Tag: Edo 2016

Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that in Edo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have stepped up preparations to produce Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s successor in 2016

As part of their preparations for the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are making determined efforts to resolve their internal crisis before the primaries.

To resolve the disagreement in the state chapter of APC, where some interest groups within the party are piling up pressure on the party’s state chairman, Anselm Ojezua, to resign, the party set up a 17-man reconciliation committee last week. Insiders said the party members rooting for Ojezua’s removal had compiled his alleged anti-party activities and sent it to the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

It would be recalled for example that Ojezua was accused of meeting secretly with Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Tom Ikimi to “plot for the emergence of an Edo Central Senatorial candidate to succeed Oshiomhole in 2016.”

His opponents in the party had continued to blame Ojezua for the outcome of the state and National Assembly elections in the Edo Central Senatorial District, where APC lost three State Assembly seats and all National Assembly seats to PDP.

Ojezua had long described the allegations as hollow and without substance, adding that all right thinking members of the party should disregard such allegations.

We gathered that APC leadership, not willing to take any chances, has moved to settle every rift that may have resulted from the misunderstanding. After the crisis that rocked the state APC that led to the exit of Pastor Osagie-Ize-Iyamu and Chief Tom Ikimi, Oshiomhole had, according to his associates, stressed his wish not to allow further crisis in the party, especially, ahead of 2016. “The Reconciliation Committee has the task of settling every issue likely to divide our great party in the state before the 2016 elections. Edo is an APC state, so we are not ready to allow the opposition PDP to sponsor any division aimed at weakening APC. I think that wisdom informed the formation of the reconciliation committee. There is nothing much to worry but we have a leader in the state, the comrade governor, who understands the meaning of planning and we know the antecedents of the leaders of PDP in the state. That is why we cannot afford to sleep. We are preparing to go to the election as united as ever,” said a member of the Edo APC State Working Committee, who pleaded not to be named.

As for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leaders have vowed to reclaim the state the party governed for 10 years before Oshiomhole emerged the governor. It would be recalled that the foremost National President of Nigerian Labour Congress first emerged governor of the South-South state on the ticket of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), before taking the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Since his emergence on the scene, Oshiomhole, who is described by his supporters as a grassroots politician and an incredible mobiliser, has succeeded in evolving strong political machinery which some informed observers say cannot be dislodged by the PDP.

They point out that beside his political acumen, Oshiomhole’s APC government in the state have performed so well that APC’s major opponent in the state, the PDP, would have to work harder to be considered a serious threat to the ruling party’s political fortunes in the 2016 governorship election.

This is even so as the APC’s victory at the national level have further brightened its chances in the states, especially in a state like Edo, a former PDP stronghold where some influential PDP chieftains join the ruling party soon after the announcement of Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the last presidential election.

This notwithstanding, leaders of PDP in the state, including political heavyweights like former PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; the Igbinedion political family, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, among others, have vowed that PDP is still very strong in Edo State and must return to power.

Besides the strength of the party in the state, sources said Anenih, the Igbinedions and Ikimi may have taken the 2016 governorship contest in the state as a continuation of the personal political battles they have fought with Oshiomhole in the past seven years.

It would be recalled that the struggle for the political soul of Edo State between the Igbinedion’s political structure and that of Oshiomhole has continued underground seven years after the Igbinedions were upstaged. APC’s dominance of the politics of the state since then notwithstanding, political activists and insiders in the state insist the party is still very much entrenched and determined to return to power.

Dr. Francis Edosoma, a political analyst in Benin, had told The Nation that “results of the last elections confirmed that each of the two parties is strong enough to produce the next government of the state after Oshiomhole. But given Oshiomhole’s superlative performance, his party remains the party to beat in 2016. However, a lot depends on the level of unity of each of the parties, how far they would be willing to carry the people along, the quality and acceptability of their candidate and the level of their preparedness for the election. So, I thing the winner will be the one that prepared better and the one that made the right choice of governorship candidate. It must however be clear to APC that PDP is still strong in this state. So, if the party wants to continue to occupy the Edo Government House after the Comrade, it must prepare well and be wise and fair when it wants to pick its flag bearer.”

The strength of the two political parties (APC and PDP) in Edo State could be ascertained from the result of the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections. In those elections, PDP won the presidential poll in the state and got two, out of the three senate seats, plus five House of Assembly seats. Though this is a great performance, given that PDP was not the ruling party in the state, insiders identified the influence of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the primary factor responsible for that performance.  Making references to the harvest of “big political fishes” in the state since after the defeat of Jonathan, APC supporters said the party is now in firm control of the state. They specifically claimed that Oshiomhole’s government, commands cult-like followership at the grassroots level.

Other forces that may shape Edo 2016

Aware of the potential of each of the parties in the state, the leaders of the two parties have launched secret and overt measures that will help their party outwit the other and to tackle any unforeseen obstacles that may be put on its way.

We gathered for example that both APC and PDP are not unaware of the alleged plans to take other matters to the front burner in the campaign for the successor of Oshiomhole in 2016. One of such factors is the zoning debate and ethnic agitations.

It is on record that even before the official flag-off of 2016 governorship election in Edo State; it has become obvious that zoning will be a major factor in the campaigns of who would succeed the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. For example, a year to the actual election date, the Esan people of Edo Central Senatorial District have already served notice that it is their turn to produce the next governor for the state. According to them, allowing the zone to produce the next governor of the state in 2016 will fulfill the demands of “equity, fairness and justice.”

They made the demand recently after a crucial meeting of Esan Elders Forum held at Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North- East Local Government Area.

In his explanation, the spokesman and chairman of the forum, Julius Akpede, said, “From our recent political history as Edo State (1991-2016), the military ruled for six years (1993-1999), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Lucky Igbinedion from Edo South Senatorial District ruled for a total of nine and half years; Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor (one and half years) and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North Senatorial Zone from 2008 till date.

“From the above analysis, political sagacity and self-evidence dictate the following: come 2016, an Esan governor from Edo Central Senatorial District should and must occupy Edo State Government House.

“Edo State Government House shall have no vacancy for any other candidate except one from Esan. Equity, justice, unity, cohesion and even spread of development dictate this,” he said on behalf of the elders’ forum.

Also the Coordinator of Esan Political Forum (EPF), Mr. Abor Airelogbe, was quoted in an interview in Benin as saying, “It is now the turn of Esan people to produce the next governor of the state because since the creation of Edo State in 1991, an Esan man has never been allowed to occupy the office except the brief period of Prof. Osereimhen Osunbor and this was bungled due to a number of factors and this cannot be allowed to continue.

In 2016, Edo State will hold its governorship election. Justice Ilevbare reports on the issues that may determine Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s successor

There are indication that 2016 promises to be an interesting year for the people of Edo State. By then, they will be heading to the polls to elect the next executive governor who is expected to take over from the incumbent, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

Though the year is about six months away, there are visible signs that politicking, awareness raising, fence mending and handshake across the divides are going on in earnest. Unlike before, a number of prominent politicians in the state are already getting their acts together by way of embarking on public service undertakings, all in an attempt to endear themselves to the people.

While every stakeholder is getting ready to set the ball rolling, observers are concerned over the need to ensure that in the distribution of offices, fair play and equity remain the guiding principle. In this case, stakeholders are already talking about the three tripods on which the state stands.

More than very important offices like the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff to the Governor and, in a way, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, which are not elective, stakeholders are interested in the two foremost positions, the office of the governor and that of the deputy governor.

Stakeholders have argued that the founding fathers of the state, in recognition of the importance of these plum positions have tried to ensure that the tripod are adequately represented in successive governments that adopted rotation policy to ensure fairness and equity.

Though it cannot be said to have been followed to the letter, adherence proved to be the only way politics in the state took place without rancour, bitterness and accusations of marginalization.

As the state prepares for the 2016 race, the time has come again for politicians and other stakeholders to prove to the people generally that the state will remain a shining example for others in the practice of fair and equitable politicking.

Making a case for Edo Central Senatorial District to be allowed to produce the governor, Akhigbe Oshioma in Benin City told The Nation that record of leadership indicates that between 1979 and now, power has not fairly rotated along the three axis. “For instance, in 1979, Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli, from Ekpoma in the Central Senatorial Zone, became governor of the state. He was barely into his second term when the military struck and ended the country’s democratic process.

John Odigie-Oyegun, from Benin City, South Senatorial Zone, held the reins while Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida attempted to midwife a return to full democracy. His attempt to retain office for a second tenure was cut short when his kinsman, Osagbovo Ogbemudia, also from the same senatorial zone, sent him packing but was himself sacked a few months later.

But by the time full democracy returned in 1999, Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, another candidate from the South Senatorial Zone, became governor of the state. Cumulatively, the zone held the reins for almost 14 years before Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor, from Iruekpen, Central Senatorial Zone took over. Like Ogbemudia, Osunbor’s reign was cut short barely two years later when, by an order of the appeal court tribunal ruling, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, from the North Senatorial District, assumed office in November 2008.

“While it is important to note here that Oshiomhole’s second tenure, a cumulative unbroken run of eight years for the north is expected to expire by the same date next year, the combined tenures of both Alli and Osunbor, representing central, is less than six years.

Oshioma  added, “So far, no representation has come from the central. Certainly, this is hardly the right advertisement for fair play and equity and it needs not be over emphasized that the situation needs to be addressed without further delay.

Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that the race for Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s successor is gathering steam a year before Edo 2016 governorship election

Preparations for the 2016 governorship election in Edo State is gathering steam as leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vow to reclaim the state the party governed for 10 years before Comrade Adams Oshiomhole emerged the governor. The foremost National President of Nigerian Labour Congress first emerged governor of the South-South state on the ticket of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), before taking the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Since his emergence on the scene, Oshiomhole, who is described by his supporters as a grassroots politician and an incredible mobiliser, has succeeded in evolving strong political machinery which some informed observers say cannot be dislodged by the PDP.

They point out that beside his political acumen, Oshiomhole’s APC government in the state have performed so well that APC’s major opponent in the state, the PDP, would have to work harder to be considered a serious threat to the ruling party’s political fortunes in the 2016 governorship election.

This is even so as the APC’s victory at the national level have further brightened its chances in the states, especially in a state like Edo, a former PDP stronghold where some influential PDP chieftains join the ruling party soon after the announcement of Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the last presidential election.

This notwithstanding, it is not in doubt that PDP is still very strong in Edo State as it still parades some political heavyweights like former PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; the powerful Igbinedion political family, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, among others.

Both the Igbinedions and Chief Ikimi as well as other top politicians in the state who are still in the opposition are likely to attempt using the 2016 governorship election to conclude their varied political face-off with Oshiomhole and his political party. It would be recalled that the struggle for the political soul of Edo State between the Igbinedion’s political structure and that of Oshiomhole has continued underground eight years after the Igbinedions were upstaged.

So, as the two leading political parties in the state prepare for the 2016 governorship election, observers say each of them will need to be more careful in their planning and strategic moves.

Dr. Francis Edosoma, a political analyst in Benin, told The Nation on Friday that “results of the last elections confirmed that each of the two parties is strong enough to produce the next government of the state after Oshiomhole. But given Oshiomhole’s superlative performance, his party remains the party to beat in 2016. However, a lot depends on the level of unity of each of the parties, how far they would be willing to carry the people along, the quality and acceptability of their candidate and the level of their preparedness for the election. So, I thing the winner will be the one that prepared better and the one that made the right choice of governorship candidate. It must however be clear to APC that PDP is still strong in this state. So, if the party wants to continue to occupy the Edo Government House after the Comrade, it must prepare well and be wise and fair when it wants to pick its flag bearer.”

The strength of the two political parties (APC and PDP) in Edo State, could be ascertained from the result of the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections. In those elections, PDP won the presidential poll in the state and got two, out of the three senate seats, plus five House of Assembly seats. Though this is a great performance, given that PDP was not the ruling party in the state, insiders identified the influence of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the primary factor responsible for that performance.  Making references to the harvest of “big political fishes” in the state since after the defeat of Jonathan, APC supporters said the party is now in firm control of the state. They specifically claimed that Oshiomhole’s government, commands cult-like follower-ship at the grassroots level.

Forces that may shape Edo 2016

Edo State is one of those states with many political heavyweights interested in not only controlling the political soul of the state but also in either influencing the choice of the governor or taking over the plum seat at the Government House in Benin. So, some of these political lords are poised to influence the tempo of campaign with the aim of determining the successor of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who would be completing his second term in office next year. Among the big political lords that will flex muscles in the 2016 elections include the incumbent governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Anthony Anenih, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Samuel Ogbemudia, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and many other leaders in the state.

Oshiomhole

As the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has built a web- like political structure that is determined to keep the PDP away from the Government House permanently. That structure operates through semi- independent groups like Edo Solidarity Movement (ESM), Edo in Safe Hands and many others.

Although he has tactfully pushed aside attempts to declare his stand on who succeeds him, insiders say he is very much interested in ensuring that he is succeeded by someone he can trust to do the job.

Perhaps because of his knowledge of what such declaration can cause if made a year before the actual election, Oshiomhole had since told all those nursing governorship ambition under the APC not to distract his administration, warning that it was not wise for them to commence electioneering activities this early.

That admonition notwithstanding, the associates and aides interested in his job have commenced secret mobilisation while Oshiomhole, as the leader of APC in the state, is also not joking with 2016 elections. An insider, a close associate to the governor, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation this week that the Oshiomhole’s political machinery “knows where they are headed to in 2016. The Comrade Governor is deliberately keeping the issue of who succeeds him close to his chest, partly because he understands that politics is not like mathematics, where 10 plus 10 will always amount to 20 and also because he is aware of the other sensitive variables in our state. For example, you must be aware of the fear by some skeptics from the Benin axis that he may succumb to the pressure to hand the state back to the Igbinedions.”

There is also the issue of zoning, which our source confided has remained a source of debate amongst Oshiomhole’s closest associates and aides, especially those of them that are plotting to succeed him.

Odigie-Oyegun

As the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has emerged one of the strongest political forces in today’s Nigeria.

When the chips are down for Edo 2016, Odigie-Oyegun will have a say on who will eventually succeed his home state governor, Oshiomhole .

Anenih

Chief Tony Anenih, widely called Mr Fix it, is considered one of the most experienced and successful politician in the last two decades. As a former Chairman of Board of Trustees of the then ruling PDP, the former Minister of Works was like a political Demi- god. The PDP political machinery both at the national level and in Edo State was largely in his firm grips.

Today however, Anenih, who has resigned his revered position as PDP BOT boss, is believed to have resolved to concentrate all his energies on reclaiming Edo State for PDP.

As one of the foremost political godfathers, it is believed that Anenih will not contemplate not being responsible for the emergence of the governor that will succeed Oshiomhole.

“Chief Anenih’s awesome political machinery in the state is still in place as we speak. I can confide in you that the political structure is still being adequately oiled even as the grand patron prepares to wrestle power from current leaders in the state,” Edosoma said.

Ogbemudia

Former governor of old Bendel State, Chief Samuel Ogbemudia, is another elder politician whose influence will ultimately play a vital part in the 2016 governorship race in Edo State.

It would be recalled that a simple comment the retired army general made in 2014 allegedly inspired the Ijaws in Edo to publicly demand to be allowed to produce the successor of Oshiomhole in 2016.

Soon after Ogbemudia was quoted in 2014 as saying “it was okay for an Ijaw person to govern the state in 2016, as long as they are united in their demand,” Ijaw political activists and politicians in the state flagged off their agitation that it is their turn to produce the next governor of Edo State.

Igbinedion

Former Edo State Governor, Lucky Igbinedion, who hails from the influential Igbinedion family may have left office a long time ago but his political family remains very active and eager to reclaim power.

The Grand Patron of the family, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, with his large war chest also remains very influential and powerful in the economy and politics of the South-South state.

Ikimi

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, was one of the earliest chieftains of All Progressives Congress before his controversial return to the then ruling PDP on whose cover he fought great battles against APC  in the 2015 elections.

Now that APC has moved on to win the federal government in addition to his home state, Edo, which it has controlled for years, it is speculated that Ikimi is preparing quietly to stage a return to power and influence.

How he will execute the alleged plots remains unknown but his associates and close observers say the 2016 governorship race in Edo is his earliest opportunity of staging a return to influence and power and that he is poised to utilize the opportunity.

Although his political rivals in the state dismiss him as lacking any meaningful political machinery in the state to fight with, his close associates say his detractors should wait and see.

One thing is clear though, and that is that in the fight for supremacy in Edo State politics between the ruling APC and PDP, Ikimi is one top politician every side is watching with special interest.

Some possible aspirants to watch Odubu

Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, who has the reputation of being a very loyal deputy, is believed to command so much respect and support within Oshiomhole’s political structure that he is touted as the likely successor of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. He is from Orhiomnwon Local Government Area of the state.

Odubu’s reputation as the likely successor gained weight as a result of the endorsement he reportedly received from the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom. It is reported that the powerful Prince has on several fora advised Oshiomhole to hand over to his deputy for being loyal to him in the past five years.

Other factors that may have contributed to the calculation that Odubu may get the nod at the end of the day is his popularity amongst leaders of Oshiomhole’s political structure. Added to this is the feeling amongst Oshiomhole’s loyalists that Odubu has not made overt moves to set up a secret parallel political structure that will fight his course as some former members of the group had done.

Ize-Iyamu

When the former Vice Chairman, South-South of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, defected with some of his loyalists to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later emerged the Director-General of Goodluck Jonathan-Sambo 2015 presidential campaigns in Edo State, it was alleged that his defection had a lot to do with his ambition to govern the state. Some insiders alleged that Ize-Iyamu left because he got the signals that the real power brokers within Oshiomhole’s political structure in the state would no longer favour his candidacy.

Though he left the ruling party, sources say his exit is not the end of his governorship ambition. It would be recalled that reports of Ize-Iyamu’s ambition to govern the state dates back to the era of the administration of Governor Lucky Igbinedion, when he served as a powerful Secretary to Edo State Government.

Ize-Iyamu, who is from Orhiomnwon Local Government Area, where Oshiomhole’s deputy, Dr Pius Odubu, also hails from, is believed to have built a considerable political structure with which he intends to prosecute his 2016 governorship contest.

Airhiavbere

Retired Major General Charles Airhiavbere, who was the National Coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan Organisation before the 2015 general elections, was one of the earliest ‘big’ defectors to APC in Edo State. A major contender in the 2012 governorship election under the umbrella of the PDP, Airhiavbere’s entrance into APC fold shortly after the 2015 presidential election is still considered by many observers as a strategic move to continue the pursuit of his ambition on the platform of the ruling party.

Explaining his mission in APC, the retired army general said shortly after the defection: “That I was the governorship candidate of the PDP in 2012 election and its aftermath is history. I have decided to join the team of change that has come to the nation in the last election of the March 28th, 2015, so that Edo State will continue to enjoy the benefits of the party at the centre. Any politician who means well for this state will ground their arms of hate and join the change train of the APC government ably led by His Excellency, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole”.

He added, “I know for sure that with APC at the national and the state, there will be rapid development and all the campaign promises will be delivered to our dear state that is yearning for rapid development.”

Some observers say his entrance into APC has further complicated the race to fly the APC governorship flag in 2016.

Osunbor

Oserheimen Osunbor, a Professor of Law, was until recently PDP’s pillar in Edo Central Senatorial District. He was the Governor of Edo State for 18 months before the emergence of Governor Adams Oshiomhole through a court ruling.

Although before his recent defection to APC, efforts were made by certain forces within PDP to portray him as a politician with little influence, pedigree and support, insiders confided that Osunbor played some major roles in creating the atmosphere that led to PDP’s victory in the state in the March 28 election.

So, such insiders described it as curious that the same Osunbor was frustrated in the party so much that he and some of his supporters had to defect to APC on Tuesday, March 7.

While receiving him into the APC fold Oshiomhole said, “I will be working with a respected Professor of Law like you and many of your supporters. We thank God for what he has used us to achieve.”

Osunbur, whose short stay as governor still leaves sweet memories in the hearts of many Edolites, is already being considered as one of the people to watch. As a new entrant into the ruling party, it remains to be seen how far he and his supporters can go in their bid to clinch the APC ticket.

Other important factors

Aside powerful political figures and their ambitions, other factors that may take the front burner in the campaign for the successor of Oshiomhole in 2016 are the zoning debate and ethnic agitations.

Even before the official flag-off of 2016 governorship election in Edo State, it has become obvious that zoning will be a major factor in the campaigns of who would succeed the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. For example, a year to the actual election date, the Esan people of Edo Central Senatorial District have already served notice that it is their turn to produce the next governor for the state. According to them, allowing the zone to produce the next governor of the state in 2016 will fulfill the demands of “equity, fairness and justice.”

They made the demand recently after a crucial meeting of Esan Elders Forum held at Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North- East Local Government Area.

In his explanation, the spokesman and chairman of the forum, Julius Akpede, said, “From our recent political history as Edo State (1991-2016), the military ruled for six years (1993-1999), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Lucky Igbinedion from Edo South Senatorial District ruled for a total of nine and half years; Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor (one and half years) and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North Senatorial Zone from 2008 till date.

“From the above analysis, political sagacity and self-evidence dictate the following: come 2016, an Esan governor from Edo Central Senatorial District should and must occupy Edo State Government House.

“Edo State Government House shall have no vacancy for any other candidate except one from Esan. Equity, justice, unity, cohesion and even spread of development dictate this,” he said on behalf of the elders’ forum.

Also the Coordinator of Esan Political Forum (EPF), Mr. Abor Airelogbe, was quoted in an interview in Benin as saying, “It is now the turn of Esan people to produce the next governor of the state because since the creation of Edo State in 1991, an Esan man has never been allowed to occupy the office except the brief period of Prof. Osereimhen Osunbor and this was bungled due to a number of factors and this cannot be allowed to continue.

“I know that the Esan people cannot make it alone to the Government House and I equally know that Edo people are reasonable and we can solicit the support of Edo South and Edo North Senatorial Zones to get it in 2016.”

Also, before the current demands from other zones, the Ijaws in Edo had as far back as 2014 commenced their clamour to produce the next governor of the state.

Chief Robinson Oroupa, one of their leaders who was said to have spoken in 2014 on the heels of a declaration made by Chief Samuel Ogbemudia, former governor of the old Bendel State, said, “Everybody knows that we’re part of Edo State. So putting our house in order is a step in the right direction. The Government House in Osadebey Avenue, Benin City, is for those who are prepared for it. The Ijaw man is fit and ripe enough for Edo State governor’s seat. We’re ready, come 2016, to occupy the place. There is no stopping us,” he said.

Ogbemudia was reported to have said “it was okay for an Ijaw person to govern the state in 2016, as long as they are united in their demand.”

Since then, the Ijaws have led the agitation to produce the Oshiomhole’s successor.

There may still be almost 12 months left before Oshiomhole will vacate the office of the governor of the state but any diligent observer in Edo State will know that all hands are already on deck to get his successor. Will the next governor carry the broom or an umbrella? The race has just begun.