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_By John Ewah_
Whether we refer to the Great Rite of the Wiccans or the Grand Rite of the Essex witches, one thing is certain, there is an evil currently at work in Edo PDP, an evil that does not sleep, now manifesting in human forms to distabilise the very fabric and the new pedestal upon which Edo PDP is currently revving to take flight.
For the first time in over 12 years of opposition, the PDP has successfully taken hold of power in Edo State through the instrumentality and candidacy of Governor Godwin Obaseki, whose giant strides across all sectors of the State endeared the populace to him that they fought together with him in dethroning a man who wanted to hold the State by the jugular. Today PDP is gladly in power but some who had profited immensely by being in the opposition cannot allow the party thrive peacefully since the centre of attention in the party has now shifted from them to the Governor.
Dan Orbih, many have considered, to be the centrifugal force around which every trouble in Edo PDP today rotates; the central character in the new discordant political movie in Edo PDP; the sole proprietor of avarice, solipsism and megalomania, notorious for his money-bag politics for which he has been credited as an entrepreneur of opposition politics; a political system where you profit immensely in perpetual loss and hence rely on remaining at the opposition to accumulate wealth, at the expense of the party's electoral victory.
Many have noted that Dan Orbih is allergic to electoral victories. Some even say he has phobia for winning. A few have classified him as a merchant who trades in losses; an artist who paints in defeat, using PDP as his canvas. In all his enterprises, he has adopted low cunning in deceiving his gullible followers; a subtle device which he has erroneously mistaken for wisdom.
This same man today has become the sole figure fanning the embers of discord between two proud sons of Edo South who have thrown their hat into the ring in the forth coming General Election in the country for the senatorial bid to represent the good people of Edo South in the Nigerian Senate.
The question that Edo people, especially our Edo South brothers must now answer, is whether the decision on who represents the senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate should be made by an avaricious figure from Ogbona, who rather than attempt to wrestle power from Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who is currently vying for the senatorial position under the APC, in the same Edo North senatorial district where Dan Orbih hails; should that decision be made by this same character or should it be made by the Benins themselves.
Who made Dan Orbih judge and jury? He has almost succeeded in placing two renowned Edo sons at loggerheads, talking about the persons of Senator Matthew Urhoghide and Rt. Hon. Ogbeide Ihama. What stops Senator Urhoghide from continuing his legislative duties in the Nigerian Senate while Ogbeide Ihama continues his legislative duties at the Federal House of Representative? A political calculation that would make both legislators ranking officers at the upper and lower chambers respectively?
Should Ogbeide Ihama succeed in his senatorial bid, he would be unable to occupy any position of relevance therein, since that would be his first time in the senate. Senator Matthew Urhoghide on the other hand has served two terms already in the Senate; this creates a unique opportunity for him as a ranking member of the Nigerian senate, making him qualified for very significant positions in the House; positions such as a Senate Leader, Deputy Senate President or even Senate President. Beyond mere rhetorics; anyone conversant with the laws regarding leadership positions at the National Assembly understands this.
Due to gullibility and lack of enlightenment however, we have heard some selfish and partisan chants such as the 'No to Third Term' anthem, as if Senators are subject to the two-term system found in executive positions in the country. The business of lawmaking worldwide relies on experience, for nothing but experience could have made a Senate President like David Mark, invoke the doctrine of Necessity to enable the swearing-in of President Goodluck Jonathan as acting President when the nation was almost hijacked by the powers that be, to form a shadow Government, during the ill-health days of Late President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua.
The David Marks of this world abound in various Parliaments and legislative bodies world over. Is it not preferable to have two sons of Edo South suitable for leadership positions at both chambers of the National Assembly? Ogbeide Ihama would definitely not be returning to the House of Representatives as a greenhorn, should he decide to retrace his steps, but as one with adequate experience to earn him relevant positions at the lower chamber, possibly a Deputy Speaker or House Leader. Rt. Hon. Ogbeide Ihama must now be willing to heed common sense, free himself from the clutches and firm grip of Dan Orbih, and continue his legislative bid, not for the senatorial position but for the membership position of the House of Representatives where he already has good chances.
Must we reduce the choice between two sons of Edo South to a moral choice because of Dan Orbih? It is preferable to have two Edo sons at the upper and lower chambers, than allow both vie for the same senatorial position, with one of them definitely losing out. That would be a great loss to Edo South considering the amount of federal interventions capable of being attracted to their respective constituencies, should they eventually emerge leaders at the legislative chambers. The higher one's position at the National Assembly, the higher one's ability to attract federal presence and investments to one's constituency.
The godfatherism which Dan Orbih is trying to reinstate was the exact enemy the people of Edo State defeated in the last Governorship election. We cannot have fought to dethrone Comrade Adams Oshiomhole only to enthrone another godfather in the person of Dan Orbih. All who partook in that fight must now reassemble to nip this trend trying to raise its ugly head again in the bud. The good people of Edo South must now decide, because in the long run, the people bear the ultimate brunt of the losses.
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