Tag: Edo 2016

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State in this interview declared that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win Wednesday’s governorship election, asserting that the recession will not affect the result of the election as Nigerians, particularly the people of the state, are aware that the PDP squandered the nation’s riches which led the country into recession. He said the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and the godfathers of Edo State are down and out already. He spoke with selected journalists. Excerpts

HOW prepared is your party for Wednesday’s governorship election?

We have been prepared long ago. Actually we had what we call our final mega rally on the 6th of September because, for us, we were ready for the 10th. Even the postponement was more of additional challenge for us. I believe people have already formed opinion as to what they will do. I have gone round the state and everywhere we have gone to, what has made our campaign easy, which is the burden that the PDP has, is that there is no ward in this state, the 192 wards, where we are not able to list the projects that we have done. The question I ask, before we tell you what the next APC government will do, we have a duty to account for the support, the mandate you have given us these past eight years. Then we tell them, when the PDP come to you ask them what they have built in this ward or local government. The truth is that PDP leaders are not able to point at any existing project that they have in any ward, local government or senatorial district. They may have been able to escape defeat, assuming they have fielded a candidate who is not known to the people.  You remember in 2012 when General Airiavbere was their candidate, they were saying new PDP; they were able to say it was a new PDP because their candidate then was new, so the people may just have said let’s give their candidate a benefit of doubt. Even at that, as you know, Edo people said look, from our father, the Oba of Benin, the Enigies, the Ohens, to the ordinary man on the street, they said well this General may be good but the man we already know, is better. So, if PDP had brought a new face, they may have had the basis to interrogate whether this new face will change the face of the PDP. Happily for us and very sadly for them, they brought a candidate who was at the center of PDP misrule throughout the tenure of the PDP in this state. He was SSG, Chief of Staff, and anybody who was up to the age of 14 at that time, would have very good memories about the disaster that PDP and Ize-Iyamu represent in Edo State.

But you’ve said all these about the PDP, what makes you any different from the Nigerian politician?

On our side, they can see what we have done and also the fact that our candidate is not a stranger in government and we are not just picking him from the road to go and lead us. He has been at the heart of the basis of progress in any government. Our candidate was the Head of our Economic Team; so from day one till today, he has been the brain box. So you will, on one hand, look at APC and our track record and PDP and their disastrous record, look at the fact that Ize-Iyamu was central to the PDP administration under Lucky Igbinedion.  Everybody in this state knows that Ize-Iyamu was the resident governor while Lucky Igbinedion was the flying governor and they know the outcome. The two key issues in this election is that our people want continuity of the Ogbemudia, Oyegun, Oshiomhole and then Obaseki legacies which has brought light to our people and not that of Ize-Iyamu and his band of home based and Abuja based godfathers, including but not limited to Gabriel Igbinedion, Lucky Igbinedion and then their boy Ize-Iyamu which will bring darkness. And the reasons are quite clear.

Security was the key reason the INEC gave and, therefore, decided to shift the election to 28th September, do you think those concerns have been taken care of?

Though governors are Chief Security Officers, we don’t control the army, police or the SSS. But I think the point made by security agencies for the postponement, which many people did not listen to due to their fixation; I think they were trying to say that they have committed themselves to deploying as much as 24,000 policemen to Edo State for the election. To do that they had to mop them from other parts of the country and if you have a Sallah holiday, you will have to secure those areas Muslims do their prayers and if you do that, you may not have the numbers to secure Edo State for the election. Secondly, there is nobody who does not know that over the past four years, during such holidays, Boko Haram wants to destroy to make a point.

But the issue of militants….

Now there are two issues here, why do they have to import militants.

They’ve denied that they did not import militants?

That is what they will say.  They went for the militants’ option because all the youths they had used over the years for thuggery, through the opportunities we created for these youths to get engaged, all of them have left the PDP. The PDP Infantry Division which they have over the years used to cause destruction, have left them. Because the boys know those who used them in the past and do not want to see them again, they now had to go outside the state to import militants to come and fight for them and undermine security. And for those who have doubt, recent events have confirmed this. Under the former Commissioner of Police, Ezike, some militants who came from Delta and Rivers were arrested. They came to register for the purpose of violence in Orhiomwon, Ikpba Okhai, Ovia South West and they were apprehended. Number two: We raised concern about the collaboration between some electoral officers and PDP leadership. Again, as we speak, during the registration some EOs were found at the residence of some PDP leaders with Data Capturing Machines, coercing youth corps members to carry out illegal registration not only of militants but to distort the voters register. Again as we speak, some of them were arrested and as we speak one has been remanded in prison with the EO because the youth corps member confessed that he was kidnapped by this PDP leader and forced to his residence in collaboration with the EO. So, these are no longer speculations, they are facts. Last week, at Ologbo, about four militants came in, again security agencies apprehended some of them and as we speak they are in prison awaiting trial. Three days ago, the DSS got intelligence and they picked up a number of militants from different parts of the country who came in two buses, all tinted buses. And one of the buses was registered in Delta State which confirms my point that militants are coming-in from there. Very significantly, one of them has been confirmed to be one of those on the wanted list of the Nigerian Army. And they found with him a military ID card which is expired and other ID cards. He is not from Edo State; none of them is form here. They came into the state at about 1am and quartered in a hotel. PDP leaders are making phone calls explaining to security agencies to insist that these people be released, that they are journalists. But my worry is, are these politicians NUJ members to ask for the release of journalists according to them. By the special Grace of God, they will be neutralised. By the special Grace of God one man, one vote will prevail and we will defeat them.

You have been fighting the Edo political godfathers, now you say they are after you in this election, how successful is this your war against godfatherism so far; because some are now saying you are attempting to become the new godfather?

I believe my war against godfatherism has been won and lost. The fact that today the opprobrium and angst against Igbinedion on the street of Benin, on the streets of Esan land, in Edo North is proof that they have been defeated. The Igbiendion family, which according to the former governor boasted that they will produce the next governor sounds funny because Nigerians know that Lucky Igbinedion had to do plea bargain and you only do plea bargain because you’ve been caught; so if he says that his family wants to bring another potential convict to come and govern because for me they have made our job much easier because that is the point I have always made. For me, there is nothing personal against anybody; I do not have anything personal.  But I am committed even by ones training and my background, to fight those who think that it is their birthright to feast of the blood of others to privatise the people’s common patrimony. But I think Edo people are now aware of the real reason why they are campaigning. Lucky Igbinedion said a member of his family will be the next governor in the person of Ize-Iyamu and they also have this plan of making Igbinedion’s birthday a state event if they come into government. And I think they have for once exposed their inner intensions and that is what this struggle is all about; that the resources of the Edo State Government will never again be used for the comfort of one family. It must be used not for the pleasure of the godfathers but for the development of Edo State.

The other godfather from Esanland went to the Enogie for support, that they should not allow me to cause them shame as an Esan elder. The Enogie reminded the Chief that when Ekpoma produced Ambrose Ali, he collaborated with others to remove Ali as governor. He also asked Onolemenme that as Minister of Works, you have never visited any Enigie is Esan land and the only small job you did was only in Uromi. That you did not see Ekpoma as part of Esan land, you did not see Opoji as part of Esan land, you did not see Irrua or Ewohimi as part of Esanland but the Comrade you said marginalised us, constructed a major road in Ekpoma; have built several primaries schools in Ekpoma; he has built secondary schools there, constructed road linking Irrua to Usigbenue, to Ugbegun, Ugbegun Ujuoba, Igueben to Ewohimi, Ewihinmi to Ohordua, Ohordua to Emu; has provided water in Ekpoma, Iruekpen even in Anenih’s village Uzenema.

Then you go to the other man, Chief Ikimi. We thank God that he has returned to where he belonged because he was in PDP. He said he was cheated and frustrated out of PDP and he joined APC. And because he wanted to be National Chairman of APC but everybody in APC said no. When he was the leader of our party in Esan land, our party was never able to win Igueben where he comes from. We have always lost there because of his one man show. The moment he left for PDP, we have continued to win election in Igueben. Today, he is being represented in the House of Assembly by APC lawmaker. Today, we have connected Igueben to several communities. The reason why these people are after us is that we refused to make governance a personal property of these politicians because that is what they have always done and that is why the state was never developed.

Chief Ogbemudia recently endorsed Obaseki but…?

The only person you cannot discredit as a leader is Dr Samuel Ogbemudia. He is an outstanding elder you must respect on account of his own record of having laid foundation for the old Bendel State. That is the only person who can speak with his pedigree. And for me, it is not a coincidence when Ogbemudia said he is withdrawing from politics; he knows the qualities of a governor that can make a difference in the life of a state and he has openly endorsed Obaseki because of what he knows about him.  For me, this is the easiest election we are going to have and I have no doubt that Edo will punish them for their crime against Edo people. We have heard they are planning to rig by using fake result sheets, using thugs, but we are waiting. This is going to be the final burial of PDP. Their final burial will take place on the 28th and our sons and daughters will participate in this burial with their PVCs. I am in the best of shape, I am ready. They even lied that I was fighting with my deputy, but I and my deputy have been campaigning together. But in PDP, Ize-Iyamu and Iduoriyekemwen cannot see eye to eye and even most of their leaders are not with him. We are not even sure even as we speak who is the actual candidate of the PDP but the court will decide that.

But there is this fear among APC members that the current recession may affect your party in this election, don’t you have such fears?

It will not affect us because Nigerians understand the root cause of the present economic recession. The PDP here are using that against us but it will not work. If you look at the argument, I have listened to most people and commentators about the economy; one of the things they blame the federal government for, including the Emir of Kano, is that the federal government delayed the devaluation of the naira, that they should have allowed the naira to start floating immediately they came in because they knew that the economic fundamentals could not sustain the official exchange rate that General Buhari inherited. But President Buhari was reluctant to oblige these proponents of devaluation because he knew what the immediate consequences will be, namely that when an economy is so hopelessly dependent on imported food, when you devalue the currency, the price of imported items, including rice, will go up and that is what has happened. Now after pressure from these economists, the CBN caved in and the naira was floated and it suffered heavy devaluation. And once that has happened, anything that is imported, the price goes up correspondingly. So, you cannot blame this government for this high cost of product because it is the result of the devaluation which across the divide, the establishment economists have argued that the naira should be devalued. Because they argued and I believe correctly that because of the huge gap between your in-flow of forex and your out flow, your in-flow has dropped considerably not only courtesy of the drop in oil price but compounded by the sabotage of our pipelines which affects not just the price but also your volume. When your foreign earnings is far less than your import, there is a lot of pressure on the exchange rate and if you refuse to devalue and you allocate dollars to bankers, the banker simply sells the dollar at the black market rate. So, the government earns revenue at the official rate and transfer wealth to bankers and others who have access to official allocation to collect rent. They also argued that by not devaluing, those who get forex for the purpose of importing raw materials found that it is better to divert the forex to black market and earn money without effort rather than importing the raw materials which was the primary purpose for bidding for the exchange rate. So, in bowing to this public pressure from various economists of both side of the divide, the naira went into a fluctuating regime which has led to huge devaluation and of course the consequence is that anything you import the price goes up to the extent of the devaluation.

Devaluation is not PDP’s problem but that of this….

So you cannot but locate the foundation of this problem from the looting which even these same people had pointed out that Sanusi raised alarm about billions of dollars that were never accounted for under the PDP. And you know for raising that alarm he was punished and was removed as CBN governor. What Sanusi did not know then was that money was taken from CBN directly to the NSA’s office and shared to PDP leaders and they are all confessing today. So we are explaining to the people – and this is the truth – that the PDP created this problem with their looting. What is more interesting for us here in Edo is that among those who participated in the sharing of the money from the CBN you had the PDP candidate here and the godfathers who are behind the candidate. So, they cannot delete themselves from the crisis. These people are refunding money as I speak to you.

Also importantly we remind them that this is a state election not a federal election and the price of food in Edo State is not higher than the price of food in Asaba, or Rivers, Bayelsa or Akwa Ibom. The issue in this election in terms of the recession is that the poverty in our sub region is worst in PDP-controlled states because the hardship is more in Delta and other PDP states because their own hardship is compounded by the fact that Delta State is not paying salaries. When they pay, they pay level 1-9 and they are owing several months of arrears to their lecturers; they are in default in the payment of primary school teachers; they are in default in the payment of civil servants and of course in the payment of local government employees and pensioners. Now the cumulative effect of the inability of Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa not to pay their workers salaries means that their landlords in those states will not get rents. And because they are not paying their people salaries, the markets in these PDP controlled states have been depressed. But in Edo State, we are up to date in the payment of salaries and pensions. We even increased our minimum wage to N25,000 and we are paying. But in Rivers, teachers have served Wike notice to shut down, the same thing in Delta State. So, if you talk of the impact of the economic recession, Edo is far ahead of the rest of the PDP states in the South-South because our economy is booming, people get paid to spend in the markets. Poverty is more endemic in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States. And what makes the difference; we receive the least allocation from the Federation Account in the South-South zone. Secondly, we also receive the least IGR because the oil companies are based in these states, in spite of that the PDP states in the South-South are serial defaulters in meeting their contractual agreement with their workers even though they are raising money for their PDP candidate in Edo at the expense of the salaries of their employees. And today, you see teachers, workers endorsing Obaseki because they recalled that during the PDP government here, they sacked over 7000 workers, closed down Ambrose Ali University for one year; so they know the difference and they will reject PDP any day any time. I am very proud to say that Edo is working and Edo will continue to work with Godwin as governor after my tenure. Our people know who caused their problem; the PDP.

Senator Domingo Obende is the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council Publicity and Media Chairman. In this interview with journalists, he declared that the PDP in Edo State lacks the credible leaders that will be able to deliver their factional governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to victory. Excerpts 

HOW is your party taking the postponement of the election? I think we have prepared so hard and we believe and we know that the voters are behind us; that we are going to win. Secondly, I am also happy because Edo has not been known to be a place where violence is the order of the day. If for security reasons, as stated by both the police and the DSS, this shift is realised; I think I am happy for it presupposes, come 28 of September, the election will be peaceful. We have heard talk about APC forcing postponement, but first and foremost, APC never imported any thug. Secondly, we are not harbouring anybody; thirdly, we did not bring anybody to come and register that is not from Edo State. What do we have to lose, nothing. What is more, our strength is the voters and we have them behind us; they are not going to die or shift. So, for us, any time any day, we are ready for the election and I can bet you that the gap is going to be even wider now than we had imagined we are going to win.

Will you say that the current economic hardship is affecting your party, the APC, in this election?

Things are tough but it is not peculiar to Edo State. Here in Edo State, there is no governor that you can compare with Oshiomhole. You can talk about Gen. Ogbemudia, yes, but Oshiomhole is fantastic. If you compare Oshiomhole’s work and that of other governors, if they had one at all, you will find out they are not at per at all. And that is a big plus for us in this election. The two weeks they gave us is a two weeks of grace, where we will showcase all the things we have done. And what is more, it has given us the opportunity to reintroduce our candidate across the state. For the economic situation, everybody knows that the whole world is in total recession and PDP brought us into this problem. We cannot leave the past to blame the current person in government for not finding solution to the problem. APC promised three things, security, economy, fighting corruption. Right now, we all know who collected our money without doing anything. Right now we all know why the economy has tilted to this way. What APC is doing is trying to rebuild Nigeria and put it in a solid foundation for growth.

PDP leaders in Edo State seem confident they will win, how do you see this?

There is this adage that says a house divided by itself cannot stand. PDP as we speak today has no clear cut leadership and for that, I don’t think anybody would want to take PDP seriously in Edo State. They have two factional governorship candidates, Ize-Iyamu and Iduoriyekemwen; so how will they win? PDP has had a pattern of leadership in Edo State for more than 10 years and that did not lead us to any developmental stride as far as Edo State is concerned. Then Comrade started in the past seven and half years, in fact, I should say six and half years because within a year, he was still within the cap and caprices of the PDP House of Assembly then and Chief Tony Anenih. Anenih controlled the budget for the whole one year bearing in mind that Zakawanu Garuba was the Speaker of the House as at that time. And within that one year, Comrade did nothing in the state. But immediate he left the hook, in his second year, he started performing and that was part of the failure of the leadership of the PDP. For me, I do not think any Edo man, haven seen or known these experiences on the part of the leadership of PDP, that anybody will believe that PDP leaders will allow any elected person in PDP to perform. When you look at it clearly, you will ask, who are the people that actually destroyed PDP in Edo State? Lucky Igbinedion could not do much because the leadership was sharing the money. The moment money comes, they share. And I don’t think any Edo man wants to do that right now. I know clearly that we have taken clear study about this issue and that is why a lot of us have resolved that it must be APC all the way. Why is it APC all the way; because Comrade in seven years has given us development we never anticipated? He may have his private issues with people, but has he performed; the answer is yes. Has he done what exactly he was voted for; the answer is yes. Did he as a politician deliver in his promises; the answer is yes. Go and check after Ogbemudia’s days who else can compare with Comrade, nobody else. Why, because he did not have a clear cut leadership controlling him. And that is the same way we feel that bringing in Obaseki, he is going to follow the same way as Comrade’s development strategy. Their character are not the same, their training are not the same so you don’t expect the social indices of Comrade is going to be the social indices of Obaseki.

Everybody knows Comrade as a fighter, he has been a labour man; he likes challenges. But there are people who navigate around their challenges. Comrade does not navigate around challenges, he confronts it. And that is what makes him different from the Obaseki that is coming in. So, even from the debate, you could see the differences when you put questions across to Obaseki. So, for me, PDP has no leadership that can guarantee them victory in this forthcoming election.

Former Governor Lucky Igbinedion recently boasted that the next governor of Edo State will be produced by the Igbinedion family in the person of Pastor Ize-Iyamu and Chief Ikimi also boasted in the same manner, what is your take on that?

First and foremost, my brother Lucky Igbinedion knows who Oshiomhole is; he was one of those who brought Oshiomhole, so you can say Oshiomhole is equally part of that family. So, we have already produced two governors from that family, Igbinedion himself and Oshiomhole. Now, we cannot allow three brothers to rule us in Edo State from the same family. Oshiomhole came from Lucky’s angle and as at that time, Chief Anenih was angry until they met and had a meeting point of revolution.

Meeting point? But ….

But as you know, Oshiomhole needed to be his own man so as to fulfill his campaign promises and that was where he had issues with these people which is good for the people of the state. Lucky is our brother, so he brought another of our brother Oshiomhole who is completing his eight years so we don’t want him to go and bring another person from the same family. We are satisfied with Oshiomhole that he gave to us and we are going to get another governor from another family, in the person of Obaseki.

What about Chief Ikimi?

And of course for Ikimi, he is a man that likes talking big and that is his style. But I will advise him to win his polling unit first for his party before talking about winning the general election. He knows what I mean, so I don’t need to expatiate on that. And talking about our current situation, what we are facing today as a nation is a product of PDP because we don’t want to lament about it; we are still working in Edo State and Edo will keep working. So, in this light, we do not think we need a change of government in Edo State. The strategy we have been using, that is working for us we want to maintain that and the people behind this success is the Chairman of the Economic and Strategy Team, which is Godwin Obaseki. And of course, I must tell you clearly that Ize-Iyamu will equally agree that this government has worked. But when things have become personalised, you cannot say the fact as it is any more. Everybody wants to have it his own way. But on this Edo people cannot be short changed; Edo people are wiser. Edo people will stand to claim what belongs to them by speaking our minds on 28th September with our votes and we will make sure that we suppress and oppress PDP where they are right now. They can never resurface anymore because as far as we are concerned, we have the people who will use their votes to suppress them. The problem for Ize-Iyamu too is that while Obaseki has been able to point at what his party, APC, has done, Ize-Iyamu has nothing to point to because his boss, while he was SSG, that is Lucky Igbinedion, performed woefully. But you can see what Comrade Oshiomhole has done today: Fantastic governor that all of us will miss.

There is this allegation of rigging from PDP; can you justify this postponement of the election?

For me, the threats that led to the postponement of the election have been justified. First and foremost, we saw militants being charged to court in Edo State. Some are still facing interrogation. Secondly, the tension in Edo State has come down very drastically; you don’t find people walking as if tomorrow, we are going to die. That has calmed down. And security agencies have strategized; they have now known the positions to place their men. For me, the postponement of this election is going to give us another wide margin we need in our election. For PDP, it think they will keep crying wolf because they know why, it’s like I have made an arrangement that tomorrow I will do something; is like that thing is dispensable. PDP is lost now because they are finding it difficult to re-strategize and energize, that is the problem they are having. For us in APC, we are going to win the election because we have embarked in more strategy, we are doing more work to ensure that we win and we are going to win.

Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu and Sunday Oguntola report that the sudden postponement of Edo State Governorship Election to September 28, 2016, poses new challenges for the political parties, candidates and the Independent National Electoral Commission

IT came as a big blow to all the stakeholders. Not many believed the Edo State Governorship Election could be postponed at the time it was done. Today, over a week after the deferment, The Nation investigation shows that many of the affected stakeholders are yet to recover from the shock, even as they complain of fresh challenges arising from the development.

Everything was set for the election when Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) suddenly came up with the security report on alleged plan by militants to attack the state. As would be expected, most stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not only made allegations of some form of collusion to frustrate the election but also resolved to call bluff of the alert.

 The commission had argued it would not be “teleguided” by anyone, pointing out that suspending the polls at that point in time would be costly after reaching what some observers described as about “97 percent readiness level.” This further compounded the already tensed political atmosphere in the state and left everyone confused.

 It was not until few hours to the election proper, when officials and other mobilised workers had already marched to the field, that INEC bowed to pressure and announced the postponement of the proposed election.

Most insiders, who spoke to The Nation, said the development has introduced fresh hurdles in the Edo State race even as few of the principal actors claimed the postponement will give them more time to reach prospective voters.

Senator Domingo Obende, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council Publicity and Media Chairman, for example, while denying that his party had a any hand in the action of INEC however said the postponement will not affect his party negatively because they are adequately prepared for the election.

“I think we have prepared so hard and we believe and we know that the voters are behind us; that we are going to win. Secondly, I am also happy because Edo has not been known to be a place where violence is the order of the day. If for security reasons, as stated by both the police and the DSS, this shift is realised; I think I am happy for it presupposes that come 28 of September, the election will be peaceful. We have heard talk about APC forcing postponement, but first and foremost, APC never imported any thug. Secondly, we are not harbouring anybody; thirdly, we did not bring anybody to come and register that is not from Edo State. What do we have to lose, nothing. What is more, our strength is the voters and we have them behind us; they are not going to die or shift. So, for us, any time any day, we are ready for the election and I can bet you that the gap is going to be even wider now than we had imagined we are going to win.”

The leading opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not however take the matter lightly. The party, in a statement signed by Dayo Adeyeye, its interim spokesperson, said changing the date “was a less than ingenious attempt to ‘buy time’ for the governing All Progressives Congress, APC,” adding, “It is shameful and indeed a major constitutional breach for the security agencies to act in concert with the APC to truncate an Election that had been planned for months.”

The claims and allegations apart, all the grassroots politicians who spoke to us during the week said the two weeks extension means extra budgets and other important challenges. “It is not just money. The postponement creates avenue for so many things. If you do not take care, you may lose some of your supporters within this period. If you work hard, you may gain more support. That is why we see these extra days as the most critical in the preparation for this election,” says Israel Otabor, a politician from Edo North.

High costs of the postponement

Politicians, political parties, observers and other critical stakeholders have been counting the costs of the postponement of the election from September 10 to September 28.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing security concerns raised by the Police and Department of State Security (DSS), had, after much consultation, moved the election to September 28.

The security agencies had warned that militant elements had been mobilised to attack the state from September 12-13. Though the security was important, they warned that going ahead with the exercise might constitute a threat to public peace.

 Since the postponement was announced, political parties have been lamenting their costs in human and monetary terms. Many of them said their supporters have been disenchanted, wondering if they would be able to galvanise the same momentum before the postponement.

The ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state succeeded in convincing President Muhammadu Buhari to attend his first campaign since assumption of office in May, 2015. Buhari’s attendance, at the grand finale campaign, was planned to make a statement of intent to the opposition parties.

The President’s presence attracted heavyweights in his administration to the state. It was less five days to the September 10 initial date. The party spent good fortunes to mobilise supporters and resources to the grand finale. But all appeared to have gone into the drain with the postponement.

A leading chieftain told our correspondent last week: “We thought we were home and dry. Buhari’s presence was to let others know that we had his blessings and support. This postponement has spoiled all we worked for.

“There is no way the President can return before the new date. We cannot do much of campaigns again in the remaining days. We just have to make do with the little we had done.”

Edo APC chairman, Anslem Ojezua, said it is hard to even quantify the huge losses incurred in naira and kobo. According to him:“When a process has gathered momentum and all of a sudden there is a reversal, it is very painful. We cannot quantify that in monetary values.”

Attempts to confirm how much the APC expended on campaigns so far failed with many chieftains offering varying figures in the region of millions.

As it is with the APC, so it is with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party. The PDP believes the APC orchestrated the postponement to avoid a looming defeat.

It therefore feels more shortchanged in terms of loss of resources and manpower.  PDP Edo chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, said: “The cost is quite enormous, taking into consideration our lean resources because it is like starting all over again.”

Labour Party (LP) candidate of Amos Areloegbe said he has run out of funds to continue with the campaign, which was presumed concluded until the postponement. He said: “We don’t have the kind of money the big parties have.

“I can’t compete with the big giants because of the way they are dishing out money.

“My campaign has been self-funding. I don’t have external funding. They have been in power. They have other governors to fund their campaigns.”

As the parties are lamenting, so is the electoral commission. INEC had already mobilised 19,000 ad hoc staff, concluded field training and assessment before it finally shifted the poll. INEC’s Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity Department, Nick Dazang, said the commission has to spend afresh on material procurement, training and staff allowances.

Dazang explained: “The financial loss incurred could be put at millions of Naira. For instance, INEC is now duty bound to pay the over 19,000 staff recruited and deployed for the Edo governorship election twice due to the sudden postponement.

“To demobilise is going to cost us a lot because all these people we have recruited and trained and we have sent out, we have to pay them their allowances.

“In the same vein, when you are calling them back, you have to pay them allowances again and we will have to devote a day or two to train and refresh their memories.”

An unconfirmed report stated that the commission may require another N800million to hold the postponed poll.

Party agents, who spoke with our correspondent, said they have already run off funds to continue with field mobilisation and campaign. Their parties, they said, have refused to offer them fresh mobilisation funds for the remaining days; a development they said might seriously hamper participation in the exercise.

James Eze, one of the accredited observers, said: “Many people were prepared to vote on September 10. This postponement will lead to apathy and fear, especially given the fact that the postponement bordered on security concerns.

“Many registered voters would prefer to stay back at home than risk their security. The fact that the exercise will be heavily militarised, given the security fears, will not also help.

“So, we are concerned that the poll will be seriously hampered by the postponement. There will be lesser participation, which will impact on the credibility of the process.”

Previous challenges

Prior to the postponement, the Edo election has posed many challenges, even as the two leading political parties, the ruling APC and the main opposition, the PDP, had been locked in prolonged verbal exchanges, accusing one another of betrayal of the people. Sources said most of these allegations and counter allegations are yet to be resolved.

Aside these, there are critical issues within each of the parties, which have raised the stakes. In the ruling party, APC, for example, where aspirants alleged Governor Oshiomhole’s endorsement of Obaseke, there was fear, long before the primaries, that if Obaseke wins, the other aspirants may not only protest the result but may go ahead to fight against the party. As it turns out, Obaseke won and available indices suggest the other aspirants are now working for Obaseki and the party’s victory.

It would be recalled that the two aggrieved aspirants after the primaries, Ogiemwonyi and Ken Imansuagbon, who took the matter to the Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele-led Appeal Committee, had threatened to drag the party to court or work against it if the committee and the party fail to nullify the primary.

The issues are even more visible in PDP. Though supporters of Pastor Ize-Iyamu, continue to celebrate his emergence as the winner of PDP’s governorship primary election, the emergence of a rival PDP governorship candidate, endorsed by the National Chairman of PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s camp, has created serious confusion that must be resolved before the election if PDP wants to make any impact.

Observers and Edo indigenes, who spoke to us this week said these individual problems, added to the general issues that trailed the emergence of the candidates, like the critical issues of zoning and alleged marginalization of some areas, will add up to make the Edo election rather intriguing.

As Benji Osunbor, a student in the University of Benin, said, “We are worried here in Edo because the postponement had made the already dicey governorship election more threatening. While politicians are complaining of increased budget, ordinary citizens say tension has risen to high heavens. I only hope the election will be violence free when it finally holds on September 28,” he said. This, in a way, sums up the fear generally expressed by all the stakeholders.

As the September 10 Governorship Election in Edo State approaches, most traditional rulers in the state have delved into the muddy waters of partisan politics by endorsing candidates of the two major political parties, writes Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia in Benin city.

IN Edo State where the gubernatorial election is scheduled to hold on September 10, 2016, traditional rulers in the state have abandoned their role as custodians of the people’s custom and tradition to swim in the murky waters of partisan politics.

They are either overtly or covertly backing the candidates of the two major political parties in the state  the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

According to findings by our reporter, these traditional rulers-turned politicians are quick to justify their new found role on the altar of either serving under a benevolent or discriminatory government.

For instance, traditional rulers under the beck and call of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the APC gubernatorial candidate, explained their endorsement of his candidature on the basis of his family background, and the developmental strides of the APC-led administration in the state.

But those rooting for the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, loudly complain about the neglect of their areas by the current administration in the state led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole. They concluded that with Ize-Iyamu on the saddle, their various communities would instantly become an El Do­rado.

The only exception to this rash of endorsements is the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Ehenede Erediauwa, who had earlier wished both candidates well in their struggle to become the next governor of the state.

At least, 28 traditional rulers in Edo Central Senatorial district have so far endorsed the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu. In doing so, the monarchs expressed displeasure over the removal of Hon. Victor Edoror, as Speaker of the State House of the Assembly, as well as the continued marginalisation of Esan land in terms of development. Edoror hails from Edo Central Senatorial District.

 At the endorsement of the PDP candidate, which took place at the palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi, HRM Anslem Eidenojie, the traditional rulers generally said that the ‘sustained marginalisation of Esanland and her people in a state that belong to all of us is unbearable.”

In their separate remarks, HRM Aidenojie Ehidiamen of Opoji, and HRM Izuware of Ujiogba, appealed to Pastor Ize-Iyamu to correct the inequitable distribution of dividends of democracy in the state on assumption of office in November 2016.

The endorsement of the PDP candidate by traditional rulers in Esan land, goes beyond the alleged marginalisation of area by previous administrations in the state. Ize-Iyamu’s family background might have influenced the blessing he got from the royal fathers.

“We know you (Ize-Iyamu) very well. You are a man, who has direct relationship with virtually all the Enijie (traditional rulers) in Esanland. You are a son of the former Esogban of Benin Kingdom. You are a son of tradition. Your father served in the Palace without blemish. He did not betray the palace.

“We, the Enijie in Esan­land believe that if we give you our support, you will not betray us. We want to say that Esan nation is part and parcel of this state. We know how much we have been relegated in our own state, and we are very unhappy about it,” said the Ojuromi of Uromi.

Furthermore, the Ojuro­mi of Uromi, profusely praised Ize-Iyamu for picking his running mate from Esanland, describing the act as a ‘wise decision.’

“Our saying thank you will not just be by word of mouth, we will use our voters’ card to practicalise our thank you,” he remarked.

Nevertheless, there was a twist in the tale. Barely 24 hours after the traditional rulers in Esanland gave Ize-Iyamu a nod, the Onojie of Opoji, denied having a hand in the endorsement of any governorship candidate for the September 10 election.

He explained that he, alongside other monarchs, was invited to listen to what the PDP candidate had to say when his campaign train screeched to a halt in the area, and were not told that the business of the day included an endorsement of the party’s governorship candidate.

“I told the PDP people that action speaks louder than voice. I also demanded to know if what the PDP candidate promised to do for us if elected into office will be better than what the current APC government in the state had so far done for us,” said the Onojie of Opoji.

Meanwhile, the Ojuromi appears to have spoken from both sides of his mouth. When the APC campaign team, led by the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, visited the Ojuromi’s palace, the monarch said he was impressed with the governor’s performance in less than eight years of his administration.

However, he stopped short of calling the Onojie of Opojie a liar. He revealed that money was shared at different meetings between the traditional rulers and the PDP candidate, saying that the Opojie king got a fair share of the PDP largesse.

He also alleged that the Opojie serves as the middle­man between Ize-Iyamu and the monarchs in Esan land.

The Nation can authoritatively report that 23 traditional rulers from six local government areas of Edo North Senatorial District have so far endorsed the candidature of Obaseki, the APC governorship candidate. That is not all. The traditional rulers reportedly made fabulous donation to the Obaseki Campaign Organization.

Not a few doubt whether the money came from the coffers of traditional rulers since many of them utterly depend on the monthly stipends from the state government.

Speaking in Auchi, the Otaru of Auchi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe III, said their preference of Obaseki to Ize-Iyamu, stemmed from his (Obaseki) accomplishments while serving in Oshiomhole’s administration.

“I want to say that Edo State traditional rulers have further committed themselves to this campaign by saying that whatever money you gave to traditional rulers during meetings of this nature at various locations we are donating such monies to your campaign.

“What is destined by Almighty God, nobody can alter it. Nobody can violate it; nobody can overtake it. So, we are happy to make that statement today because there is no doubt about the fact that the one who is propelling you and giving you to Edo State is a man that God has chosen for that assignment. And because of that, we are assuring you that we will continue to pray for your success in this exercise,” said the Otaru.

On their part, the Okuokpelagbe of Okpella, HRH Yesufu Dirisu and the Olokpe of Okpe, Oba Idogun of Okpe, noted that traditional rulers in the area decided to stand on the path of development which was started by Oshiomhole seven and eight years ago, and prayed God to grant Obaseki success in the poll.

According to the ruler of Okpella: “It is not flattery to let you know that all traditional rulers, both openly, jointly and in their private rooms are praying for you because of what you have done for us; what you have done for the state, what God has made you do for Edo State, and in fact Nigeria.”

At Uhunwonde Local Government Area in Edo South Senatorial District, 25 Enogies’ who endorsed Obaseki, later presented him with white chalk, symbolising victory.

The Enogie (traditional rulers) of Ogiomo, Iguoboe, Emo, Ogha, Erua, Osem­winda, Obadan, Ugoneki and others who said they are yet to fully attain their full potentials, blessed Obaseki and his running mate, Hon. Philip Shaibu, prophesying that they will emerge victorious in the September 10 poll.

Speaking on the endorsements, President of the Elite Consolidative Forum, Comrade Israel Amadin noted that though it is the fundamental right of the monarchs to support a particular candidate, it must be geared towards a developmental end for the benefit of the people.

“That the traditional rulers are endorsing a candidate is not the issue, but what they have in mind for endorsing them.

“We have seen where traditional rulers are neglected and not cared for, but if we have a candidate who is sincere and has pledged to take development to the grassroots, it should be expected that such candidate should be supported.

“Before Comrade Oshiomhole came, traditional rulers were not as vocal as they are now. They are vocal today because they have been carried along in the affairs of the state.

“They are now seen as part of good governance and not just the custodian of a particular tradition. What should be appreciated is the fact that these traditional rulers are concerned about the development of their people.

“Well, I know a lot of people would think they should be apolitical, but when being apolitical as the case may be, doesn’t bring development or progress to the state, they also share part of the blame.

“So for me, though they should be apolitical, they have the right to express their feelings because it is all about developing the state and traditional rulers must work with government in that aspect.”

THE September 10, 2016 governorship election is not going to be a contest between the PDP and APC as many political watchers see it. Rather, it is a date PDP will meet with Nemesis to keep a very important appointment.

As a person who has had the opportunity of knowing the internal workings of these seemingly contending parties, I consider myself ably competent to comment on the strengths and weaknesses of both parties without any fear of contradiction.

Edo APC may not parade the calibre of political juggernauts, ruminating the state in the PDP, aside the governor and, to a large extent, the National Chairman of the party; what the party lacks in heavyweights it has made up in terms of organisation, intelligence, strategy, focus and unity of purpose.

PDP on the other hand parades well known and, in some cases, very notorious political heavyweights, not in terms of benefits to the people but unsavory costs to the very existence of the people they once governed. Also, the PDP established, maintained and nurture two invisible groups of membership. The first group consists of persons who genuinely want victory and work assiduously and tirelessly in this direction. The second group consists of persons, though in minority; who see every election as harvest time. They are powerful and ruthless with the pockets of aspirants and funds made available by other sources. To this group, the success of every election is determined by the weight of their pockets and not results from polling units. Painfully, some of such funds are “donated” to the party as money realised from sale of personal assets to keep the party afloat, they claim.  In some cases, candidates of the party never get to know of financial assistance from other states except by providence.

The forthcoming election presents a unique and unprecedented situation when, for the first time, nothing, as in nothing at all, will be coming from the Federal Government as campaign funds when the full wrath of nemesis will be visited on the party. I can also state categorically that PDP-controlled states are not in the best of times financially. The PDP is also not in control at any level of government in the state and it is yet to be seen if those who helped themselves with public funds will be optimistic enough to put down their ill-gotten wealth in an election where hopes of success are deeming by the day.

The second and more important scourge that will haunt the party is trust and credibility. Can the PDP ever be trusted again with power in the state? The answer, in my humble opinion, is a resounding ” No!”. Surprisingly, the PDP is amusingly behaving like a party seeking power for the first time. Because the party has forgotten its antecedents, they also believe the people of Edo are “blessed” with its kind of memory. The pseudo hallucination of PDP must not be allowed to infest the ever vibrant people of Edo State. For close to 10 years, the good people of Edo State entrusted their collective destiny in the hands of a party that practically ran aground every aspect of governance and took the intervention of the judiciary and magnanimity of God, even after the electorate spoke vide the ballot box, to restore law and order and the dignity of man to the level we are today, a feat that was celebrated by all and sundry, including the governorship candidate of PDP in the forthcoming election.

Although I have heard with nostalgia what the party will do if re-elected into power, no one, including its flag bearer, has told us what the party did in the state for close to 10 years it held sway in the state. I cannot in good conscience remember any achievement worthy of note the PDP left behind in the state aside the legacy of wastes and outright embezzlements of state funds which it executed with dexterity and impunity during and throughout the inglorious years it was at the helm of affairs in the state.

For this same party to have the temerity and notorious mendacity to ask for our votes at this age and times is to shamelessly insult our collective sensibilities and unapologetically question our memories as human beings.

For this election, PDP is not an option. Edo State is headed for the Promised Land and not Egypt.

The achievements of the Oshiomhole-led administration in Edo State are overwhelmingly evident that even the blind can see and the deaf can appreciate. The present attempt by the PDP to reverse the developmental strides of this government must be resisted by all, including members of the PDP themselves.

The PDP must toe the path of honour, if it has any left, by advising itself against any early come-back bid until all sour memories of mess, eyesores and maladministration it left behind are completely forgotten by political history of transition.

The current noise-making which the PDP has misconstrued for campaign will do more damage to the party on the day of election and should be advised accordingly.  I also see it as a joke taken too far in a decent society like ours.

Let me conclude with a declaration that the APC will not only win the September 10, 2016 General Election; it will do so in grand style by beating the PDP silly.

• Aimofumeh is a political commentator based in Lagos.