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This is not to detract from the wholesomeness of Oshiomhole’s victory, but the triumphalism of his victory camp might have profited from some introspection. To adopt a footballing parlance, Oshiomhole did not win in regulation time or in open play. His victory was produced by a court fiat.
His reaction to this reality and his penchant to bully his way against the political establishment probably marked a setting of the rot. It also truly announced the epiphany of Oshiomhole as an anti-democrat. All along, Oshiomhole was a political wolf; he barely managed to conceal himself in sheep’s clothing.
Oshiomhole’s current fight with the government of Edo state should surprise no one. As Oshiomhole’s mother herself noted years ago, fighting is his nature. Political dissension is built into his DNA.
Oshiomhole’s Administration in Edo State was midwifed by a fight and Oshiomhole was in the wars till the very last day.
Oshiomhole’s renegade attempts to control the Edo state House Of Assembly remain part of the hateful political mythology in local politics. The PDP in the state assembly outnumbered Oshiomhole’s ACN by 14 to 9. But a desperate Oshiomhole, adopting a fearsome combination of inducement and brigandage, which on occasion involved removing the roof of the house of assembly, managed in the end to change the political complexion of Edo state. But in achieving this, Oshiomhole embarked upon a relentless campaign of political regicide. He destroyed the reputation of most of the icons who had flourished before him, Chief Anenih, the lgbinedions- father and son, Odige-Oyegun and several others. This is an old trick adopted by dictators and authoritarians. Destroy all before you, so that your power might prevail in all summits.
However, Oshiomhole’s two terms in government was mostly theater and political noises. It was also anti-democratic. The House Of Assembly was his favourite killing field. Each time a disagreement loomed, he shopped for a new speaker. He worked with speaker after speaker and no ideological principles primed these changes. Some of his work on infrastructure has been undeniably good. But his showcase project, the 7 kilometer airport road, constructed at a cost of 13billion Naira is a monumental fraud and folly. His storm control effort is till date unworkable and, in fact, leaves substantial parts of the city in flood waters. Of course, the central hospital in Benin, prematurely opened by Oshiomhole to please his political masters, remains in a state of suspended animation. It has been of use to no one although vulgar rumor has said that ghosts may now be wandering in its precincts!
Many people in Edo, including Oshiomhole’s advocates, were quite happy to see him go at the end of his tenure. For all the good he brought to his benighted electorate, several had grown weary of Oshiomhole’s preachments and sermonising; his rhetorical intensity created enemies for his state and is people; his quest to be national chairman of the APC created more quicksand and increased potential for hostility. His campaign against the debonair and highly cerebral Oyegun was turned into a visceral village fight by Oshiomhole’s bitter boasts. Even in victory Oshiomhole appears to have remained without chivalry.
Oshiomhole’s new political might has been deployed to enforce his political will in Edo state. Posing as an evangelist of democracy, he has sought to impede the inauguration of the Edo state House Of Assembly, a function already carried out by Governor Obaseki. The disagreement between Oshiomhole and Obaseki is a curious twist. Consider that the Governor was personally chosen by Oshiomhole and have been political stable mates for some time.
This division in the camp could well have been settled quietly. But that is if enough room is not created for Oshiomhole’s triumphalism. The prize fighter is in town again. It is this inflexible will, which caused the APC under his watch to lose Zamfara, Imo, Rivers, Oyo and Bauchi states in the last general elections. This same spirit now portends real peril for the politics of Edo state. Edo did well to embrace and support Oshiomhole all through his tenure.
Courtesy demands that Oshiomhole returns the complement. When Oshiomhole lost his wife in 2010, Edo and well-wishers mourned with him. He soon replaced Clara with Lara, not a huge philological leap! His search for a Best man too, was a neighborhood trawl and threw up Godwin Obaseki. That man is today the Governor of Edo state.
Adulation of Leaders is a common past time. But I owe none such an obligation. I have lived in Benin for over fifty years and have been privileged to see an assortment of governments, some good, many not so good but all of them have loved veneration.
Obaseki’s declaration that he wishes to be allowed to govern is a sound principle. He has enough challenges to keep him on his toes for a lifetime. Large parts of the capital are under tidal flood; our health facilities are unavailing and education, once a growth industry in these parts, is in unspeakable recess. Yet, to go by partisan hagiography, Edo state has been governed by a long line of messiahs. Surely, Oshiomhole was not a messiah. Governor Obaseki cannot be one. But Oshiomhole who anticipated his capture of power in Edo state with the slogan that no man is God, should give Obaseki a chance to do his best. The Oshiomhole deity may have fallen.
*_Olowu wrote in from Abuja._*
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