Edo 2024: Why Obi Should not Come to Edo State to Support Akpata
…his planned visit to Edo State to support Akpata for the gubernatorial election will damaging his image
Imasogie Osagie
Mr Peter Obi cannot come to support Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata in Edo State for this gubernatorial election without damaging his image which cut across party lines in the state.
In 2023, Peter Obi left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to join the Labour Party, LP, as to run for the presidential election. Millions of Nigerians joined him in what would later be called the Obidient Movement, a movement which cut across political divides. The core value of the movement was to change the status quo in politics. ‘We no dey give shishi’ was adopted as part of its public chant signifying the attempt to remove vote-buying from politics.
However, the emergence of Olumide Akpata was against everything Obi is perceived to stand for in politics. First, it was said by those who acted as delegates that one thousand Dollars was given to each of the over three hundred delegates to vote for him. A day before the primary, which was held in Benin City, it was also said he masterminded the arrest of the LP’s National Chairman, Bar Julius Abure, who was humiliated publicly by men from Zone 5. The arrest of Abure was connected to the fact that Abure was not in support of Akpata who used money to bamboozle members of the party so that they could close their conscience to the clamour for zoning. Abure favoured an Esan man for the ticket, which could have seen the three major political parties adhering to the zoning clamour.
Last week, Obi, in series of post on X said that the Obidient Movement comprises of individuals from different backgrounds, “guided by the principles of adaptive amd transformative change, progress, discipline, and democratic values, the Obidient Movement advocates for fairness, equity, inclusivity, and justice.”
If truly Obi means these words, he should not attempt to come to Edo State to support Akpata or else, his character and name and integrity will be destroyed in the state he won in the 2023 presidential election convincingly because of his huge following in the state. First, Akpata has no moral right to contest this gubernatorial election even when it is obvious he is just being satiric about it. He is from the same ward, Local Government Area, LGA and senatorial district with Governor Godwin Obaseki, the outgoing governor. They are even distant relatives.
Apart from this, to foster peaceful coexistence and stability in the Edo State polity, there is unwritten arrangement for zoning between the three senatorial districts that make up the state. Without question, it is generally agreed that the people of Edo Central Senatorial District should produce the next governor. What Akpata is doing today is a flagrant distortion of that arrangement.
If Obi therefore makes the mistake to come to Edo State to campaign for Akpata under any guise, his reputation will be questioned by members of the Obidient Movement in the state and beyond. His sense of of justice, equity and fairness will be scrutinized. Obi cannot afford to compromise his principles and credibility for Akpata who does not believe in any of these values. The message his coming will send to his support base is that he is not different from the average Nigerian politician who for selfish interest will support allegations of corruption, manipulation, intimidation and injustice. Obi cannot afford to be seen as part of the politicians who are unmindful of double standards, who do not care if their reputation is damaged, who care only of their lone ambitions.
Obi should concentrate his effort in repairing the damage the infighting between Akpata and Abure in Edo State is causing the party where there are two dagger-drawing chairmen and their supporters which makes the party a laughing party in the state. One faction is led by Abure – Hon. Elizabeth Ativie caretaker committee, and the other is led by Akpata – the self assertive Mr Kelly Ogbailor.
Anything less than settling this crisis will question his abilities in leadership. This is so because he being seen to be too quiet over the unending imbroglio bewitching the party in Edo State.
So this is the time for Obi to show leadership and show Nigerians that he can match his words with his actions as a man of principle. Otherwise, coming to support Olumide will destroy his hard earned reputation in Edo State beyond repair.
Hon Imasogie Osagie is a member of the Obidient Movement, he wrote this piece from Benin City.
