Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR, who witnessed the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, writes on the challenge of reconciliation in the chapter.
Katsina State Governor Bello Masari has a piece of advice for the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC). After conducting the primary, which produced Mr. Godwin Obaseki as the APC governorship candidate, he advised party leaders to assist Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the task of reconciling aggrieved aspirants and other chieftains. Masari said reconciliation is necessary, so that the party can retain power in the Southsouth state.
It is an understatement. The atmosphere at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City, the venue of the shadow poll, was tense as delegates cast their votes. But, contrary to the prediction of critics, there was no violence. The exercise was free and fair.
As the delegates voted, they were monitored by the representatives of the 12 aspirants. The aspirants were Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Major General Charles Airhiavbere, Engr. 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.
Obaseki won. He polled 1618 votes to defeat his close rival, Dr. Pius Odubu, who got 471 votes. Chris Ogiemwonyi came a distant third with 137 votes and Kenneth Imasuagbon got 247 votes.
Others did not get up to 20 votes. Charles Airhiavbere, secured 11 votes, Blessing Agbomhere, got five and Prof. Ebegue Amadasun had eight. Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula garnered 10 votes; Austin Emuan got seven votes, Peter Esele secured eight votes, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor garnered nine votes and Tina Agbarha got three votes.
Masari, who declared Obaseki winner, said all the aspirants were winners. He said: “They should regard themselves as winners. We have to learn to accept defeat and prepare for the next election. The winner should be magnanimous in victory. This is the first leg. I call on him to extend a hand of fellowship to other contestants. The rules and guidelines is that of simple majority. I hereby declare Obaseki as the winner of the primaries.”
Oshiomhole led the victory dance. But, the supporters of his deputy, Odubu, were not happy. The contest was actually between the governor and other aspirants.
Some political appointees, including commissioners who were sacked, were on the side of Odubu. To them, the outcome of the primary will teach Oshiomhole a lesson. But, their calculation failed.
Before the primary, propagandists had swung into action. They said the APC will lose the governorship election, if a politician does not emerge as the candidate. Obaseki, however, proved his critics wrong when he began canvassing for votes. The APC chieftains who teamed up with Oshiomhole were Hon. Razaq Bello-Osagie, Charles Idahosa, Theophilus Okoh, Pally Iriase, Peter Akpatason, Osarodion Ogie, Philip Shaibu, 18 lawmakers in the House of Assembly, and the Edo APC Caucus in the National Assembly.
Many issues were raised before the primary. Opponents alleged that Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were being mopped up for N5, 000. There were allegations of harassment and intimidation of delegates. Some people raised the alarm over an attempt to kidnap delegates. Some said delegates were being made to swear an oath of allegiance. Others alleged that there were plans to manipulate the delegates’ list.
During a pre-primary meeting with delegates, Oshiomhole asked the aspirants to swear, if they had not induced delegates with money.
He said: “As for the allegation of people spending money, the truth is like what they said in the Bible: who will cast the first stone? Of the seven of you here seated, how many can put his hand on the Bible and say, ‘I have not induced delegates with money’?” But, Ogiemwonyi disagreed, saying that he only organised an empowerment programme for the poor.
The aspirants were shocked when they were informed that accreditation would be done in three centres. The purpose was to ensure a smooth accreditation. The accreditation began simultaneously at the three centres at about 11:30am. Edo South delegates were accredited at Agbado Primary School, while delegates from Edo Central were accredited at George Idah Primary School. Delegates from Edo North were accredited at Imaguero College.
There was heavy security at the venue of the accreditation. Buses were stationed at the centres to convey delegates to the stadium. After accreditation by each local government, the delegates were taken under tight security to the stadium to prevent anybody from joining the already accredited delegates. All the delegates presented their PVCs before they were accredited and allowed into the stadium.
Outside the stadium, various groups, which were stopped from entering, were drumming and dancing; singing the praises of their candidates.
Before voting Masari said 2,582 delegates were accredited, instead of the 2,771 names on the list. He said delegates were free to go home after casting their votes.
Voting started at about 6pm. Oshiomhole kicked off the exercise, followed by other statutory delegates. Tempers began to rise, when Imasuagbon and Ogiemwonyi, who were observing the voting complained that Oshiomhole was on the field. They accused Oshiomhole of intimidating delegates. They poured invectives on their agents for not being vigilant.
Osunbor, who came with his wife, sat unruffled. Other aspirants watched as the duo vent their anger. They told the Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, to ask the governor to return to his seat.
Imasuagbon said he has invested much in sharing rice to people and he had to protect his interest. Despite the complaint that persons not accredited were voting, the exercise went on.
Oshiomhole left when the counting of votes started. Ogiemwonyi and Imasuagbon left when it was clear that Obaseki would carry the day. They both refused to explain why they had to leave.
Comrade Esele congratulated Obaseki and left the venue with a promise to support Obaseki at the general elections.
Hon Akpatason said the alleged purchase of PVCs was a mere business transaction
He said: “Those are regular rhetorics. In any election, you must hear that; it has become part of politicking in this country. In any case, I am not sure we are going to use the PVC to vote. So, what is the relevance of the PVCs now? As far as I am concerned, it is totally inconsequential. As you can see, it is secret ballot.”
To Hon. Pally Iriase, “All the noise about collection of cards is neither here nor there. It is to be expected in this period that people will make all kinds of allegations. But we must take some of them with a pinch of salt, because nobody can be forced to give his voters card.
“As it is, the interest of Edo State has to come first. We know the terrible situation we faced up to 2008, when Edo was completely rotten – infrastructural decay was the order of the day; there was nothing working.
“We now had the opportunity to see a government that works. We have seen a government that works and we expect in this exercise (primary) we that we will be able to pick who will carry on with the development that we have seen. That is why some of us have endorsed the candidature of Godwin Obaseki and we have worked to ensure that those who believe in us also follow suit.”
Oshiomhole described Obaseki as a sound person, who is not strange to governance. He said: “We have had what qualifies to be the very best (primary) that has been organised under the APC government since we assumed office and there is no question, the process has been very transparent, people have behaved very responsibly, delegates have conducted themselves very well.
“Today, we really have celebrated democracy. In terms of the controversies, I think part of the problem was also yours (media). For example, people alleged that people were buying PVCs. Now, the main criteria for accreditation in this (primary) election was the PVC. Was there any delegate who could not find his PVC to vote? All of them used the PVC for accreditation, which means that people have their PVCs with them.
“We all now have to work together, which is something we all understood at the beginning or I believe those who contested understood. We all now have to work together to sell the ticket. I think that will not be a problem because Edo people know that we have a quality of service.
“The guy (Obaseki) is sound; he is at home with the issues. He is not a stranger to governance. I have worked with him for seven and a half years. He has been part of the system; he has been in the brain box . So, there is no space for learning; he is ready to hit the ground running. For me I feel fulfilled.
“The delegates won; the delegates have spoken. Now, the party should be more united. We are ready to hit the ground running for the campaign and God willing, by September 10, Edo will, as usual reaffirm the bond between the people of Edo State and the All Progressives Congress “
Oshiomhole has scaled the first hurdle of securing nomination for the man who can deliver on electoral promises and consolidate on his achievements. He has shamed critics and proved that he understood the dynamics of politics. The PDP had prayed for the emergence of Obaseki as APC flag bearer. Its leaders boasted that Obaseki will not win the election. September 10 is indeed, Oshiomhole’s last battle.
