EDO STATE POLITICS: A TALE OF TWO GODSONS

By Austen Akhagbeme

Aug 6, 2023

One of the two human legacies Comrade Adams Oshiomhole left behind on the shores of time as regards the politics of Edo State was the tutelage and opportunity he gave to these two political gladiators: Godwin Obaseki, the esteemed incumbent governor of Edo State and his estranged deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

Against all odds, Oshiomhole nurtured and stood firmly for the governorship candidature of Godwin Obaseki, who was part of the engine room of his dazzling governmental apparachik of yore.

He ignored every noisy and noiseless warning from traditional and political quarters against choosing an unknown but intelligent technocrat against the retinue of politically sagacious, experienced and loyal opponents, jostling to be governor of Edo state at that auspicious time.

His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, goodly won the prime seat and became the successor to Adam Oshiomhole and his alluring and enduring legacy of progress and development witnessed in Edo state in a spate of eight unforgettable years.

But this Godfather and Godson relationship was soon to be short-lived as events later showed and everyone parted ways, amidst emotional bruises inflicted on Oshiomhole and whatever remains of his talismanic mien as of then. It was so severe that Obaseki had to jump ship to the opposition to continue the war against his erstwhile benefactor and his party. He won. And Oshiomhole lost.

Comrade Philip Shaibu played the Shakespearean Brutus and masterminded the pulling of the local constituency rug under Oshiomhole's feet and got him 'impeached' at the ward level from a political party in which he was the national Chairman. Up until now, the former comrade governor never recovered from it, yet, he soldiered on.

The recent _roforofo_ fight between the two Godsons of the erstwhile comrade governor is bringing back bad memories of how badly bitten a finger that once fed them felt and how ruthless the law of retributive justice can be.

For eight years at the state House of Assembly and eighteen months at the lower chambers of the national assembly up until Comrade Shaibu became the Deputy Governor, he enjoyed the goodwill and support of Adams Oshiomhole as a Godson.

Today, things have fallen apart for the two Godsons such that one is in search of respite from the law courts to remain relevant while the other is desperately in search of a quicker way to punish an "erring" deputy.

It is most unfortunate that things are turning out like this for Shaibu. Against Oshiomhole, he chose to stand loyal to Obaseki. But now the dangerous Obaseki is baring his poisonous fangs. Now, who is having the last laugh?