Fred Itua takes a look at the factors that might work against Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s return to Osadebe House in next year’s governorship elections in Edo State.
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Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State no doubt is very popular. The Nigerian media is sometimes biased when analysing issues that pertain to him. His gift in oratory is his greatest weapon. His popularity in spite of the glaring political realities has not diminished since his days as the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
Under his watch, NLC organised mass protests to register their disapproval whenever policies considered inimical to the wellbeing of Nigerians were made. One of such protests was in response to the proposed removal of the oil subsidy by the federal government. Oshiomhole was hailed and encomiums were showered at him by Nigerians who saw in him, a messiah.
Sadly, his voice has been missing from the public debate since the federal government announced the removal of the fuel subsidy. The governor who spearheaded mass protests against the removal of the subsidy has covertly joined the other 35 state governors in supporting the removal of the subsidy. The Nigerian media has been silent about this. Oshiomhole should declare which side of the coin he belongs to in all of these.
The present day political equation in Edo State is not in tandem with the narratives enumerated above on how a federal system of government should operate. There are three senatorial districts in Edo State just like in every other state of the federation.
The Binis predominantly occupy south, the Ishans dominate central and the Afemai/Estakos occupy the north respectively. Governor Oshiomhole is from Edo North Senatorial District, his deputy hails from the south, the Speaker of the House of Assembly hails from the south, Secretary to State Government hails from the north, and Chief of Staff to the governor hails from the south. Edo Central Senatorial District occupies the office of the deputy speaker of the house of Assembly.
In a true federal system of government, is this equation acceptable and in tandem with the provisions of the Federal Character Commission?
It will be recalled that in the April 2011 general elections in the state, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) won in the south and north senatorial districts, except for Edo Central which is still under the stronghold of the PDP.
Oshiomhole publicly vented out his anger at the loss of ACN in Edo Central by sacking his cabinet members of Ishan origin from his cabinet. In? response to the condemnation by the public, he re-appointed some of them and irrelevant portfolios were assigned to them.???
In a democratic system of government, are citizens not entitled to vote for candidates of their choice? Why would an enlightened person that parades his credentials as the people’s governor succumb to such a cheap political game?
Another dimension to the marginalisation of the Ishans is the non provision of infrastructure in the region since Oshiomhole assumed power in late 2008. More than 80% of the capital projects in the state are sited in the South and North.
Should the Ishans suffer total neglect because they preferred candidates that are not from the ACN? Are they not tax? Should tax payers be alienated from enjoying the good of the land?
The economic hardship in Nigeria vis-a-vis Edo State, speak volumes. Lagos State, land of plenteous opportunities is Nigeria’s economic paradise. In spite of these opportunities that abound, civil servants in the state pay moderate taxes. Ironically, Edo State where the major occupation is farming and a lean civil service, public and civil servants pay 25% tax.
This wrong political mis-calculation by Oshiomhole and his advisers has pitched the governor against the workforce in the state.
A visit to the state-owned university, Ambrose Alli University will baffle you.
From a tuition fee of N18, 000, it has been increased to N75, 000. It is understandable if modern infrastructure have been provided in the institution. Sadly, nothing has changed. Sources close to the Vice Chancellor of the university downplayed the claims by the governor that two billion naira has been released to the institution to provide infrastructure and research work. If indeed our dear comrade governor has released such funds, how come the teaching standards of the school has not improved?
The last set of graduates in the institution that were issued certificates in the institution was 2006. The state government under Oshiomhole has refused to release funds to the institution to conduct convocation and issue degree certificates to graduates of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 sets.
Ninety five percent of the ACN members in the state are members that decamped from the PDP. Some of the party members have accused the governor of coercing them into the ACN to avoid facing prosecution over minor offences they have committed.
The popular High Chief, Osamede Adun, popularly called Bob Izua, a transporter in the state is a clear example. He was coerced into the ACN in 2009 after the governor threatened to demolish his residential apartment in Benin City which the governor alleged was on the Moat. The said house was marked for demolition. After the Benin chief joined the ACN, the taskforce turned a blind eye on it.
Oshiomhole’s ‘landmark projects’ in Edo State exist on the pages of national newspapers. A visit to the three geo-political zones in the state will affirm this.
What do we classify as landmark projects? Is it the beautification of the popular Ring Road in Benin City? The demolition of illegal structures along Ugbowo-Uselu road? Pedestrian paths in Benin City? Or the scanty provision of streetlights in some selected parts of the state capital?
Journalists who are quick to always score Oshiomhole high should take a visit to the three geo-political zones in the state and then sincerely appraise the governor on his alleged ‘performance’ in the state.
How many new schools have been established or hospitals built? No bridge or modern drainage systems have been constructed. The spate of killings, robbery and kidnapping in the state, are well known.
Analysts want a stop to all the drama and encomiums. They insist Oshiomhole should hit the ground and justify the N1.6b monthly internally generated money from the state. The PDP is not the greatest threat to his re-election; the revelation of his true identity remains his greatest hurdle as we approach the governorship election in the state.?