Enemies of Edo
By Erasmus Ikhide
IN the lead-up to the 2024 governorship election slated for September 21st next month, certain individuals have emerged and projected themselves as enemies of the state and good governance. Regrettably, Adams Oshiomhole and a host of his likes are prioritizing their personal interests over the well-being of the state.
Lately, Oshiomhole, in his pitiable self-aggrandizement, has been spotted at campaign stops, sour-graping desperately in his bid to market and rebrand Monday Okpevhbolo for the election as the best that has happened to Edo State. He has been deceiving unsuspecting electorates by spewing the complete falsehood that Okpevhbolo is the most endowed among the lot with competence and commitment that are needed for state craft.
Oshiomhole didn’t stop at his lying stunts. He has gone ahead to demarket the most qualified in the gubernatorial race, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, with unprintable names that are alien to his enviable record as a successful captain of numerous industries with a quantum of laureates to wit. It’s on the strength of that notice that has been served to Oshiomhole to retract his unfounded bogus allegations against Dr. Asue Ighodalo or face litigation.
Politicians involved in signposting Monday Okpevhbolo’s candidacy to re-launch themselves on the scene for relevance know that Okpevhbolo is an unmitigated disaster. But unfortunately for them, they’re finding it difficult to take back their support for the APC candidate from the gamble. That is the standard practice for politicians. Once political gladiators value their personal gains over the well-being of the state, there is one definitive end: state stagnation or arrested development.
Obviously, these dauntless politicians are aware of Monday Okpevbolo’s deficiencies and struggles with communication in the English language, yet they continue to promote and project him as a viable candidate. Despite being assisted in crafting a barely comprehensible manifesto, Okpevbolo has failed to effectively communicate his vision on how to govern the state to the Edo people.
The audacity of the class of these politicians in the state has been a sour point in the backwardness of the state. This is coupled with their failure to elevate the political discourse that should have been anchored on the quality of those who should govern the state. The likes of Adams Oshiomhole are aware that once Dr. Asue Ighodalo becomes governor of Edo State, they will retire from politics.
It is clear that these politicians are exploiting Okpevbolo’s weaknesses to further their own agenda. Their ultimate goal is to hijack his government and perpetuate misgovernance, which would continue to harm the citizens of Edo State and the state alike. The people of Edo deserve better.
They deserve leaders who prioritize their needs and well-being, not self-serving politicians who seek to exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain.
Erasmus Ikhide contributed this piece via: ikhideluckyerasmus@gmail.com.
