Edo 2024: Oshiomole, Political Godfatherism no dey tire you?
By Fred Ikhuoria
The forthcoming September 2024 Elections in Edo State would be the 5th consecutive election sequence in which Adams Oshiomole would actively be telling Edo people who to vote for.
In 2007, and his reelection in 2012, he campaigned for himself, telling people to vote for him. By 2016, he again mounted the rostrum to campaign for incumbent Governor Obaseki who at the time was running against Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Oshiomole unleashed his full verbal arsenal on Ize-Iyamu. He called him a cultist and alleged that he had poured acid on another student during his undergraduate days.
He also labelled Ize-Iyamu a thief and said that was the reason he did not give him any appointment despite him having been the Director-general of his reelection campaign.
By 2020, the tables had turned. Obaseki had quickly outgrown Oshiomole and his overbearing attitude.
Oshiomole found a new ally in his old enemy Ize-Iyamu and Adams Oshiomole hit the campaign train again, this time, asking Edo people to vote for Ize-Iyamu as Governor in a bid to stop the second term bid of Godwin Obaseki.
Needless to say that they were roundly beaten.
It’s 2024 and again, Oshiomole at 72 has hit the campaign trail, this time asking Edo people to vote for Monday Okpebholo, a rather lacklustre and mediocre character who doesn’t come across as the brightest sort of candidate. A sitting Senator who rarely makes contributions to debates in the Senate, Monday Okpebholo also seems to be very shy of public engagement and perhaps his taciturn nature is a perfect opportunity for the loquacious and garrulous Oshiomole to take centre stage.
In a recent viral video, Oshiomole was seen addressing the audience from the sunroof of an SUV like the Candidate while the actual candidate hung from the side like a bus conductor. The scene made for very poor optics and did not escape the sardonic banter of social media users and commentators..
Only a few days ago, a TV Presenter had to remind Oshiomole that he was not the one on the ballot and that he should tell Okpebholo to come on air in the media and discuss his plans for Edo people.
The apparent desperation leads us to question what it is that Oshiomole really wants.
Having held the stage and danced vigorously as Governor for 8 years, isn’t it time to leave the stage for other dancers?
Has he exhausted the scope of his duties as Senator representing Edo North District so perfectly that he is eager to take up the additional job of “Governor-General of Edo State?
What is this obsession with trying to decide who rules Edo State?
One of the biggest achievements Oshiomole likes to take credit for as a Governor is that he killed “Godfatherism” in Edo politics. He has however spent the better part of the last two decades trying to resurrect what he purportedly killed.
Fred Ikhuoria
Ekpoma, Edo State
