As Edo Votes In A New Governor Next Saturday!!!

[Justin Nnamdi]

Next Saturday, the intrigue and drama playing out in Edo State over whom becomes its next governor would be put to rest.

The  Edo State election is going down in history books as the most celebrated, controversial, tension-soaked  and the bloodiest  governorship poll in the country. For the first time in the history of governorship election in Nigeria a public radio and television debate  was organized for all the candidates; and for the first time also, seven commissioners  of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), would be conducting the election, according to INEC chairman Professor Attahiru Jega.

Seven political parties are expected to participate in the election but the most prominent party remain the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN]  and the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].

Beyond the parties, there seems to be two major contenders for the Edo government house popularly referred to as Osadebe House, named after the first Administrator of the old Mid West Region made up of Edo and Delta states, Chief Dennis Osadebe.

The two major contenders in the impending battle are the incumbent governor, Comrade Adams  Oshiomhole  and the candidate of the PDP, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd).

Apart from these two characters, it is also an enlarged contention between two major power blocs in the state - Oshiomhole and the former Chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP Chief Tony Anenih. Both men are struggling on who is the real and authentic godfather in the state.

Both camps have adopted strategies to outdo the other in order to win the election.

Governor Oshiomhole has initially relied on his achievements in office to win the election. Chairman of ACN  in Edo State, Chief Thomas Okosun said Oshiomhole will rely on his achievements to win the election. The governor himself had told the people severally  to ask the PDP to tell them what they had done when they were in government  for ten years. The governor said when given another tenure, he will complete all on- going projects in the state.

But the chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih said if Oshiomhole relies on his achievements in office, the PDP will win the elections. He said  there is no achievements on ground to warrant his re-election.

The PDP's governorship candidate, General Airhiavbere has promised to declare state of emergency on security, education and unemployment if elected as the governor of the state in July.

He said an average of seven people are either kidnapped or assassinated   monthly, attributing it to unemployment.

He said to tackle the malaise, his administration will embark on massive youth employment, women empowerment and provide quality and standard education for the people of the state.

He promised that the youth employment will focus more on agriculture, stressing that the state has over 70 per cent arable land that are still left undeveloped.

General Airhiavbere who said his coming to the PDP has made it more progressive, more purposeful and now, more people- oriented.

He said his administration will be all-inclusive as according to him, the people of the state will be carried along irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation.

Both the PDP and   ACN had also gone outside the state to seek support to enable them win. The PDP is relying on its federal might and has brought President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and the party's  National Chairman, Bamaga Tukur to campaign for it.

The organised labour movement also  held  their own  rally for   Oshiomhole for his second term bid to enable him complete the projects he has started.

Congress president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar said at a rally organized by the Youth Wing of organized labour in Benin recently that the labour movement is proud of Oshiomhole's performance in three and  half years in Government House.

According to the NLC President, "we will rally round Oshiomhole because he is not an ordinary politician who diverts the money of the state for personal reasons, but rather has proved that union leaders can be good administrators. We have every right to rally round him, because he has not failed us, we are proud of him  and   will match our words with action," he noted

According to him, the PDP set up a 49-member team to ensure victory for their candidate, but the entire workers in the state would rally round Oshiomhole.

Knowing what the PDP is up against, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief (Dr.) Osawaru Igbinedion   recently called on ward leaders and grassroot members of the party not to leave campaign for its governorship candidate in the hands of the top leadership alone.

"The truth is that the PDP is in the opposition trying to unseat an incumbent governor, it's a battle that must be fought by all and sundry to ensure the victory of the party," he noted.

He said as far as the election is concerned, they have to take the bull by the horn to reclaim the seat of power in the state.

However, Airhiavbere has gotten more supporters in their on-going 'community to community' campaign across the Edo South Senatorial District of the state.

The campaign train led by the party's state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih has visited over 50 communities with unprecedented support from residents who have been neglected for years.

Last week, the National Deputy Chairman of PDP, Dr. Sam Jaja led a delegation to Edo State on a fact finding mission. Among their findings was that the party strongly holds sway in the state and it is capable of coasting to victory in the July 14 gubernatorial poll.

Jaja and his 'men' who took time to also participate in the rural campaigns described as 'unprecedented' the number of people who came out in their number to drum support "for our candidate, Gen. Airhiavbere."

"Every community we visited we didn't see any other candidate's posters other than our candidate, it's an indication of wide acceptance by the people."

On why the PDP has adopted the 'community to community' campaign, Airhiavbere said over 70 percent of rural communities in the state have not felt government impact, adding that "we have to go to these places to see things for ourselves and how we can address those needs when we come to power."

Oshiomhole also believes in settlement using sticks and carrots to keep politicians in check. Oshiomhole was able to use instruments of office to intimidate former PDP members to join the ACN.  Such people include a Benin business mogul and a foremost transporter, Chief Bob Izua.   Izua was one of the biggest financiers of the PDP in the last ten years.

Today Izua is now one of the strongest supporters of Oshiomhole. He has moved to the ACN with his retinue of 'private army'.

The governor has also used carrots to woo people especially former PDP members to his side. The former Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Nosa Adams who is now a member of the ACN and is heading one of the state government agencies is one of them.

Traditional rulers are also not left out. He has been able to get the Benin monarch to his side even though the Oba of Benin has said he is yet to endorse anybody.

As the election enters the last week one thing that is clear is that the peoples will decide who govern them.