By SUNNY IKHIOYA

THE last Edo State gubernatorial election is still the issue, more than two weeks after its conclusion. Some people say if good men do not come out for elections, the bad guys will take over. According to Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing.” How do you see this statement vis-a-vis the present position of Asue Ighodalo and Olu Akpata? 

To be clear, I am not against Senator Monday Okpebholo in any way. He has been accused of not being articulate and smart enough; but that alone is not a supposition for good governance as empty barrels usually make the loudest noise. He couldn’t have gotten to the position of a distinguished Senator from a state of the calibre of Edo without a modicum of basic intelligence and leadership qualities. He is a politician, and we all know what politics have become in this country. The concern is about the process that gave him the victory. His other two major opponents are different, people you could aptly describe as technocrats, whose services are badly required in this dispensation. 

As a lawyer, the Labour Party candidate Olu Akpata, rose to become the President of the prestigious NBA -Nigerian Bar Association- and he ran one of the best administration in the NBA history, using contemporary yardsticks for measurement. For Asue Ighodalo, he is an international lawyer, captain of industry, boardroom guru, baggage-free and dynamic, ready with new ideas and  visionary solutions to the myriad of challenges  in Edo State. Against this backdrop, many believe he will be able to lead Edo State into a glorious era of shared prosperity. So, will his failure at the polls be an opportunity lost for Edo State? We will wait and see. 

The Edo election, which was perceived in many quarters as flawed, took place the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  a man who claimed to be a democrat, given his antecedents. If you know how Tinubu fought alongside NADECO, faced the tyrannical PDP – Peoples Democratic Party – oppression under Obasanjo, and mobilised protests against successive regimes, you will understand what I am talking about. If you understand how the APC – All Progressives Congress – government under former President Buhari instituted a probe of the Ekiti State 2014 gubernatorial election, the outcome of which sent many military personnel to early retirement, you will understand what I am talking about. An army Brigadier-General, Aliyu Momoh, was relieved of his duties along with others for the role they played during that election. 

What the present INEC -Independent National Electoral Commission – and security personnel displayed in Edo State was an exact replication of the events of the 2014 Ekiti election. But the memory of man is short. History will always be there to remind us. The people’s choice is central to democracy. Did the people’s choice emerge in the Edo State election? Independent observers do not think so.

The credibility of the election was tainted when the President was caught on camera saying: “As the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will give you Edo.” That was the high point of the low moments recorded in the election. The common is that every other establishment in this government took a cue from the President’s body language and worked in tandem towards a predetermined goal.

Yes, the government of the day instituted a probe into the Ekiti election, and those found culpable were sent packing. So, those of them there, now dancing naked, should dance and enjoy the spoils of the day. It is soldier go, soldier come, while hoping that you would not be at the receiving end when your time comes. Now to reality. Let it be clear that when a governor is in good harmony with his people, rigging, no matter the strategy used, can be difficult. We have seen this with Tinubu as Lagos governor against Obasanjo’s PDP, Uzor Kalu against Obasanjo in Abia, Nyesom Wike against Buhari and others. One police commissioner, defending the ruling party’s loss in one of the Southern states, once told his IG – Inspector General – that it is better for the ruling party to lose the state election, than for the state to burn. When a strong governor is in charge, his followers are ready to defend their votes at any cost. 

The ease with which security personnel carted the collation from the wards to the centre was as a result of insufficient forces on the ground to defend the votes, and this could be attributed to Obaseki’s politics. Obaseki courted so many adversaries, and in the end, there was no one to defend the votes. The people he offended were the ones to defend the votes, and this time around, they moved on. It is very significant that the bulk of these people were those who put their lives, reputation, finance, and others on the line to make him governor. He said he was fighting against godfathers, and the good people of Edo State queued behind him.

When it got to his turn, he decided to become godfather to one of the candidates, and he did not do this with the required tact of a deft politician. He treated his deputy governor, Phillip Shaibu, who was at the head of his foot soldiers very badly. Distanced himself from the Dan Obih faction of the PDP who rehabilitated him when he was embarrassed by the APC; went into unnecessary artefacts battle with the Oba of Benin and gave people the impression that he was in support of the Enogies who took the Oba to court and badly factionalised the party with the manner candidates were selected. 

He was a bad arrowhead for the Asue Ighodalo candidacy. No wonder the election was accepted by a subdued populace without a whimper. Were the multiple political sins of Obaseki enough to deprive an Ighodalo of victory, with all that he possesses?

Well, that is the way of politics. In politics the best do not necessarily come out victorious. The Edo State election was supposed to be a defining moment for the people of Edo State and an opportunity for INEC to redeem its badly dented image of the 2023 election; again, it failed. Now we wait as the final decision shifts to the courts. After this experience, will other good men be encouraged to come out and play politics in Edo State again? We can only be hopeful. 

*Ikhioya wrote via: http://www.southsouthecho.com