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?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corruption allegation case: Federal High Court orders service of summons on Gov Obaseki

Image
------ Adjourns case to March 19 By Editor March 6, 2024     The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, gave an order for the Attorney General of Edo State, Oluwole Uzzi, to receive the court originating processes on behalf of the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki in a corruption-related caze. The case with suit number FHC/Abj/CS/./2023 was filed by Adaze Andrew Emwanta, Esq., against the Inspector General of Police, Obaseki and there others. DailyMonitorngr recall that in August 2023, Obaseki had through his lawyers written to Emwanta, the former commissioner of Information and Orientation to the governor that he was going to bring civil and criminal charges against him if he did not do a retraction of a media interview on AiT Democracy Today TV programme. Dailymonitorngr reports that in the interview, Governor Obaseki said  the his former aide alleged that he had interest in Azura power plant. Obaseki’s lawyers in their letter to Emwanta made several deduction
Read more

Edo Guber 2024: Come home to liberate us, group appeals to Federal Permanent Secretary

Image
Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe By Editor Dec 19, 2023 A group under the aegis of  Concerned Edo Citizens Forum (CECF) has called on Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, to the join the race for the 2024  governorship election in the State to liberate it from the shackles of oppressive leaders. Dailymonitorngr reports that the group noted that the state had over the years been governed by oppressive leaders. The group at a press briefing in Benin City on Tuesday appealed to the Permanent Secretary to accept the patriotic call to serve father land. Addressing the press, the state Coordinator of the group, Endurance Dirisu and the Director, Publicity and Mobilization,  Comrade Felix Osas Osagie, noted Afolabi Umakhihe has the requisite criteria and also rich in experience  in public sectors that can galvanize the state to a greater height. Dirisu who described the permanent secretary as a home boy, noted t
Read more

Fight insecurity, high cost of living, not Shaibu's impeachment

Image
By Editor March 6, 2024 The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in Edo state has advised Governor Godwin Obaseki to channel his energy to fight insecurity and high cost of living in the state instead of planning impeachment against his deputy, Philip Shaibu. Dailymonitorngr reports, the group gave the advice at its emergency congress held in Benin City on Tuesday. A statement signed by Dr Samson Isibor, chairman and Barrister John Isidhaome, Secretary respectively was made available to newsmen. "Edo State has been at a standstill for the past 8 years without any physical development. Edo State needs peace to progress.  "He should face the insecurity in Edo State where Fulani headsmen have taken over  almost all our forest kidnapping on daily basis. "Edo state is one of the states in Nigeria with the high cost of living which is making life unbearable for the masses. Imagine a sachet of water being sold for N5O. The cost of food items in Edo State
Read more