APC’s Infantile Antics To Return The Godfathers, Starve Edo

When critics of the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, raise the issue of servicing politicians or in more clear terms the godfathers, what usually comes to mind are the words of Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher in history, who said in Matthew 6:24 that “No man can serve two masters.”

He further explained that “for either he will hate the one and he will love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and mammon.”

In Nigeria’s current political system, most elected political leaders struggle with divided loyalties, torn between serving the interest of the people and those of their political benefactors, but in the long run, one suffers, and in most cases the former.

I watched with disdain and utmost disappointment the most recent embarrassing outing of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the camera-shy and ineloquent candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wherein he promised to release the State’s resources to political leaders in exchange for their support to clinch the governorship seat.

Stuttering and muttering his words after several efforts to get his handlers to polish him up to publicly address the people, Sen. Okpebholo said he would end the ‘suffering’ of political leaders under Godwin Obaseki by granting them unfettered access to the people’s purse, while neglecting the State’s development and short-changing the majority of Edo people. 

In Sen. Okpebholo words, “Whenever I talk to myself, I say to myself, I find myself in the circle of leadership. People think it is only Chief Anenih I was close to. No, I was close to Solomon Lar. I grew up in Jos. I saw how leaders suffered after putting someone in an office just like what we are suffering here. Okah you’re suffering it in the hands of Obaseki. This will not repeat itself in my time because this is something that I see leaders, by the time they go inside their bedroom, they start crying. They have suffered, they have worked; we have done everything to make sure this person is there and he has forgotten us.

“I want to tell you one small story. When who becomes the senate president was very hot. Some people say come here, come here and I say no, my leader is not around. Who is your leader and I say it is Adams Oshiomhole. When he come he will tell me the direction to go. Now what happened? When he came, I follow his foot step. I followed him and he took me to where I should go.”

So, in Sen. Okpebholo’s warped thinking, the best reward system for his political benefactors is to end their ‘suffering’ by sharing the patrimony and resources of Edo State amongst these predatory few as against prioritizing the development of the State?

No gainsaying, one must suffer or take a back seat because when politicians are well ‘serviced’ and therefore are very happy, public services tend to suffer. This is why it is nonsensical for anyone to suggest that a governor remains loyal to non-state actors who have allowed their selfish interests to supersede those of the people.

This is why the supposed ‘political leaders’ are said to be angry with Governor Obaseki. He has in the last seven and half years prioritized the people and the development of the State, investing the State’s resources to improving the lives of the people, against the interest of these selfish few, some of whom have been in the corridors of power for decades, and have aggrandized more than enough wealth to last ten lifetimes.

It’s undeniable. Obaseki comes off today as the governor who has devoted much more resources to physical infrastructure upgrade in the history of the state so much so that even critics are flummoxed by the gale of projects that have been completed or ongoing in the State. 

From the High Court Complex to the newly built Adams Oshiomhole Labour House, to the State Secretariat Complex, to the Edo Agricultural Hub to the Edo Education Hub, Iyaro, to the Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Iguoriakhi to the Edo State Colleges of Education campuses in Abudu, Igueben and Afuze, among others, the investment in infrastructure has been phenomenal. Not to mention the over 700km of roads that have constructed by this administration .

No one can doubt his development strides in education, healthcare, technology, agriculture, entertainment and culture, tourism, among others. In all of these, Edo people are the greatest beneficiaries of his progressive governance and I am confident that they will not give room to a ten-step backward movement.

The handwriting is clear, APC and its governorship candidate do not mean well for the people of Edo State. Their pitch is clearly about installing a government that can properly carry their politicians, lions and tigers along; their reasoning might be that skilled technocrats have too many ideas of what to do for the public and are difficult to rein in or remotely manipulate. Or why else would APC produce Sen. Okpebholo as its candidate whose sing-song is, I will Share the money… he hasn’t mentioned one single plan for Edo state and her people!

Edo people must beware of their evil antics to return the godfathers through the backdoor and starve the people of the development that has been witnessed under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Edo people must rally round the party, PDP, and its candidate that has the interests of the people at heart; the options are stark in their contrasts. Only Barr. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, can sustain the momentum that Edo people are enjoying now. Only Barr. Asue Ighodalo, The Man Wey Sabi, can continue to implement the newly announced minimum wage of N70,000 as he is the only candidate that has shown capacity and commitment.

I have said it repeatedly that governance is a serious business. My covenant with Edo people is to help enthrone a governor that is transparent, financially prudent and puts Edo people first.

Sen. Monday Okpebholo and APC are regrouping to relegate public priorities and service politicians. 

They want to come and share the gala, they must be Stopped! 

Chris Osa Nehikhare is the Hon. Commissioner for Communication and Orientation

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