Further to the talk about uprising, political relevance, CV, and burning down Edo, what is the point in voting in an election when everybody will try to rig the process and the best rigger will win and the people will live with it. To those who act as though the outcome of Edo 2024 was ridiculously outlandish, I beg to differ with your sentiments, it was purely Nigerian politics.
It was good to see the labour candidate Olumide Akpata, who came third on Saturday give an honest interview on Arise TV, putting it clearly when he said both sides- APC &PDP were openly buying votes on the day and how that action was the first thing that compromised the process. After that came the manipulation and the PDP were outrigged in a battle of political rigging from both sides.
The serious discussion across boardrooms of Countries in partnership with Edo State including all those who got their salaries early in Edo state is how did this happen, and can this be remedied? I’m afraid the short answer in NO.
For 8 years Governor Godwin Obaseki’s brand of politics was successful because he had “Power”. In this period, he made many wrong decisions believing in his popularity and openly isolating those who fought for him to have that power. Rich or poor, homebased or diaspora, powerful or powerless, Godwin Obaseki dealt with Edos who helped him or had an agreement with him that he did not want to keep, mercilessly. Collectively anyone who disagreed with Obaseki became known as a person who wanted to share in the state coffers.
With power, Godwin Obaseki became a fearsome personality across Edo State who took no prisoners. Because of this the PDP had “serious weaknesses” going into Edo 2024 elections. Godwin Obaseki had become too pompous for the party.
This is why PDP lost on Saturday and ironically, Godwin Obaseki was stopped by the same Adams Oshiomhole who brought him into power 8 years ago. I think Edos will be happy to have finally witnessed the end of this movie between these two.
There will be plenty of time to unpack Edo governance under Godwin Obaseki but for now it’s time to heal. I appeal to members of the winning APC Party not to act like members of the PDP under Godwin Obaseki. They should not annihilate their brothers the way the PDP under Godwin Obaseki did. We want Edo to be happy again. A state where the Government of the day and Oba Palace are on the same page. I believe we will get there.
We are just beginning.
Obaghatorkpere Ise
The Editor
2 thoughts on “Time for Edo to Heal: Finally, The Movie Oshiomhole vs Obaseki has Ended.”
Though I share thoughts with Olumide Akpata, Obaseki may have offended certain people on his journey, he was never going to share the people’s budget but rather fight to increase the IGR and institutions of the state. I personally believe he will be remembered after watching the present backwardness of APC ruling class and Agberoism. Edo just missed another opportunity of moving forward. Best of luck.
How Obaseki threw it all away is an understatement