development for which it was known in the early days of the party’s administration of the State under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

On our part we are committed to ensuring full compliance with the party directives as we go into the elections and urge our brother Governor Godwin Obaseki that in a multi party democracy everyone no matter how highly placed must be subject to party laws and rules. Therein lies the respect, order and decency in the interrelationship between government and the people.

We thank You All.

We Are:

Rt Hon Dr Pius E. Odubu (Former Deputy Governor)

General Charles Airhiavbere(Rtd) ( Former Governorship Candidate)

Engr. Christopher Ogiemwonyi ( Former Minister of State, Works)

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu ( Former Secretary to Edo State Government & Governorship Candidate)

By Aiyevbekpen John Osakue

WHEN a man emerges from the dark valleys of his humble birth and near state of hopelessness to build for himself an ecosystem of superlative achievements, he would have eminently earned an exalted place of honour in the hearts of men and women who understand the true purpose of life! And when a man embraces spartan discipline of dedication, doggedness, resilience and persistence to his life goals, falling and rising, banging his head against walls in the process and finally emerging with garlands of super achievements on the other side, you cannot help but celebrate him. The man in question is Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who recently emerged stronger than ever before from one of the thickest political conspiracies in the history of Nigeria.

In 2006 Comrade Oshiomhole took the political stage in Edo State by storm as he went about galvanising support for his gubernatorial ambition after an unprecedented labour activism as President of the Nigeria Labor Congress, NLC, that saw him confront both military and civilian dictators over anti-people policies mostly at the risk of his life. Everywhere he addressed an audience, the grounds quaked and the people were held spellbound by the power of his wisdom and thoughts and the vision he espoused. Oshiomhole was a stunning new revelation as candidate of the then Action Congress, AC, that was little known. His message resonated and made him shine with the lustre of a messiah!

To be honest, only few uncharitable folks would argue the fact that Comrade Oshiomhole has, in and out of office, proven to be a master tactician of the game of politics and has remained the issue in Edo political space. You are either railed on the side of his fanatic supporters and admirers who glowingly idolise him or on the side of those who are opposed to him, who criticise and demonise him. The people who idolise him point to his fearless engagement of authorities as a labour leader, his doggedness in fighting for his mandate when it was imperiled, his compassionate and transformational leadership as governor and the courage with which he executed Benin City renewal programme that opened up the ancient capital of the state to the fresh breath air of modernity, such that it could now compete side by side with modern state capitals in terms of city beautification and road infrastructure!

On the other hand, those who demonise him accuse his government of lack of transparency in contract awards and argue that he was awfully disrespectful of elders. Whether openly or discreetly expressed, most citizens belong to one side of the coin or the other. His massive and overwhelming second term re-election victory at the polls during which he scored the unprecedented but now famous 18 over 18, is a clear rebuttal of those allegations. Its dismissal is buoyed by unconcealed twist in context. However, given the experience of Edo people before and after his administration, his admirers have remained overwhelmingly preponderant and rock solid!

Comrade Oshomhole is passionate about his convictions. Thus, on assumption of office as National Chairman of APC, he resolved to give practical expression to the shared vision of the party as encapsulated in her ‘Change Agenda’. He is too athletically and energetically motivated by a sense of purpose to be content with mere appellation of the office. As a leader, he has inspired the majority of the National Working Committee, NWC, members to be dedicated to the promise of change. And together, they have made great progress in putting in place a transparent system that commands faith, trust and confidence of party members and not the whimsical dictates of party patrons!

He has continued to implement a plan to transform the mechanics and operations of the party with a view to eliminating all extraneous forces and interest groups opposed to party constitutionalism. His personal approach, attitude and idiosyncrasies might not be agreeable to all members but no one can conscientiously fault the purity of his intentions. We are all different in character and attitude, and owe each other no apology for our inherent traits so long as we play our parts as powerful moral agents of the society!

Apart from mercilessly crushing the boastful political behemoths, otherwise known as ‘new nPDP’, which had perfected a coup de grace, thereby holding the presidency and the party to ransom, Comrade Oshiomhole has had the temerity to confront other internal political and economic contradictions, namely the negative role of cultural diversity and heterogeneity, political merchandise, democratic impunity, regional power irredentists and the dilettantism of greedy political patrons. He is winning the battle in all fronts. These are humongous obstacles that have continued to undermine genuine efforts towards growth and development of the democratic process. If these hydra-headed negatives are tackled with patriotism, thereby projecting the collectivity of the Nigerian project, they could be converted to positive strengths, resulting to a free and unfettered political system.

With a mindset of success, Oshiomhole is an exemplar of being the ‘salt and the light’ of his world. He has remained an aggressive firebrand whose activism has been moderated only by national responsibility! He exited office of governor on a superlative high note with legacy projects that have continued to interrogate mere merchants of hope of today and put them on edge. In order words, he successfully provided the spur for steady progress at a ferocious pace yet unmatched in the state. As National Chairman of APC, Oshiomhole has demonstrated that party leadership must be driven by vision and a capacity for aggressive campaign activism.

He is, therefore, not only the issue in the politics of Edo State but also, the ubiquitous and irrepressible force at the national level. The more we rise to celebrate an impactful life like this, the more we create more impactful lives to be celebrated!

Osakue, a political strategist / public affairs commentator, wrote from Benin City, Edo State

-Samson Osagie

”           …it is that èm you know we can’t feel safe in the house of the our National Chairman, I am not sure that èm if I visit, go to the house of the National Chairman of PDP they will attack me the way they did in the house of the National Chairman of APC, its really unfortunate that things have degenerated to this extent, we will continue to pursue peace, we cannot afford to lose the gains of the last three years, we continue to pursue peace”

Above were the exact words of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State on 2nd November 2019 following the unfortunate incident of his denial of entrance to the country home of the National Chairman of the APC National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole after the Convoction of the Edo University, Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Let me state unequivocally that I condemn in strong terms any form of politically motivated violence or any violence for the matter as a means of settling scores and this recent one is not an exception. But my concern about what has become a harvest of political violence that have pervaded Edo State in recent times is that the Governor himself stoke the fire which has almost engulfed the entire polity.

Consequently, I will attempt to Chronicle them seriatim. First, on the 18th of June, 2019 members elect of the Edo State House of Assembly were attacked at Golden Tulip Hotel Etete , GRA, by hired thugs with full official cover by the state Security outfit codenamed “Wabaizigan” with the former CSO to the Governor Chris Nwankwo actively involved.

Some of the Lawmakers (including the younger brother of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole National Chairman of APC) were mercilessly beaten to stupor and subsequently detained.This incident led to the redeployment of the former CSO but the police never arrested the other participants in that despicable conduct up until now. Thereafter , the Governor organized a rally at Museum ground to issue out threats to all those who would dare to challenge his reign of tyranny and disregard for the rule of law. All in a bid to promote his second term ambition.

In Ovia North East, sometimes in October members of APC who were holding meeting in a hotel at Oluku were rudely disrupted by agents of state and two former House of Assembly members and a representatives member from the area sustained minor injuries. Reason was that the meeting was not sanctioned by the Governor

It has been a battle between Progressive forces in Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area and agents of the Secretary to the State Government over the decision of the former to liberate the Local government area from the shackles of inept and bad leadership. The combined team of police and state empowered touts have severally attacked the peraons and homes of leaders of Ikpoba/Okha Liberation Movement in a bid to cow them into submitting to the second term ambition of the Governor and the continous rulershhip of the SSG. No regard for the fundamental human rights to Association and movement of those aggrieved.

On October 12th, 2019 , thugs and state empowered touts invaded the house of the National Chairman of APC Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and even though they didn’t meet him in the house they would have wrecked havoc on lives and properties but for the timely intervention of some APC members led by former Chairman of Oredo Local government area and the Chief Executive of Akugbe Ventures. This attack was validated by the Crackteam social media group of the Governor in a live video that subsequently went viral.

Only recently, at Ivbiaro Owan East Local Government Area, a polytechnic lecturer and some others were attacked at a meeting of the party members and seriously wounded with vehicles smashed by agents of the state of no less than a Commissioner for Education and a Local government Chairman. This incidence was bloody and was masterminded by agents of the Governor on his party members.

All the above cases are matters of public knowledge but the Governor never cared or express any sentiments about them, yet they involved Edo people whether or not they are in his support for second term.

Then came the what is now known as the Iyamho incidence which state sponsored reporters have spinned beyond recognition to give the impression that the National Chairman of the APC organized an attack on the Governor and some dignitaries who had attended the 1st Convocation of the Edo University,Iyamho on the 2nd of November 2019.

Regrettably as the event may seem its precursors in form of massive mobilization by agents of the state precipitated the reactions to led to the denial of the Governor’s access to the National Chairman residence by irrate youths who have become provoked by the invasion of the small community of Iyamho by youths from all over the state.

The questions which Edo State actors need to answer are : Why was it necessary for the Governor himself to come to Iyamho to attend a Convocation ceremony Of the University with 4+4 caps bearing supporters and even those fingered as the brains behind the attack on the National Chairman’s residence?. Why was it necessary for the Deputy Governor to ride on a Motor Cycle with several bike riders carrying state functionaries and thugs to Iyamho to attend a convocation ceremony? Was it a political rally or campaign or election related event that was taking place in Iyamho that required mobilization of people?

From what we now know a top state functionary was teargassed along with a retinue of bike riders and thugs when he wanted to forced them into the convocation arena. It is also on record that the guest lecturer at this year’s convocation of the University, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank took a swipe at the conversion of the Convocation to a political rally given the unruly behaviour and chanting of campaign slogans by those hired by the Governor to cheer him up as the best Governor the world has ever produced. The guest lecturer had

to threaten that unless and until those miscreants led by some state functionaries as high as Special Advisers and Commisioners were asked to maintain peace he will not deliver his lectures. The Governor himself had to call his hirelings to order before Mr. Emiefele could deliver his lecture.

What a way to show popularity to the world!

These events in the days leading to the unfortunate incident at the gate to the National Chairman residence may have triggered the kind of reactions that regrettably greeted the encounter at the gate of the National Chairman. It couldn’t have been a premeditated action as some state sponsored medium are tirelessly struggling to paint it.

The last time I checked the Governor is still the Chief Security Officer of Edo State. If all these attacks to several citizens and party members did not bother him all along, it therefore means that he condoned them because they were executed to advance his second term ambition.

I wasn’t surprised to hear him say he didn’t know things have degenerated to the extent he witnessed that day. Reason been that he probably didn’t feel the pulse of insecurity that has pervaded the polity on account of his intolerance of voices of dissent.

One can therefore safely submit that the fire of insecurity he stoke by directing his agents to attack all those holding meetings against his second term bid and which directive has been gradually gaining momentum were now spreading like a wide fire. What therefore is incompetence in taking charge of the security of the lives and property of Edo people? If a Governor choses who to protect and who to attack no further evidence is required to establish a gross misconduct against the provision of the Constitution which stipulates that the primary purpose of government is the protection of lives and property.

After the Iyamho incidence, the Governor amongst other things said he will continue to pursue peace. That he is just realising that peace is needed for him to govern well three years into his government is laughable. This is more so as he has refused peace moves brokered by some Governors months back after the shameful act of inauguration of the Edo State House of

Assembly at night with a minority of the elected members.

What then can one say of the burgeoning regime of political violence that has now engulfed the state on account of the second term ambition of the Governor. I once posited that if the Governor kills everyone, there will no one left to vote for him

He must take responsibility for the ugly incidences of violence been perpetrated by his agents across the State and cannot pretend that he is just knowing that it has assumed a frightening dimension.