Parties’ antecedents ‘ll determine fate of candidates
In this analysis, correspondent EBOJELE AKHERE PATRICK reports that stakes are very high in the Saturday’s governorship election in Edo state as two dominant issues will determine which of the 19 political parties contesting the poll will get the electorates votes just as Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is not leaving anything to chance to conduct free and fair exercise. He also insists that it is a straight battle between the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his counterpart in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The die is cast and in less than 48 hours from now, eligible voters in Edo state will converge on their designated polling units to cast their votes for their preferred governorship candidate. And that would have put to an end months of electioneering campaigns by the about 19 political parties that have fielded candidates for the elections
Though from the intensity of campaigns and commitment to seek the support of the voters as well as the character of the personalities involved, it is evidently clear that either of the two major political parties, the APC and PDP will carry the day considering their followership ahead of the electoral contest. This is not to say however that other parties are not in reckoning but it is interesting to note that the two parties have had a date with history with Edo people.
Firstly, the opposition’s PDP whose candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu which ruled the state for about 10 years before 2008 and the incumbent APC whose flag bearer is Mr. Godwin Obaseki and has been in government for almost eight years.
Political analysts however are quick to point out that, it even makes it less cumbersome for the Edo voters to make a choice since both of them have been in power before and comparing which party has done well while it had the opportunity to serve performed well or poorly.
Again, going into Saturdays poll, the electorates also have at the back of their minds the calibre of personality wishing to lead them as history at one time or the other has provided them also as individuals the opportunity to serve. So, these are some of the major reasons the contest will majorly be a two- horse race between Obaseki, an investment banker and Chairman Edo State Economic Team and Pastor Ize-Iyamu ,experienced politician and former Secretary to the Edo State Government.
It is also argued that the basis for comparisons as it relates to which of the political parties that has fared well in terms of the provisions of basic social infrastructural development to the people has been made very easy. But in the present circumstances the prevailing economic recession in the country has eaten so deep in the minds of the people so much that they seems to be forgetting that the present government in the state has done well and this is the crux of the matter.
Therefore, it has been opined by political watchers in the state that come Saturday, voters will base their decision on which party has the greatest capacity to deliver on its electioneering promises. But this is not so much that the leadership of the contesting political parties are not living any stone unturned.
It was observed that within the period of campaigns, the party’s conducted themselves in an orderly manner except for a few incidences that occurred during the tours. Never has campaign been this intense and to an extent issues based in the history of electioneering in Edo State like this very one.
Reasons being that the level of political awareness even in the remotest villages in the state has risen above bar, courtesy of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole- led APC government which had as its slogan ‘Let the people lead’. As a party and as candidates, issues bordering on the development of the state were highlighted and canvassed so deeply by these individuals.
One last- minute campaign issue raised by Pastor Ize-Iyamu, is that if Governor Oshiomhole had heeded the advice given him by road construction engineers, the flood now ravaging many party of Ugbowo axis of the Benin-Ore expressway would have been averted.
He faulted the construction of the two service lanes added to the road by the Oshiomhole administration pointing out that the governor added the service lane to the road in order to deceive the people of the state that it was his government that reconstructed parts of the expressway within the Benin metropolis.
The PDP candidate, who stated this during a PDP rally held at Adolo Road in Egor Local Government Area of the state, said it was regrettable that a road such as the Adolo College Road could be left untouched by the Oshiomhole’s government, assuring that he would prioritize the road if elected into office on Saturday.
“At a time the Federal Government was reconstructing the Ugbowo Road, Oshiomhole was campaigning for his second term election. He saw that it could affect his re-election, so he quickly went to the same contractor working on the road and ask them to help him put a lane by the sides of the road.
“He was advised to do the adjoining roads instead of adding a lane by the sides of the road. He, however, declined the advice given him because he wanted to create the impression that he was the one doing the Ugbowo Road.
“He was inspecting the road everyday to create this impression. The money spent on the side lanes he constructed could have done the adjoining roads such as Adolo Road. The so called extra lanes were unnecessary, the design was bad and the consequence is the flooding in the adjoining streets.”
The PDP candidate, who was joined by the Edo State chairman of the PDP at the campaign rally, asked the people of the area to punish the APC and Governor Oshiomhole during the election, pointing out that “they have leveled huge taxes upon you and asking you to vote for continuity.”
In what seems to sum up the campaigns, the party at a stakeholders meeting drummed up support for its candidate just as Pastor Ize-Iyamu declared that he was contesting Saturday’s election basically to win and be sworn into office as the next Edo state governor.
Ize-Iyamu who was addressing an impromptu stakeholders of the party drawn from all the 18 local government areas of the state held in Benin City, appreciated the party leadership at both the national, state, local government and ward levels for their solidarity by their prompt response to the sudden invitation to the stakeholders’ meeting.
He said he is confident of victory for the PDP as the party which boasts of great leaders like the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Chief Tony Anenih , Chief Tom Ikimi and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe cannot afford otherwise on Saturday.
“Many of you know the very vicious fight instigated by external forces – some from our state- that we have been facing at the national level. A lot of the fight we could not fight because it was in Abuja. But thank God we had a very dogged national chairman who was also able to block all the antics of those who wanted to frustrate us”.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who also spoke at the event assured voters in the state that Pastor Ize-Iyamu will emerge as the next Edo governor on Saturday, and said that the battle will not be an easy one.
He however asked all party members and leaders to be united, committed and resolved in seeking the victory, arguing that, “PDP is on ground in Edo therefore, do not be intimidated. We have come to give you the moral support so that you will emerge victorious but you must be united and work as a team because this is your last opportunity”.
Describing the election as the battle to liberate Edo he said, “Freedom is not easy to get. When you want to get freedom, you must make sacrifice. The poll in Edo means making sacrifice and require commitment …you will be intimidated therefore prepare yourself”. He also told the stakeholders to be wise in their relationship with security operatives, assuring them that they should ensure that the right thing is going on at every polling unit so that the true results will come out.
Wike added that party agents at all polling units must be alert and attentive at all times and refrain from making excuses that will see the other party manipulating the process and try to get the victory. Also speaking, the Delta state governor Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwu Okowa said that for too long Edo which is a twin brother of Delta has been in pains for the last eight years adding that it is important that PDP leaders and stakeholders at all levels should join hands to redress with victory at Saturday’s election.
He added that Edo people will need to turn out en masse on Saturday to elect a PDP governor in Pastor Ize-Iyamu because in the South-South geopolitical zone it has been left out of the family and needs to urgently come back to the fold.
“Edo and Delta are brothers and we are waiting patiently to ensure that we control the two states and those of us in the South-South, we are waiting patiently because we want to have a unified family”.
Okowa said,” I have seen it in you, but this boldness that I see must translate to victory on Saturday. We can win all the local government areas of this state. And we must ensure that we are right on ground to defend our votes”, adding that, “In the Bible in Joshua chapter one, God know it would be difficult but he told Joshua to be strong and courageous- that is my charge to you”.
“I believe you all know that in the last eight years it has been pains in Edo and if you want the pains to stop, you must fight not just for yourself but also for the people and that fight you must mobilize the people to vote, defend the votes and defend the results at the unit level, to the ward and local and even the state level, ” he said.
At the same event the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah said that the APC which are the present holders of power in Edo will do all they can to remain in power but the PDP supporters across the state must show them the way out on Saturday.
He said, “the APC has a strategic document called the south-south and North central penetration document. And for the South-South, they clearly stated that when election comes, get all the results and let the PDP go to court and we will appoint the judge”.
Jonah who apologized for the absence of Governor Seriake Dickson said that party agents must be proactive and use their mobile devices where necessary to record developments at the polling units adding that such incidents often stopped malpractices at elections. “From what I am seeing and I listened to the debate of the four candidates and am very proud to say that we have a very capable candidate representing us. It is our greatest asset and we must build on it”.
He reiterated Governor Okowa’s plea on the need for party agents to follow the votes after it has been counted in order to ensure that electoral officials do not collude with others at the venue to deprive the party of victory. He said outgoing Edo governor Oshiomhole’s penchant for insulting leaders and elders was un-African and a sacrilege which as a person he should be afraid of.
On his part the National Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee Senator Ahmed Makarfi who called for a minute silence over what he called the demise of APC in Edo state, warned against any attempt to frustrate the will of Edo people by disrupting weekend’s governorship election. He said a service of songs would be due for the APC after the elections even as he predicted the fall of the APC in Edo and the emergence of a the PDP candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu as the next Edo state governor in the election because he is a better candidate.
The chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees Senator Walid Jibrin said he was at the meeting with a message of goodwill to Edo people that on Sunday they will a have a brand new PDP governor. He also prayed that God will punish anyone or group that will take it upon itself to disrupt the polls in any guide or manner that will affect the will of Edo people.
But going into the polls with so much enthusiasm and focus to continue in the developmental strides of the outgoing governor, is Obaseki’s greatest asset and has promised to make Edo the next economy hub of Nigeria, after Lagos, when elected as governor of Edo on September 10. Obaseki made this promise during an interactive session in a programme titled, “International Leadership Idea Exchange” organised by management of the Benson Idahosa University (BIU), in Benin recently.
This is coming as he disclosed that 150,000 hectares of land have been allocated for agricultural purposes in Edo. The candidate, who said the foundation for this had already been laid by the outgoing government, but now only needed a quality leadership to actualise this stressing that the state already possesses the potential of being the economy hub with its advantageous position, agricultural activities, and the population.
He said that aside the quality leadership his government will offer, his administration will invest in agriculture and quality and affordable education, that will produce more of the human resources needed to drive the process. Obaseki who blamed the past Federal Government-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the present economy hardship, promised to enthrone a transparent, accountable and a responsible government, when elected as Edo governor.
“At the federal level, under the PDP, we were less than responsible. The country made lot of money from sales of crude oil, but rather than saving, they squandered everything, including all the savings they met. Now the price of crude has crashed, there is much pressure on the naira as we have become a consuming nation who imports practically over 70 per cent of her needs, the economy is now in recession. But in Edo, we see the crash in the price of crude oil as a better opportunity for us. We now have to maximise our God given potential in agriculture, population, and the location of the state, to be a production state rather than just a consuming one.
“The foundation for this has been laid with the massive investment in infrastructure this past seven and half years, all that is needed is continuity, especially with the person who has the quality and has been part of the rebuilding process. We have learnt our lesson, we have huge opportunity, but we need to be discipline,” stated Obaseki.
While reiterating that his promise of creating a minimum of 200,000 jobs, he stressed that government alone cannot create all the needed jobs but can achieve this through its policies. The APC flag bearer, who fielded questions from the management and staff of the institution, also promised massive investment in quality and affordable education in Edo.
Also, an elated Governor Oshiomhole, would not let Ize-Iyamu criticisms go without a quick reply saying that, Pastor Ize-Iyamu is jealous of his numerous achievements in eight years, something the PDP government failed to do in 10 years.
In a response to Ize-Iyamu’s allegation that the Oshiomhole government caused the flooding on Ugbowo road in Benin City, Oshiomhole, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, said “we note that Mr. Ize-Iyamu is still living in the past; a past filled with emptiness and incompetence which was displayed by the Government of Mr. Lucky Igbinedion in which Ize-Iyamu served as Chief of Staff and Secretary to Government.
“It is laughable that Ize-Iyamu has come out to make such a wild allegation of flooding on Ugbowo Road, the same road on which many people were washed away by flood during their eight years of crass incompetence and cluelessness. A road which was a nightmare to motorists during their time in government as it was characterised by perennial flooding when that government could not even de silt the drains on the road.
“Ize-Iyamu’s outburst can only come from a man consumed by envy over the numerous achievements of the Comrade Governor on roads construction, de flooding of the state capital through the Benin Storm-water Master plan; construction and reconstruction of red-roof schools; construction of a brand new 5-Star Central Hospital; construction of brand new General Hospitals in Otuo and Ewohinmi; reconstruction of other General hospitals across the state; construction of a world-class university, payment of a new N25,000 Minimum wage to workers in the state public service, the only state to do so in the country; facilitation of multi-billion dollar investments into the state, among other numerous achievements.
“The people of Edo State have not forgotten how the failed Government in which Ize-Iyamu served as SSG created the Tom Line River and how perennial flooding at the 5-Junction area of the state capital continued unabated during their time, due to the low quality of governance they provided.
“The people have not forgotten how the Lucky Igbinedion government, with Ize-Iyamu as Secretary to Government, the engine room of government, the man who approved all government memos, merely heaped concrete on a section of the Ugbowo road, in a crude and clueless manner, and rather than solve the flooding problem on the road, they compounded the woes of motorists.
“However, the people of the state and motorists plying the road know how the intervention of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole government has completely put an end to the misery of motorists on that road through a comprehensive approach of the Storm Water Master plan and how the construction of deep underground drains at the 5-Junction has completely de flooded the Ugbowo Road and the 5-Junction area-.
“We find it amusing that a man aspiring to the highest political office in the state cannot see beyond his nose and faults the expansion of the Ugbowo Road to three lanes on each side. This only shows the poor quality of his thinking and his sinister plan to return Edo State to the dark days. We are aware that Ize-Iyamu’s ambition is to continue in the footsteps of his master and play the evil script written for him by those who ran the state aground during their inglorious years in government.”
But at a grand finale held at the Samuel Ogbemudia on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari who was personally on ground to endorse Obaseki and and his running mate Hon. Philip Shaibu said, “I congratulate Mr. Obaseki a seasoned person, I assure you and I recommend him to you so that you will continue to grow.
Among those present at the grand finale rally were the governors of Sokoto, Kogi, Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Ogun, Kano, Kastina states, Ministers of State Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, Minister of State Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, past and serving Senators, House of Representatives members, Party leaders, members of the National Working Committee, and others.
In his welcome address, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, the state APC chairman said the campaign train of the party has been widely shown love and care in all the communities visited as a result of the giant strides of Governor Oshiomhole who has showed the people what change is all about.
He added that the change the country is currently undergoing was started in the state years ago when Oshiomhole took over government from the PDP in the state adding that the state will never return to the PDP as the party is fully ready to ensure victory at the poll.
He thanked the President for visiting the state saying it is a boost for the party and the supporters. Also, the chairman of the National Campaign Council, Governor Akinwumi Ambode joined other supporters to welcome President Buhari to the state urging people to vote for Obaseki has he has been tested and trusted.
He said the presence of the president “is a pointer to the level of importance we attached to the political economy of the people of Edo state. Edo state is the heart beat of the South-South Region if not Nigeria. Presently Edo state without any controversy has witnessed the best developmental projects in the last seven and half years more than any other period in the last 17 years. It is also true that Governor Oshiomhole has laid the right foundation for governance, he has been responsive, progressive and totally committed to the needs of the people. And so through our actions and campaigns we are convinced that the only way forward is to vote for continuity of the successes.
“It is very clear that the continuity of the APC government is the sure way to greater progress. We are all witnessed to the progress in Lagos, we have been voting for continuity in Lagos since 1999, Edo can be another Lagos; the state has all the potentials to be great in the fact of governance and economic greatness. You all need Godwin Obaseki now. He will bring his financial expertise to turn the state around for better.
“Edo state can’t and should not throw away this key success secret. You must vote APC. I know Obaseki, he is people friendly, he is reliable, trust worthy and above all he has the fear of God and I vouch for him, all the members of the campaign council vouch for him that he is the only sure way to progress in Edo state”, he stated.
The host governor, Oshiomhole, who criticized Pastor Ize-Iyamu for talking about projects that were rendered ‘koboless’ by the government he served as Secretary also lamented, “Between 1999 and 2008 a period of ten years, these people together with their godfathers, can you remember anything in any of your ward that you can say they did for you?
He said, “Under PDP they introduce discriminatory school fees, but we abolished it because our party as a progressive party that believes in one Nigeria. There was never investment in roads, water, and education even as he urged the electorate to come out en masse on the day of election and vote for the APC as a way of punishing the PDP for their sins against the people and the state.
“On Saturday remember it is not over until it is over, tell your people to go and vote and punish the PDP”, he added. While introducing Mr. Obaseki and his running mate, Hon. Shaibu, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, also a former governor of the state, urged the people to appreciate the development of Governor Oshiomhole in the last eight years by voting his party.
He juxtaposed the 10 years of the PDP administration to that of the APC stressing that all voters should take hold of the election to ensure that the development in the state is sustained and continued. On his part, the APC candidate, Obaseki who noted that the victory of President Buhari in the 2015 general election has prompted him to run for governor to continue and improve the pace of development in the state.
He assured the people that his vision for the Edo is genuine and his promises to the people will be fulfilled just as he said that plans to create 200, 000 jobs have been finalized. However ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll, the INEC has declared its readiness to conduct the exercise but asked stakeholders to be of good conduct.
Professor Mohammad Kuna, special adviser to the Commission’s Chairman, stated this at a stakeholders meeting on public presentation of the security threat assessment for the Governorship election in Edo state, organized by CLEEN foundation in Benin City.
He added that the commission has been well equipped in terms of human and capital resources to carry out the exercise adding that all stakeholders must be up and doing to ensure a violent-free poll.
“It is however important that the people must own the process of electoral system. It has been observed that whatever the modalities INEC has put non ground to conduct a credible poll, the people must ensure that they behave in a civil manner to help democracy grow in the country.” he said.
Also, Professor Mim Abutudu of the University of Benin, in his presentation stated that rigging and fear of electoral manipulation can be a high risk factor that could raise the level of violence and urged INEC to ensure that materials are deployed on time to the various polling units.
But as the d-day is here, only about 1.4 million voters’ card in Edo state and this number will determine the fate of the about 5 million population in the state.
Expectedly the campaigns have not been devoid of calumny and foul language by the gladiators of the major parties. For instance, at the APC campaign rally on Tuesday Governor Oshiomhole alleged that Ize-Iyamu was rusticated from the University of Benin, UNIBEN for pouring dangerous substance into the private part of another person who is today paralysed but did not name the victim even as he claimed that Professor Itse Sagay , a Presidential Adviser in the Buhari cabinet was chairman of the panel that indicted Ize-Iyamu at that time.
Oshiomhole, who said the PDP candidate does not have the right character to occupy any responsible office stunned the huge crowd when he accused Ize-Iyamu of being a serial offender of the law.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obaseki has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Benin City for alleged certificate forgery and perjury.
The suit against Obaseki was filed in the early hours of Tuesday by the PDP. The PDP claimed that Obaseki lied on oath when he claimed to have a certificate that he never acquired in his life.
Edo State Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, had earlier asked the PDP governorship candidate to publicly display to Edo people the original copies of his educational certificates which he said he was expecting from the US city of New York. This is contained in a statement signed by the state publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare. Orbih said Obaseki could go on air and use any of the many television stations in the state to publicly display the certificates or do so during his campaigns for the world to see that he actually went to school as he claims.
However, the security agencies are not leaving stone unturned in providing adequate security as the acting Inspector-General of Police has deployed additional 25000 policemen to complement existing personnel on ground to maintain law and order even as Edo people and Nigerians in general expect free, fair and credible election on Saturday.