An Open Letter To Edo State APC Acting Chairman, Jareth Tenebe
My good friend,
I have chosen to write this long epistle openly to you in order to let the world bear me witness that I advised you rightly. When you eventually fall into the pit that you are digging and the sands come pouring to bury you, some of us who are your friends will not have our conscience pricking us with guilt.
First of all, let me commend you for lending your support to ensuring that you party produced a governorship candidate from Edo Central. I also want to commend you for your determination to terminate the political dominance of Comrade Adams Oshiomole in your party. These actions are noble.
However, Mr Chairman, I am worried about your lack of respect for the occupant of the office of The Executive Governor of Edo State , His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki. I have watched with total dismay your uncivilized and uncultured choice of words when you address the Governor in public. This is rather unfortunate for someone who is hoping that his party takes over that same office.
You went on air to throw unpalatable tantrums at the person of the Governor severally. You even in one of you show of bragadoo, threatened to ask people to stone him. A sitting Governor!!!!? At every opportunity, you radiate violence. I have never seen you putting forward any articulate argument concerning how your candidate and party will right the wrongs you complain about.
In your desperation to lay your hands on the state’s treasury, you are ready to desecrate the institution of the office of the State Governor. This was what your party did to the office of the President in 2015. What if ( God forbid), God decides to punish us in Edo State by giving the state to APC sometime in the future? How would you feel hearing the opposition insulting your Governor the way you are doing.?
You might think that in politics, anything goes but you must know when to draw the line. For instance, you publicly called Comrade Philip Shuaibu a thief when he was Deputy Governor. You told the world that he stole your wrist watch and wanted to kill you. Is it not ironic that you are now political ally with the same Phillip?
I was embarrassed when I saw you raising your hands in Apostle Suleman’s church. This is the same man your party tried to rubbish in 2019 when he went against Buhari and his killer herdsmen. Now you want prayers from the same man for your party to succeed and you think God will answer you? NEVER
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, has been very magnanimous with the powers he wields as the Executive Governor and Chief Security Officer of the State. You should not push your luck too far by testing his will with unguarded threats to his life and office. The fact that he has chosen to play by the democratic rules does not amount to weakness.
I want to advise that you focus your campaigns on addressing the issues on ground. Tell the people of Edo State why they should entrust the state to your party the APC, that took the country 50 years backwards in less than 3 years after taking over power at the National level. Stick to issues and not these threats to violence. Believe me, if you choose to go that route that you are taking, you will be crushed because God will always win.
In conclusion sir, I want to further advise that you learn from the PDP State Chairman on how to respond to issues. This will definitely eradicate your resort to violent languages. Before you talk, always remember that the Governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state. If he at anytime feels or thinks that you are a security risk to the peace of the state, you can be declared persona non grata in the State. Do not force his hands.
Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.
ESV. Amb. Tony Okonigene ANIVS, RSV, CMC, FIMC, CMS
May 18, 2024
