Edo State and the sloping ‘level playing field’
Unless President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) decides to re-contest in 2019, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would do well to take note of the problems it is experiencing in Edo State and get an idea of what lies ahead for them nationally. Despite his much touted success in building infrastructure, Oshiomhole has failed to build a […]
Unless President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) decides to re-contest in 2019, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would do well to take note of the problems it is experiencing in Edo State and get an idea of what lies ahead for them nationally. Despite his much touted success in building infrastructure, Oshiomhole has failed to build a sound party structure, and ironically accuses People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defectors of causing APC’s problems. No one should be impressed when Oshiomhole speaks of “enemies…who have purportedly joined the APC, but their soul is in the PDP”.
These so called enemies didn’t “purportedly join” the APC, he welcomed them with open arms. The truth is that rather than the time consuming process of building a true party Oshiomhole chose the easy path of increasing party membership by welcoming failed PDP politicians. Basically the same process has been adopted at national level where APC looks more and more like a party of PDP rejects.
Time and again Oshiomhole publicly held up the hands of decamping AGIP (Any Government in Power) politicians as if their lack of principles was something to be celebrated. In a ludicrous inversion of English language he claimed to be providing a “level playing field”, thereby initiating a process by which those who had lost out politically decamped to APC and became leaders over those they met in the party! As a result the three high-profile aspirants who have returned their APC governorship nomination forms are former PDP stalwarts; Senator Osunbor (former PDP Governor), Chris Ogiemwonyi (former PDP Minister of State) and General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) (former PDP governorship candidate).
Although the playing field is supposed to be level, the nomination form cost N5 million and the expression of interest form N0.5million but female aspirants (who have no real chance of winning) are given the forms free of charge! In the sudden realisation that any of these three could decamp back to PDP as happened in Ondo State, Oshiomhole had to find a principled candidate and chose the Chairman of his Economic Management Team, the un-politicised Godwin Obaseki. All the rumpus is because all other aspirants are convinced that the results of the primary have been ‘arranged’ to confirm the Governor;s choice. Indeed one aspirant a former Managing Director of Daar Communications refused to pay for the nomination and expression of interest forms claiming he “stumbled” across a document detailing how the primaries would be conducted in favour of Obaseki.
Allegations of consistent intimidation and harassment of party officials and political appointees to support the Governors choice are rife. Another aspirant, Chris Ogiemwonyi went as far as accusing Obaseki of buying up Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and called on the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to arrest Phillip Shuaibu a current member of the House of Representatives from Edo North, whom he accused of buying the PVCs on Obaseki’s behalf. Although Ogiemwonyi claims he has video evidence to back up his claims, Obaseki denies sponsoring anyone to help him buy PVC’s. Meanwhile all the other aspirants released a statement saying that in desperation to undermine a free and fair process they have been denied access to delegates by a “certain notorious thug”. Consequently there is a real and present danger that the aggrieved will work against the party and APC may lose the State. Edo State is the only “South-South” held by the APC, and the party’s fortunes are not on the upturn. PDP in the state can’t be taken for granted. In the last elections APC lost three State House of Assembly seats and all National Assembly seats. In addition two of the State’s three Senators are PDP.
Rivers State Governor Nyesome Wike has declared that the PDP South-South Governors will ensure all necessary support for PDP members in Edo to reclaim the state. In an attempt to resolve the crisis, the APC national leadership set up a reconciliation committee under the leadership of Prince Oyinlola himself another former PDP Governor! Along with National Chairman Chief Oyegun he too spews out “level playing field mantra”! Despite all their assertions the un-level field is exemplified by the face-off between Governor Oshiomhole and his deputy Dr Pius Odubu whose candidacy he refuses to support. Thugs and assassins are having a field day further sloping the “level playing field”. Astonishingly those accused of the failed assignation attempt on the Deputy Governor are still moving freely escorted by MOPOL despite the fact that policemen were shot during the incident. Unfortunately despite his good works Oshiomhole has gained a reputation for empowering “agberos” in government. In trying to unravel the cause of the poor relationship between him and his deputy it’s pertinent to note that relationships never die a natural death, they are murdered by ego, disrespect, selfishness or disloyalty. Nigerians have been conditioned to think that only politicians can solve their problems, but at some point they must wake up and recognize that it is politicians who create the problems in the first place.