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The time is getting close when Edo people would repeat their 2007 feat by re-electing their beloved governor and put a final nail on the casket of godfatherism in the state. Come July 14, Edo people would finally dismantle the old-fashioned rigging machines of the godfathers. That day, Edo voters would put a permanent end to ethno-religious politics as all would speak with one loud voice in support of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.
Interestingly, the so-called Edo PDP primaries has come and gone and the abracadabra has shown that the Uromi godfather has gone digital in rigging. Concerned Women and Youths of Edo PDP in an advertisement in Vanguard of March 1, have rubbished the charade which produced General Charles Arhiavbere as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP. The youths noted among others that “despite the promises that the leadership of our party in the state led by Chief Dan Orbih made to ensure a free and fair primary but reverse was the case as we experienced. The situation is even more shocking that it happened in the glaring eyes of the National Leader, Chief Tony Anenih... Having investigated what went wrong in the PDP governorship primary, we discovered that the godfather again instructed his stooges to ensure that Esan delegates voted against their own sons, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor and Barr. Kenneth Imasuagbon... We want to warn that this injustice will be fought with the last drop of our blood.”
The youth maintained that Imasuagbon or Iduoriyekemwen would have been better candidates if not for the shameless exchange of cash for accreditation cards by the party leadership.
In the same vein, Hon. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen Campaign Organisation in a statement published in the Vanguard of February 29 and signed by its Director General, Jarret Tenebe, noted; “ By your votes, you defied the intimidations and threats from the leadership of the party that had passed strict directives to you to vote for a choice aspirant as you were handed delegate tags and … money in the houses of elected party officials of Edo State PDP instead of the state secretariat where such delegates tags ought to have been collected.”
Barrister Kenneth Imasuagbon on his part, rejected the gubernatorial primary and described it as a “scientific and environmental rigging, tailored by the leadership of the party, screwed by the leadership of the party under the direction of Chief Dan Osi Orbih and it is not acceptable.”
All these point to one fact: General Charles Airhiavbere emerged from a tainted primary. It shows the desperation within the PDP. It shows that the old pussy cat, like the leopard, will never change its spots. He is not even known in Edo State and it is obvious for the signals on ground that Oshiomhole would beat Airhiavbere silly come July 14.
One would have discountenanced Ihimekpen’s vituperations published in the Sunday Vanguard of February 19, but for the naked lies, padded tales and boot - licking all to attract crumbs from Charles Airhiavbere’s table.
He started his rejoinder,” Re: Airhiavbere’s logic and ACN’s theory of Illogicalities” with an impossible claim. Can Airhiavbere withstand Oshiomhole to an election in Edo State? Airhiavbere should first test his popularity by contesting for the councillorship of his ward. I doubt if he can win his ward in a free and fair contest. In spite of the threats to the delegates to vote for him, from the cries within, it was obvious from the results of the Edo PDP charade that Imasuagbon defeated Airhiavbere in Egor, Ikpoba Okha, Ovia North East and Uhumwode Local Government Areas. Oshimhole is a man loaded with ideas on how to govern people, he does not need to dub a retired Army General’s manifesto to make his mark in government.
But more importantly, Okharedia Ihimekpen should stop laying claims to free education, free health care and infrastructural development as the original idea of General Charles Airhiavbere and accuse anyone implementing the programmes as having plagiarized Airhiavbere’s manifesto. Ihimekpen may be a small boy when Chief Obafemi Awololo introduced free education in Western region but ought to have been an adult when Prof. Ambrose Alli introduced free education and free health care in the defunct Bendel State. Why the folly of attributing originality of these policies to General Airhiavbere? Nigerians are reading these lies that Ihimekpen and his ex-soldier friend bandy.
Again, the so-called Airhiavbere campaign organisation did not raise any issue that deserve the response of people who are busy developing Edo State. If Oshiomhole has implemented all what Airhiavbere is calling his covenant with Edo people, then he does not have any manifesto and as such no need to contest. He simply just has to go and sit down and watch the people’s Governor develop the state. It is obvious he has no superior idea from what Oshiomhole is doing in the state, so he should go and play golf.
Again, one is pleased to note that Ihimekpen could see one area that Oshiomhole has performed well. He says it’s the environmental sector. Thank God for that realization. In all his previous diatribes against the Governor, Ihimekpen never acknowledged that Oshiomhole did well in any sector. That is how blind the man is. When all Edos are pleading with Oshiomhole to continue his good works after July 14, some urchins are hiding in one corner, out of sheer envy that they are not the ones in power talking nonsense.
The busy body again says, “Edo Line, Bendel Breweries, Edo Cement Factory, Ewu Flour Mill, which the Oshiomhole administration inherited are all grounded”. The question is: what state did Oshiomhole inherit these institutions? Were they operating optimally from the Oserhiemen Osunbor interregnum?
What Oshiomhole is doing is putting the tax payer’s money into good use for them. Anywhere you go in Edo, Oshiomhole’s hand is working and the people are seeing it and appreciating it. PDP is spending money on Billboards, newspaper advertisements, trying to launder their battered image but Oshiomhole’s work is speaking for him. Anywhere in the world, taxes, rates and rents are used for development. Any aspirant who mean well will not deceive the people that he will abolish tax as Airhiavbere is doing through Ihimekpen. All those who pay taxes and school fees are having a feel of what their money is being collected to do.
July 14 is only a few months from now. Airhiavbere and Ihimekpen will soon know the difference between a popular candidate and the one handpicked by a few godfathers.
• Owegie is the Publicity Secretary of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Edo State.
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