“What if Ize-Iyamu wins the election”? Asked; one of the persons at a newspaper stand by the Ring Road, Benin City. And then, another countered, “No way…Oshiomhole is going to win” But as the argument went on, nobody bothered to make a correction of who the actual contestants were.
There is no gainsaying that Edo State parades some of the most politically active and knowledgeable persons in the entire country. Therefore, it cannot be said that every person present at the newspaper stand were political ignoramuses.
Outside the volubility in diatribes with which Oshiomhole is fond of making attacks against perceived holders of different views, lately in Edo state, there have been actions and daily slanderous shots which lend credence to the accusation that Oshiomhole is aiming to achieve a third term tenure by proxy.
Initially, what appeared as Oshiomhole’s body language in preference for a particular aspirant zoomed overnight, and to everybody’s bewilderment, crystallized into a fierce battle that must materialize against all odds and reasonable interests.
Furthermore, reflecting on the degree of intentional damages done to personal relationships and opposing interests by Oshiomhole should speak volumes about how personal, Godwin Obaseki’s victory in the September 10th 2016 governorship election, is to Oshiomhole.
And just as a reminder, in the process of weeding out all known and imagined obstacles, his (Oshiomhole’s) deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu got scandalized as a very diabolic person, who was even plotting to kill him as a perceived main obstacle to his (Odubu’s) governorship quest.
Meanwhile, no accusations were made about Odubu’s engagement of such diabolic means against the actual political opponents like Godwin Obaseki and others. And after the scandal has been done to Odubu’s personality without a rebuttal to date, Oshiomhole has been carrying Odubu (his proclaimed 'evil deputy') to acclaim the political sainthood of his preferred candidate, Godwin Obaseki at every campaign rally. What a contradiction at the instance of political expediency in appealing to the political sensibilities of Edo people with all manners of diabolic men, thugs and the progenitors of heavy tax burden and the infamous property tax.
On the other hand, if these new dimensions of belligerent or overbearing manner of governance, life threatening accusations, mudslinging, prevention of political opponents from using public places for campaigns, blackmailing with graft accusations and the invitation of EFCC, to mention but a few, can be playfully dispensed with as political expediencies, harmless pranks, or political strategies, then we must begin to appreciate how we have been truncating our civility, economic emancipation and basic freedoms with the acceptance of everything used to portray us as undiscerning, weak and foolish.
As a little boy, I was always moved by the stories of Esagho (the privileged one) and Ahukhor (the ill-treated one). It was always a game of destiny in which Ahukhor – the ill-treated one, ultimately gets divine rescue and final victory. This appears to be the silver lining populating Ize-Iyamu’s support base as most Edo indigenes are getting to despise the never-before witnessed manner fratricidal political activities against opponents.
On a final note, and just before I forget how the man at the newspaper stand concluded his argument, having managed to secure the needed attention from all present, he said, “If Ize-Iyamu wins; he would be administering the state as a governor, who does not have any political godfather but a recourse to his already well articulated ideas in the pamphlet, titled the SIMPLE AGENDA; whereas, his opponents, we all know their source of power and control.
He also advised the audience to disabuse their minds from the antics of politicians ‘giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. He talked about who is more of Igbinedion’s stooge? As a result, he made us to judge between who Igbinedion used his money with his political or governorship influence to assist in becoming a governor of the state; and the other, who was only appointed as the Secretary to the State when the said secretary was available and qualified to also have been assisted in becoming the governor.
He harped on the nature of man and his proclivity to ingratitude. He specifically recalled that if a politician could make very weighty accusations about his well-known loyal or servile deputy for over 7 years, just because of political gains; then such a person should be expected to project more damning imaginations about others especially now that it is becoming clearer that Edo state is aiming to become the first state in the federation to succeed with a third term experimental agenda by default or deceit.
But as a busy man, it was time for other issues. And so, I left feeling confused about whether all I heard was not a narrative of a rebranded form of godfatherism, equipped with vicious elements and acerbic scandalmongers for all manners of onslaught. Even more, I was miffed by the contemplation of the state continuing to wallow in mass unemployment and snuffed out economic life. I even got crazier with the mundane or stereotyped image that Edo state has been politically framed into, and wondered if our people would truly allow a third term tenure, pompously tagged “continuity” to happen when the road ahead is signposting ‘route to another authoritative redundancy’.

Osohomole ends up in jail while iara goes back to her daytime job.

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Even in Ize-Iyamu's dreams, he cannot win Edo.

We have this locked down.

His biggest mistake was making the election a referendum on Oshiomhole. He should have concentrated on his main opponent. Now Obaseki's candidacy is not only on the line but Oshiomhole's legacy as well.

Nigerian politicians have shown poor judgement on strategy during elections.

sleekAfonja:
Osohomole ends up in jail while iara goes back to her daytime job.

Never gonna happen. Keep wetting your boxers

PDP is Edo n Edo is PDP

No need for arguments. APC got this.

2016 is for Hillary and Godwin Obaseki.