Edo 2016: Washing dirty linen in public

Anyone listening to the thoroughly obnoxious Donald Trump campaigning for the office of US president would recognize a lot of similarities between his modus operandi and the campaign strategies of the major contestants in the 2016 Edo State election campaign. In both cases electioneering has reached an all-time low.  Trump’s concentration on abusing his opponent […]

Anyone listening to the thoroughly obnoxious Donald Trump campaigning for the office of US president would recognize a lot of similarities between his modus operandi and the campaign strategies of the major contestants in the 2016 Edo State election campaign. In both cases electioneering has reached an all-time low.  Trump’s concentration on abusing his opponent rather than articulating a manifesto is classic Nigerian style political campaigning. Regrettably just like in the US, the Edo electorate is faced with making a choice based upon which of the candidates is the least objectionable and least unpopular. In one corner is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate. The PDP is currently in a leadership crisis split between the Ahmed Markafi and Ali Modu Sheriff factions. Relatively little has been heard of the Sheriff factional candidate in Edo State Matthew Iduoriyekemwen who as an NDDC Commissioner empowered mainly himself.
The bulk of PDP supporters are lining up behind the Markafi factional candidate Pastor Ize Iyamu who carries the burden of being both Chief of Staff to the Governor and Secretary to State Government (SSG) in Lucky Igbinedion’s monstrously corrupt and indolent PDP administration. As far as Ize Iyamu is concerned no one should hold him responsible for Igbinedion’s failure. In the other corner is the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate Godwin Obaseki who in addition to being an un-inspiring and dull campaigner carries the burden of being unknown in Edo state politics. The Obaseki family are traditionally despised in Benin Royal Palace circles as betrayers who long before Godwin was born, caused the exile of the then Oba Ovonramwen. Perhaps the one major difference between the US elections and those in Edo State is that in the US the major candidates are at least speaking for themselves. In Edo while Ize Iyamu speaks for himself there is the quite absurd spectacle of the sitting governor speaking more than his candidate Obaseki.
During the APC campaign flag off in Auchi, Governor Adams Oshiomhole spoke eloquently of his achievements for over 30 minutes while Godwin Obaseki spoke for just over 5 minutes and was unable to point to a single thing he has done for Edo State or the Benin people. This disproportionate focus on Oshiomhole has been repeated in practically every APC campaign venue and has brought PDP candidate Ize Iyamu into direct conflict with the Governor. Expectedly insults have been flowing freely. The PDP claim that Oshiomhole’s anointing of Obaseki is in return for an undisclosed favour done for him by Aliko Dangote the latter’s employer. They also claim that Obaseki never graduated from Columbia Univeristy, was forced to resign from Afrivest, and collected commission on the 30 Billion Naira loan arranged for Edo State. Not finished they also publicised a document purporting to show that as Chairman of Oshiomhole’s Economic Management Team Obaseki did not work for Edo State “free of charge” because someone collected expenses running into millions for his office. In retaliation Oshiomhole claimed that Ize Iyamu was rusticated from the University of Benin for involvement in cult activities and pouring acid on a fellow student, and that as a result he wasn’t allowed to attend law school and shouldn’t be referred to as a Barrister. In a show of complete bombast during a live Channels TV broadcast Oshiomhole declared that he was setting his immunity aside in order to give anyone opportunity to take him to court for making these accusations publicly.
In a response full of umbrage the media unit of the PDP’s campaign described Oshiomhole as a “cheap, unintelligent liar”. According to them Ize Iyamu graduated from University of Benin in 1985/86 session, proceeded to law school and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. The PDP claim that it is Oshiomhole who is unqualified and who used an affidavit rather than any copy of result as evidence that he attended primary school. Although they also allege that Oshiomhole who has never engaged in business is now stupendously rich and the owner of a sprawling billion naira estate in his village, surprisingly they have not taken him up on his offer to sue him in a Court of Law!
The unbecoming descent into abuse in the Edo State election campaign is a re-affirmation of the pidgin-english adage that “na who know man dey kill am”! Ize Iyamu was part and parcel of the APC administration. Indeed he was chairman of Oshiomhole’s re-election campaign. Videos of him praising Oshiomhole to high heavens during the 2012 elections are being aired on TV and the social media. In a tit for tat reply PDP have circulated copies of a letter written to Ize Iyamu by Oshiomhole praising his massive contributions to development in the State. From the heights of this cosy rapport their relationship has sunk to new lows. Unfortunately for Edo State Oshiomhole and Ize Iyamu know each other well and motivated by ego, disrespect, selfishness and disloyalty the have instead of campaigning decided to wash their dirty linen in public.