Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu
By Isaac Asabor
Analyzed from the perspective of the online edition of the Merriam-Webster dictionary that defines a Party Man as “A member or adherent of a political party, especially, one characterized in cases of conflicting interests by strong loyalty to the party as an institution and to its principles and policies,” there is no denying the fact that Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu is unarguably a Party Man extraordinaire.
He remains a Party Man extraordinaire against the backdrop of the fact that he is not a Turncoat politician which some politicians in politics in Edo State are notoriously becoming by each passing day. Some have gone to the extent of joining a party today and aspire to become an aspirant. To mildly condemn it, it is not fair.
At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “Who is a political turncoat?” The Wikipedia, in its definition says “A turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party. However, the online encyclopedia explains that in political and social history that turncoat is distinct from being a traitor, as the switch mostly takes place under certain circumstances, and expatiates that it is often driven by one or more leaders in groups.
Being spurred from the foregoing descriptions of who a party man or a turn coat politician is, not few readers of this piece would expect this writer to buttress the fact that the political phrases fittingly describe Odubu, and that he is by the portrayal a Party Man extraordinaire.
Without shillyshallying on the question that borders on the propriety of seeing Odubu from the perspective he is being seen in this context, it is expedient to say that he has remained a foundation member of his party right from when it was known as Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) to when it became Action Congress (AC), and then to Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) and now Action People’s Congress (APC). Not only that, there is no denying the fact that he has had enough reasons in the past political dispensation in the State to leave the party but he never did.
When etymologically looked at, it is difficult, particularly to political neophytes, on why some politicians are derogatorily called turncoats. As recorded by etymologists, “In the black powder era armies wore coloured coats to show their allegiance and avoid “friendly fire” incidents. During civil and religious wars it was not uncommon for soldiers or complete regiments to change sides. Until they could obtain new uniforms, they would turn their coats inside out, to hide their original colour. Thus people who changed side on an important issue became known as turncoats”.
As politicians are literarily turning their coats, so to say, it is not an exaggeration to say that the lack of ideology across parties has ruined politics in our times, and that the menace of corruption has spread all over. It is, in fact the era of the free market combined with economic strangulation of the weak. Turncoat politicians now dominate the political scenario to ensure that they vie for a political position on the platform of a winning party.
Turncoat politicians are basically disloyal individuals; their loyalty revolves around narrow self-interests. To them, party hopping is a norm, and not an exception. It is for this reason that it is widely believed that “Once a turncoat politician always a turncoat politician”. Somehow, turncoat politicians are associated with incompetence and lack of performance.
Having understood the ignominy that characterizes the collective disposition of turncoat politicians, it is expedient to assert in this context that Odubu is the kind of leader that fits Edo State as governor in the next political dispensation as he is does not have the predilection to criss cross from one political party to the other.
Without any scintilla of hyperbole, it is expedient to opine that there is nothing wrong in people cross-carpeting if they do not find the programmes of their party in consonance with their ideals. Unfortunately, politicians in this part of the world do not cross to other parties on the basis of finding an idyllic philosophy but rather they merely cross carpet for the purpose of contesting on any dais that has the potential of earning them victory. It is against this backdrop that not a few political observers recognize politicians that frequently cross carpet as those that mortgage their consciences as well as seek to pursue their private and selfish interest in the name of political prostitution. This may have stemmed from the mere fact that politicians are poor and desperate to hold public office as a means of accumulating wealth.
In developed democracies, cross carpeting is done on principle, rather than on selfish and personal interest. What we are witnessing in some politicians that joined the political race to Osadebey Avenue is nothing but political prostitution which lacks any iota of morality. With the trend of what can best be described as “Turncoatism”, it appears that politicians cross from one party to the other as the surest way of governing the State.
At this juncture, it suffices to say that Edolites do not need any politician that is desperate of riding on the wings of any available party in the name of cross carpeting in the bid to become the governor of the state. Without the intent of peddling falsehood in this context, the current trend of cross carpeting being enacted in Edo’s political landscape lacks principles, ideology, and the like, as these seeming political prostitutes in the State have jettisoned everything that can be considered to be democratic for greed, self-interest and opportunism.
However, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, who is no doubt a politician extraordinaire, belongs to the school of thought that believes that one does not need to run from pillar to post across several political parties for him or her to win an election. This writer believes the well-respected and taciturn politician shares the notion that political prostitution is a selfish practice among politicians, hence his unalloyed commitment, dedication and loyalty to the APC and its leadership. Without taking the observation about his body language on the issue too far, he seems to believe that the outcome of the game of politics depends upon the politicians, how they will act or behave; and that once their collective conscience and moral force remain alive that there would be no need to be running from one party to another in search of a winning platform as they would be voted for by the people.
At this juncture, it may not be wrong to calculate that given the emerging political equation in the State that the days ahead will see Odubu becoming the next governor in the State as an African proverb has it that “A Patient Dog Eats The Fattest Bone”.
