A national assignment for Adams Oshiomhole?
By now, Adams Oshiomhole, the two-term governor of Edo state, must be anxiously waiting for the national assignment for which he has been tipped by none other than President Muhammadu Buhari. Before the end of this dispensation, it is very likely that Oshiomhole emerges as chairman of the All Progressives Congress or a minister of […]
By now, Adams Oshiomhole, the two-term governor of Edo state, must be anxiously waiting for the national assignment for which he has been tipped by none other than President Muhammadu Buhari. Before the end of this dispensation, it is very likely that Oshiomhole emerges as chairman of the All Progressives Congress or a minister of the federal republic.
During a visit to commission development projects completed by Oshiomhole, President Buhari was quoted thus: “It will be a pity to waste his energy by retiring him. I hope there will be a higher assignment for him to do more for the nation. I congratulate the governor for his hardwork. Ohiomhole is a hardworking governor. We will need his services in Abuja. Thank you for inviting me …..You deserve a place in history. I hope the APC will look for a place for you because your service for the country is far from over.”
In 2007, Oshiomhole contested for the gubernatorial election of Edo state on the platform of Action Congress (AC) but was massively rigged out by the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which got its candidate, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, declared as the winner. Oshiomhole and his party went challenged the result at the court and in March 2008, the election tribunal declared him winner after nullifying the election of Professor Osunbor. Still, PDP dithered but following the success of his appeal in November of the same year, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ruling party and other opposing forces had nothing to do other than permit the taking of oath of office by Oshiomhole as the governor of Edo state.
Prior to this time and early in life, Oshiomhole had served as a labour union leader when just after his secondary education; he went to Kaduna to work with Arewa Textiles Company in Kaduna. He quickly rose through the ranks and in 1982; Oshiomhole was appointed the General Secretary of the 75,000-strong National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers. In 1999, he was elected the President of Nigeria’s umbrella labour union, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). It was to his credit that in the aftermath of painstaking negotiations, the new administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo granted Nigerian public sector workers a 25% wage increase.
As governor, Oshiomhole never relied only on the briefings he got from his aides. He took time to go round town and speak with the local people in order to hear their opinion about development projects and other state matters. Such was the strength of his populist politics that before the end of his second and final tenure in November 2016, Oshiomhole was able to convince his toughest rivals to join him in the All Progressives Congress (APC). He observed a low profile in terms of protocol; Oshiomhole never rode in long convoys of vehicles, he never used siren and he never beat traffic lights even when his security aides urged him to do so as not to endanger his life.
Once upon a time, he ran into a widow in Benin City hawking by the road side, thereby obstructing the movement of other persons, Oshiomhole was very angry with her, even telling her “to go and die.” The opposition seized on the altercation to cast him as a wicked and uncaring leader and this soured his relations with the ordinary people. Governor Oshiomholle eventually apologised to the woman, appointed her into his government and granted scholarship to her children.
Oshiomhole had always discussed with relish how his politics led to the ‘retirement’ of political God fathers in Edo. The bulk of his criticism was reserved for the grand old ‘fixer’, Mr Tony Anenih, who had been in every government from 1999 till 2015.
Oshiomhole has forever changed the landscape of his home state of Edo. Today, locations such as Isinurho and Ihenya have been transformed into beautiful places. He has built many schools and a big hospital. His efforts to contain the perennial flooding of Benin City were unprecedented.
So, Adams Oshiomhole is no stranger to public service. For this reason, the best appointment President Buhari can give him is that of chairman of the All Progressives Congress. At the moment, the party is unravelling in some parts of the country and considering the squabbles between the South West wing of the party and the national headquarters; read: between Chief Odigie-Oyegun, and national leader, Chief Bola Tinubu, it is possible that the departure of the former will help calm frayed nerves.
In this regard, Oshiomhole can be relied upon to bring his grievance handling negotiating skills to settle increasing misunderstandings among his party men and women. Since some of these schisms involve sitting governors who imagine they must have their way in every decision the party takes at state level, Oshiomhole, having just left the governors circle, can be expected to apply his political sagacity to end the disputes and bring about the much needed unity in APC.
Having spent many years leading mass movements, there is no doubt the smooth talking Oshiomhole is a good manager of people and such experience can be brought to bear on the management of a diverse political party as the APC, in terms of uniting its many tendencies. The President can arrange Oyegun’s departure by finding a plum job for him, like the chairmanship of a Grade A parastatal such as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) or Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC). Oshiomhole will also remain loyal to Buhari without alienating other powerful members of the party.
With such a brilliant trade unionist, an orator, a progressive politician and a patriot as minister or chairman, the APC can expect Adams Oshiomhole to provide synergy between the party and government heading into mid-term of its mandate.