Edo 2020: Why Experience, Integrity, Performance Shouldn’t Be Compromised

Jeffery Igbinigie

The governorship race in Edo State, come year 2020, will be a hot contest given the potpourri of political dynamics in the state right now. To start from the very immediate known factor, is the benchmark for governance and performance already set by the former Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, now National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), is one striking dynamic that may guide the choice of candidate and the pattern of voting by party members and residents of the state.

In electing Obaseki’s successor after the completion of his four-year term at Dennis Osadebey Avenue come November 2020, the issue of who can sustain the legacy and possibly beat the records of the former Governor, will be of interest to many stakeholders.

Also on the table is the case for a full bloodied Benin indigene of the state as governor. The proponents of these lines of argument are very persistent and no doubt pushing the sentiments into the centre of new political awakening. Certainly the Edo people and observers of development in the state are not likely to expect a tea party succession programme next year.

Already the political landscape has begun to witness lots of surprises and heightened expectations as the number of prospective candidates jostling for the office of the governor across political parties, grows by the day. This is a perfect fit in democracy when people are allowed to exercise their constitutional right to seek election and be voted for, within the limit of established regulations.

The implication, therefore, is that political parties should in their preparation for 2020 adhere to the constitutional and electoral guidelines on internal democracy when picking their flag bearers for the governorship election.

But more importantly, two factors are coming out strongly in the entire mix. This border on the role which experience will play on who becomes the next governor and people’s freedom to vote for the right candidate. Since the continuity and sustainability of a lofty height which former Governor Oshiomhole has taken Edo development to, is the main focus of the ruling party (APC) in looking for a replacement for Obaseki, it save to say EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY and PERFORMANCE shouldn’t and cannot be compromised at this time.

Equally weighty is people’s freedom of choice to determine their next governor, right from the party congress/party primaries to the actual election. What this implies is that political parties must allow a free and fair process that will enable the electorate to elect someone they can trust. Such trust is largely based on their experience and interaction with such candidate over a period of time.

At this juncture, permit me to crave the indulgence of you my reader as I appraise one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants, Engr. (Dr) Chris Ogiemwonyi, making him my focus is based on his peculiar candidature vis a vis his kind of person and the perception for which majority of the Edo people have for him,

In light of the above, it is clearly a matter of stating the obvious that the post Obaseki – era which the  Edo people are expecting is where experience and people would be the centre of governance. This is where Engr. (Dr) Chris Ogiemwonyi who has “Commitment with Integrity”,  who has stood with the party despite all odd should not be overlooked.

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