Edo PDP: Reckless Talk About Elephant In The Room

When last Tuesday the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP issued a statement calling on its supporters to cease what it referred to as “reckless and careless utterances,” it immediately rivetted minds to recent squabbles in the party.

The statement issued by party spokesman, Chris Nehikhare came upon recent imputations by the party on the absence of opposition in the state.

Mr. Nehikhare had been particularly dismissive of the opposition in the state, that is, the All Progressives Congress, APC, insinuating now and again that the APC in Edo is rudderless and without followership. He particularly taunted the party during the recent registration exercise with statements about the lack of activity of the registration officers delegated for the exercise.

The PDP spokesman has, however, been careful about focusing issues around his own party, with allegations from stakeholders that the ruling party has itself been hypocritical and looking away at the multitude of issues that have engulfed the party.

It is in that light that stakeholders were at the weekend asking whether the multitude of issues now facing the PDP in Edo was what he referred to as an elephant in his Tuesday statement about careless talks.

He had said:

“The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State is constrained to comment and react on the recent trend of party members including some leaders making utterances that can only be described as reckless and careless especially as the leadership of the party has continued to explore ways to address the Elephant in the Room.”

Saturday Vanguard reports that the statement about stopping careless and reckless talks came in the wake of recent reports alleging disagreements between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

Though the deputy governor has firmly denied the claim and pledged complete loyalty to Obaseki, talks about issues between the two men have failed to cease.

The insinuation is apparently based on unending claims about the deputy governor aspiring for the governorship at the end of the Obaseki administration.

It is a matter that sources in the Edo State chapter of the PDP say is causing nightmares for everybody especially given the fact that Shaibu and the governor came from the APC and took the two positions on the ticket leaving the Old PDP without anything.

That case was worsened by the fact that the Secretary to the Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie like Obaseki and Shaibu also came from the APC.

Saturday Vanguard reports that members of the Old PDP have continued to lament that more than a year after the governor won his second term that the old PDP which helped the governor to victory have still been left in the cold as the governor continues the process of forming his government.

Given the political climate in the state, it is not surprising that the dithering procrastination on the part of the governor in forming a cabinet is giving way to what Mr. Nehikhare and the PDP leadership in the state are now referring to as “careless and reckless utterances.”

While noting that the marriage between the Obaseki group and the old PDP as in every marriage was bound to elicit issues, the PDP spokesman said:

“The party concedes that in any new marriage especially in one that was consummated in the circumstances that gave birth to Our Government, some challenges were bound to arise.  As a responsible political party that believes in Justice, Equality, Fairness and Basic tenets of Democratic processes, various committees and subcommittees have been set up to resolve these issues and proffer workable and acceptable solutions.”

After some dissonance in the party few months ago when the party sought to assert itself against the government, Saturday Vanguard reports that the party led by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi and the government now appear to be working hand in hand despite the delay in the formation of a cabinet.

Mr. Nehikhare’s statement calling on the party to be mindful of the Elephant in the Room is undoubtedly directed at the multitude of issues arising from his party’s apparent incapacity to manage the election victory that was forged by the many interests that converged in an alliance against the immediate past governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Another big Elephant in the room is the matter of Chief Dan Orbih, the immediate past chairman of the party who led the campaign for Obaseki’s election.

While Orbih who is now the national vice-chairman South-South has largely kept away from the issues in the state, time and again, some claiming to be acting on the behalf of the governor have come out to make insinuations against him.

Remarkably, the governor and Orbih have maintained calm suggesting that both men may have kept their relationship despite the suggestions of traducers in the state chapter.

While Orbih has seemingly relocated to play his politics at the national level with insinuations here and there as a prospect for the office of national chairman if the office is zoned to the South, the clear indication of Obaseki’s intentions towards Orbih would emerge in the way he responds if he (Orbih) indicates interest in the office of national chairman.

Nonetheless, it is apparent that the state PDP leadership is determined to more than ever protect the party from the eruptions of the careless and reckless talks by asserting the ascendancy of Obaseki as party leader in the state.

Noting Obaseki’s inclination in solving the problems arising from the Elephant in the Room, Nehikhare wrote:

“The head of Government and leader of the party in the state, H.E Governor Godwin Obaseki has been clear that the constitution of the party must at all times be the guide while an acceptable solution is sought.”

While enjoining party members to focus on the government’s Mega Agenda, he added:
“We must remember at all times that individual interests, important as they are, cannot supersede that of the general interest of the people.

“As a party in government, we must live and operate by example. We must be seen to follow due process, abide by the rule of law and always be conscious of the message we send to the general public especially the voting population at all times. We are answerable to them! 

Mr. Nehikhare was careful to highlight the governor’s successes, which he said people should talk more of instead of the careless and reckless talk about Elephant in the Room.

“We must highlight and boastfully report the successes of our Governor and Government. Issues of interest to a larger proportion of our people, like the employment schemes going on, revamping and resetting of the state civil service, the prompt and uninterrupted payments of salaries and pensions, the Gelegele seaport construction, numerous roads’ construction, AAU resetting, the COVID-19 pandemic successes recorded, the EdoBest program, the successful hosting of the National Sports Festival that has been described as the most successful ever and of course the relatively peaceful and secure state Edo has become. These are the things Edo people are interested in. These are some of the reasons we are in government.”

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