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By John Ainofenokhai?
The new shape and texture of politics in Edo State have presented a positive challenge which politicians in other states must accept: a challenge of commitment to state interest as amply demonstrated by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which decided not to file any petition against the outcome of the July 14, 2012 governorship elections in which Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) emerged winner.
A proper reading of the decision and how it was communicated to the public would indicate that it was not an admission that there were no solid grounds on which a petition could be filed against the election of Oshiomhole at the Tribunal.? The PDP believed and still believes that there were enough good grounds to challenge him at the levels of qualification and alleged irregularities that marred the election; but it had chosen to take the painful decision not to proceed against him.
Indeed, nothing more fundamental than state interest could have been reasonably adduced as the main reason that informed the PDP decision.? There could have been other pertinent reasons, but I believe the least of them would be greater than a mere exercise in the political cajoling of Oshiomhole, given the gutsy build-up to the election: the brickbats, propaganda, intimidation and blackmail.? Against the backdrop of those aggravations, not going to the Tribunal would have been the last thing on the minds of the PDP and its angry leaders.
But Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, who announced the party decision not to go to the Tribunal, had premised the action on devotion to the preservation of state interest-some form of patriotism to state politics, and not on selfish considerations.? According to him, “…Edo people went to the polls to elect a governor to administer the affairs of the State.? The results that were declared by INEC were in favour of the ACN Candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
“There is no doubt that every genuine member of our party in the State worked hard enough to secure victory and ensure that our candidate, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) was elected.? Unfortunately, while our party worked and abided by the principle of one man one vote, our main opponent engaged the instrumentalities of intimidation.
“They obstructed the continuous voters re-registration exercise, thereby preventing eligible voters from being registered and vote during the election, and also manipulated existing voters registers as well as the results of the election to their fullest advantage.? The results of the election are not only ridiculous but also completely at variance with rational reasoning and human expectations.
“Curiously, on Election Day, Gov. Oshiomhole had earlier rejected the way and manner the election was being conducted by INEC when he thought his rigging plan had failed, yet the result of the same election is now being hailed by all because it is PDP that has lost. It has now become a tradition that when PDP loses an election, the election is free and fair.”
Orbih said: “With the above assessment of the results, PDP is aware of the divergent views and expressions by the public.? PDP is also aware of the legal options. However, PDP has fully consulted the leadership of the party both within and outside the State.? During these consultations, legal opinions were sought and it is the conclusion of the party that while we appreciate the effects the results declared by INEC will have on our teeming members, we are also mindful of the consequences which the State may run into with protracted litigation.
“Consequently, though painful, for now PDP has decided not to file any petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the interest of the state.? We in PDP in Edo State should continue to remain steadfast and not be discouraged by setbacks as this election defeat may just be a stepping stone to a future victory.? In every election, we have always prepared ourselves for either of two outcomes….”
The PDP had set a good example in Edo regardless of the sundry feelings and attitudes some persons in some quarters may harbor.? It would appear that the candidate of the party, Airhiavbere, who had already approached the Tribunal, is left to contemplate self-denial; but there are feelers that he is working out ways of managing the withdrawal of his petition so that he would not attract ill-will to himself from his supporters who believe that he should subject the grounds of challenge against Oshiomhole to legal test at the Tribunal.
But as far as loyalty to the party is concerned, Airhiavbere should not have wavered in aligning with the party decision.? He should have quickly withdrawn any petition he might have filed whether shortly before or after the party announced its decision not to go to the Tribunal. Anyway, he is yet to fully cut his teeth in politics.? He is just about a year in the PDP and was privileged to have emerged the candidate of the party in line with some well-thought out political strategy.? Perhaps, his party had not, as of the time of filing his petition, furnished him with necessary consideration.? Those are internal arrangements that the PDP would have to fine-tune, concretize and formalize.? His running mate, Hon. Johnson Abolagba, a thoroughly loyal party man, has already aligned with the party decision.
What is, by and large, significant in the emergent post-election “politics without bitterness” or if you like “demonstration of political sportsmanship” in Edo is the great example that the PDP has shown.? It is an example that is capable of helping to reposition and redefine the party in the consciousness of the people and the electorate in Edo in the build-up to future elections. Oshiomhole, who is a beneficiary of this rare political sacrifice, should eternally relate to it as commendable.? He should always appreciate the leaders who guided the PDP into taking the decision not to go to the Tribunal.
Such commendation should be borne out of the fact that, by the decision, he (Oshiomhole) is spared all forms of distraction that would have attended the legal voyage at the Tribunal.? In essence, his attention would now be completely focused on governance.? He would have the leverage to quickly deliver on his campaign promises.? This is the beauty of the PDP decision. Orbih had succinctly captured it this way: “…And now that ACN has taken the King’s trumpet, the task should be left with Governor Adams Oshiomhole to find a place to blow it.”
It is expected that Oshiomhole will blow the trumpet well in the domain of good governance and political accommodation of the opposition for the sole business of building a greater Edo State.? I also expect that posterity will always remember the elements in the PDP who facilitated the decision not to go to Tribunal against Oshiomhole.? Indeed, the political leadership of the former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, (aka the Leader) must be appreciated together with the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.? They were all instrumental to the decision not to proceed against Oshiomhole at the Tribunal; and should thus take the credit for this PDP exemplar in Edo.?
—Ainofenokhai contributed this piece from Benin, Edo State
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