Twelve governorship aspirants are competing for the governorship ticket in Edo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). OSAGIE OTABOR writes on the succession battle, the contenders and pretenders, and the factors that will shape the shadow poll.
The die is cast in the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC). Twelve aspirants are competing for the governorship ticket tomorrow. The candidate will face his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart at the the September 10 election.
No fewer than 3,000 delegates will decide the fate of the aspirants. Many of the aspirants have stormed the 12 local government areas soliciting for votes in the last three months. However, some contenders were also busy campaigning on the pages of the newspapers. Others have employed the television and billboards to pass their messages across to the people.
What has raised the tension and apprehension among APC members are allegations of mopping up the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and forcing delegates to swear to oaths of allegiance.
Top on the list of aspirants is Godwin Obaseki, the economic wizard. Others are Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Blessing Agbomhere, Dr. Pius Odubu, Kenneth Imasuangbon, Comrade Peter Esele, Oserheimen Osunbor, Tina Agbarha, Austin Emuan, Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula and Prof. Ebegbue Amadasun.
Edo South Senatorial district has the highest number of aspirants. Four aspirants are from Edo Central while the youngest aspirant, 37 year-old Agbomhere hails from Edo North. The APC is silent on zoning, but the body language of its leaders appear to lean towards a candidate from the Edo South because of its voting population.
The fate of the aspirants will be decided by the delegates. But, the outcome of the primary would also determine the relevance of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the political family he has raised in the last seven years.
The governor has stood his ground, despite the blackmail and outright insults heaped on him when he decided to back Obaseki, the Chairman of the Edo State Economic Team. He appears to be weathering the storm in his bid to deliver his anointed candidate, despite the threat by some fifth columnists, who believe that the emergence of Obaseki could spell doom for the APC at the poll.
Oshiomhole’s loyal foot soldiers are working hard to convince delegates to stop what some had termed the disgrace of their boss, especially by his deputy, Dr. Plus Odubu, and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
Oyegun was alleged to have frustrated efforts to replace delegates, who had defected to other political parties or died since the congresses were conducted. It was learnt that Oyegun and Oshiomhole are at loggerheads over the delegates’ list. Both men are also on the divide over the choice of Oshiomhole’s successor. Oyegun is believed to be supporting Ogiemwonyi.
At a meeting with the Prince Oyinlola Fact-finding and Reconciliation Committee, Oshiomhole said he would fight the election as if he were a candidate, regardless of who wins the primary. The governor also warned that the APC in Edo State has enemies within, who “are worse than those in the opposition party.”
He said:”The truth is this might be the wish of our enemies; enemies from within and enemies from without. The more dangerous enemies are those who even purport to have joined the APC, but their soul is in the PDP. By their choice of language and style and tactics, it is clear that they wish to be in APC while actually working in futility, hoping that they can discredit APC so that their own party that we have grounded, dismantled and wrested can hopefully be revived.”
A Senior Special Assistant to Oshiomhole on Political Matters, Mr. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolor, however, said the successor to his boss must not be a “slow poison” and that the candidate “must understand that loyalty is not a slave-game, but a game of mutual interest.’
Edokpolor said the person must have sufficient capacity to regenerate the fading legacies of the founding fathers and he should have the intellectual capacity to appreciate superior arguments.
He said the person must be detached from thuggery, brigandage and vindictive tendencies, adding that he should be accessible and humble.
It is not clear who would get the ticket because the delegates could not be trusted, until they have voted. The battle for the ticket, according to APC chieftains, are between five of the 12 aspirants. Obaseki enjoys the support of entire Oshiomhole political family, the Edo APC Caucus in the National Assembly and about 18 APC lawmakers in the House of Assembly.
Odubu:
He is the deputy governor. His boss has reportedly told him: “We come together, we go together.” This has caused friction in their relationship. Oshiomhole recently said he was informed of a plan by his deputy to use voodoo means to eliminate him. Those opposed to the deputy governor’s aspiration claimed that his emergence would give the PDP an easy victory because of what happened to Samson Osagie during the general elections when he (Osagie) attempted to go to the Senate after 16 years as a state and federal lawmaker. He was tagged Mr. ‘Only me’. Odubu was in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007. He became the deputy governor in 2008 after the Court of Appeal judgment. His critics said 16 years were enough for him, but Odubu has insisted that he is more experienced and qualified to succeed Oshiomhole. He has promised to grant tax holiday and waiver for the Certificate of Occupancy fees as an additional incentives to new investors.
He said: “Given the high level to which Comrade Oshiomhole has taken Edo State, the state needs a governor that is game ready. One that will hit the ground running.I am in the race to win. I have all it takes to win the primaries. I am a loyal party man. I will support any winner in a free and fair primaries.”
Obaseki
He is the most vilified aspirant because he has the backing of the governor. Godwin is the scion of the famous Obaseki family. His great grand father was the administrator of Benin Kingdom between 1897 and 1914 while his grand-father, Ikuobase Gauis-Obaseki, represented the Benin Kingdom in the British Council during the time of Governor-General James Robertson. His detractors have raised many issues against him. But, Godwin has been described as the architect of Oshiomhole’s success. He gathered experts to fashion out the road map for the of Oshiomhole administration. His greatest undoing was that he opted to work silently as the Chairman of the Economic Team. But, Godwin has sympathy among voters. He has been able to convince them in the course of mobilisation. He has promised to sustain the tempo of infrastructural development. His key point areas are investment in agriculture to foster economic stability, human resources development and the formulation of policies that will lead to self-reliance.
He said: “Developing and investing in the agricultural sector is a sure shot way to economic sustainability. It will provide jobs and create associated support businesses.
“It is also one of the most effective and important strategies for economic growth, poverty reduction and more job opportunities in a state. Our abundance of intelligent human capital means Edo can become a vibrant technology hub, we must look inward to develop this resource,” he added.
Airhiavbere
He joined the APC from the PDP after last year’s presidential election. He was the PDP governorship candidate in 2012. Airhiavbere entered politics five days after he retired from the Nigerian Army as a Major-General. He contested the PDP primaries seven months after he joined the party and he is contesting on the APC platform 13 months after his defection. Airhiavbere told reporters that the democratic process is at work in the APC. He said aspirants are not expected to purchase the ticket, unlike the PDP. He has promised to improve the public service delivery, boost agriculture and promote foreign direct investment.
Imasuangbon
Popularly known as the ‘Rice Man,’ Imasuangbon is in the race for the third time. He is a household name in Edo. In 2007, he was asked to step down for Oshiomhole on the defunct Action Congress (AC). In 2012, he lost to Airhiavbere when he contested in the PDP. Imasuangbon is a philanthropist. He has sustained his yearly rice distribution for 10 years. He has also organised essay competitions where he distributed ipads and cash prizes to students.
The aspirant has urged other aspirants to show what they have done to lift the poor. He hoped to get a blocc vote from Edo Central where he hails from. He had promised to create wealth by blocking leakages.
Imasuagbon said: “The best way to create wealth is to create job. The best way to create job is to block the leakages. No false contract, no fake civil servant. Another way is to go into agriculture. When I am governor, I will stop throwing rice. For the past ten years, I have been giving out rice non-stop.
“When I am governor, I will have three rice plantation in each of the three senatorial district. That will take over 5000 youths off the street. We will have pineapple farm, mango farm and each of the farm will have industries at the tip end. We will not only feed Edo, we will feed other West Africa countries.”
Arigbe-Osula
He did not show any intention to contest, until the sale of nomination forms commenced. Party members were surprised when he paid for the nomination form. Arigbe-Osula was in the House of Representative between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He defected to the PDP and later. to the ACN. Critics said he was dragged into the race to help divide the votes of the Edo South. Not much was heard from him, until he purchased the form. His chance is very slim, if he does not step down, ahead of the primary.
Ogiemwonyi
Ogiemwonyi, an engineer, worked in the oil industry for 34 years before he enteed politics. He has tagged himself as ‘Mr. Integrity.’ Ogiemwonyi, a former Minister of State for Works, joined the APC last year He has warmed his way into the hearts of some APC delegates. Ogiemwonyi said he would continue from where Oshiomhole stops with a new strategy. He is seen as a strong contender for the race
Esele
This is the first time the former Trade Union President is participating in elective politics. He has promised to focus on three key areas-culture, agriculture and education- if elected as governor.
Esele hails from Edo Central. But, he does not believe in the Esan Agenda, which is power shift to Edo Central. He has said that merit should be the watchword, and not ethnicity.
Esele said: “We want to have functional educational system to help children fit into the 21st century. My life is my canvass which I intend to reproduce. You cannot have a government when you cannot plan. A government is driven by data, research and analysis.”
“Leaders want to go this way, delegates want to go the other way. I am in this race because I love it. I have carried out research because it makes me happy. Other aspirants should tell the people what they want to do. I will not be a governor where my commissioner of Education cannot tell you the number of pupils in primary school. I will not be a governor where my Commissioner of Agriculture does not know extension workers. I know what to do. I do not believe in money bag. I want to bring in new things.”
Agbarha
She is the only woman aspirant. She has promised to make women hold key positions in government, including the Chief of Staff, Secretary to Government and the chairman of the party. Her chances are very slim, owing to the financial muscle of her male counterparts.
Amadasun
He is the oldest aspirant. Prof. Amadasun first contested for the governorship on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) against Chief John Oyegun. That was in the aborted Third Republic. He is a Professor of Anasthesiology. He said he has developed a winning strategy since he does not have the financial muscle. Prof. Amadasun said he was not bothered about the purchase of PVCs by any aspirant.
He added: “All is fair in war. The delegates are available for use. Why don’t the aspirants go out to use their method to win. They should also go out and buy PVC of devise ways to mitigate buying.
“I believe all is fair in war. I am devising my method. I will win. I am devising my unique ways since I don’t have money to share and also knowing the advantages my opponent have.”
Agbomhere
He is the youngest aspirant. He is a critic of the governor. Agbomhere said he would probe Oshiomhole and ensure that looted funds are returned to the treasury. His targets are the youths. He said he would make Edo the Dubai of Africa and boost the economy by creating marketing boards.
