Dr. Pius Odubu
By Isaac Asabor
There is no denying the fact that the joining of the 2016 governorship race in Edo State by the then Chairman of the Economic Team of the Edo State government, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who is now the incumbent governor in the State changed the calculations within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the poll. The reason for the foregoing line of thinking becomes glaring when viewed from the fact that his chances of picking the ticket then was visibly high as the favor which the then Governor of the State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had for him was not hidden. It was an open secret that he had so much confidence and trusts in him ostensibly for being called the “Engine Room” of the regime, and was equally seen at the time as a technocrat.
However, before Obaseki, joined the race, other aspirants, such as Dr. Pius Odubu who was then the deputy governor, a former governor, Prof.Osarhiemen Osunbor; the then Commissioner for Works, Barr.Osarodion Ogie, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere; a former Minister of State, Works, Dr. Chris Ogienmwonyi; and educationist, Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon were all warming up for the expected primary election when Obaseki was literarily hand-picked to the detriment of their collective aspiration. Without any iota of exaggeration, even anyone that is apolitical in nature can conclude in his or her view that what happened in Edo 2016 was an “undemocratic democratic practice”.
Many had thought; rightly or wrongly, that the contest was going to be between the aforementioned leaders who were (and still) individually credible and qualified to excellently govern the State. It is expedient to say that the entry of the incumbent governor to the race towards the end of November 2015 was unexpected by many political observers, including this writer.
Customarily, Obaseki’s emergence would not have been a problem to the foregoing political leaders as they were (and still) imbued with the spirit of sportsmanship but, with the unfeigned support being accorded to Obaseki by the then Governor, they were bound to worry. That Obaseki was the choice in 2016 was stale news to virtually all journalists and all political enthusiasts. Worrisomely at the time was that Oshiomhole was in good rapport with the other candidates at the time..
At this juncture, any discerning reader of this piece would be compelled to ask, “Was it a mistake by bringing Mr. Obaseki to join the race in 2016? The answer to this question can be found in the Guardian edition of July 14, 2019 where Barrister Henry Idahagbon in an interview titled “Idahagbon: Oshiomhole didn’t get it right on choice of Obaseki”.
For the sake of clarity, it is expedient I extract some portions of the interview to lay credence to some views expressed herein.
To this end, it suffices to say that the highly respected politician and legal luminary was asked, “Prior to 2016 gubernatorial polls, you had a friendly relationship with Mr. Godwin Obaseki. You even endorsed him for the governorship position. What triggered your sudden disaffection?
He answered, “Everybody worked for him, because of the enormous goodwill Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had. So, this man does not have the justification, whether moral or otherwise, to call politicians thieves or liars, because he didn’t give money to anybody and nobody expected money from him. All we expected was a continuation of Oshiomhole’s good work in terms of human and infrastructural development.
“Obaseki used to join us every afternoon and evening to eat lunch and dinner with Comrade Oshiomhole in his house, together with many politicians. I want to ask him today: how many politicians join him to eat lunch and dinner in his house since he became governor? From what we hear, those who join him to eat lunch and dinner are politicians from Lagos and Rivers States, among others.
“I took Obaseki and his very good friend, Dr. Henry Nzekwu to meet Senator Daisy Danjuma in Lagos. Obaseki didn’t know Senator Danjuma. All these happened just three years ago”.
Without buttressing further from the foregoing fact, it is obvious from the interview that his emergence was a mistake in the collective view of the people, particularly in that of the members of the Edo People’s Movement (EPM).
However, Idahagbon said the mistake would be corrected in 2020. But alas! As many Edolites; both at home and in the diaspora were exuding confidence that what happened in 2016 will not repeat itself the entry of Pastor Osaze Ize-Iyamu to the APC from the People Democratic Party (PDP) and his indication to join the gubernatorial race whittled down the confidence.
It can be bluntly said in this nexus that the mistake made in 2016 is far from being corrected as a tumultuous crowd in mid-December 2019 gathered at the residence of the former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and thousands of his supporters who were formally received into the APC.
There is no denying the fact that his joining the APC is not undemocratic per se but going by headlines trending in the media as at the time of writing this opinion article, it is obvious that there is every reason for citizens of the State that wish Edo well to be worried as his joining the race is capable of usurping the position of loyal and faithful members of the party who have been working for the betterment of the party all these years without resorting to junketing from one party to the other as he has done.
Some of the headlines read as follow: “Edo 2020: Deadlock derails Ize-Iyamu’s emergence as his …”, “Edo 2020: Ize-Iyamu alleges plot to distabilise aspirant, vilify”, “Edo 2020: Guber Aspirants Decry Plot to Destabilise APC …” and Edo 2020: APC aspirants’ shadow primary postponed …” among other headlines that suggest that the mistake made in 2016 is bound to repeat itself.
The imbroglio notwithstanding, there is hope as stakeholders still have enough time to allow the principle of equity, justice and fairness to prevail at every stage of deciding and unanimously agreeing on who should be the consensus candidate.
