Error in exposing the weak points, if any, in the Edo Central District’s stand on a person of Esan extraction, as Governor of Edo, 2024
By Hon. Jonathan Aifuobhokhan
in a write-up with the title, “Leadership Diversity And Rumble In Edo Central Senatorial District” by Hon. Kingsley Aghehior Shaka-Momodu, he tried for whatever reasons to bring down to disdain some of the aspirants from Esan extraction for the 2024, Edo governorship.
The opposing political gladiators, scrutinizing the political dynamics towards gaining a foothold: determining and seeking to have a grip on the candidacy for the Edo governorship race, come 2024 election, in any party, will commend you on your write-up that you made in which you tried to expose the weak points in the Edo Central’s chance to have a breakthrough after many years in the unfortunate situation in the race to Osadebe Avenue.
You vehemently stood through the write-up against the common quest of the people struggling to have formidable aspirants to run for the position of governor of Edo state, knowing fully well that it is not only APC in Edo Central Senatorial district or only APC in the state that is jostling for the position.
Through the write-up, you struggled in vain to eliminate those that even posed a threat to the opposition of our common goal. Some political forcasters and permutators opposing this our laudable quest, have been long wearing and afraid of the political profiles, ascendancy, financial and support base of some of those you tried to cast aspersions on, for their genuinely attained heights.
Truly, the Edo Central Senatorial District boasts of a long list of intimidating and qualified governorship aspirants in whichever parties, that are yearning for the number one position in the state.
However, each individual and party are on their own, struggling to achieve gainful end. It is a struggle of the fittest: putting the best hands on the saddle; thus, the most popular, most acceptable, accessible, humble and humane, that will sell. The one with the means of prosecution of the project and the one with the hand of God upon his hand his or her head are added advantage and such one could be one of those you are trying to run down. There are some with over flowing grace of God: grace of acceptability. *He who God has blessed, let no man curse.*
Equally of truth is that the Edo South and Edo North Senatorial districts, nonetheless boast of men and women that are highly versatile, politically mobile and tested. These highly political governorship aspirants are by their own right formidable and are qualified to push ahead to occupy the seat at the Osadebe Avenue.
How do you or anybody stop these ones in their ambition? This is where your focus should be centered and not trying to run down an Esan man from aspiring for the governorship. Please, note this, the stronger fight is yet to come and it is coming from outside.
To my dismay, you opined that the governorship position has been agreed upon to come to the Edo Central Senatorial District. I believe this is a misinformation and a wish. Somebody may want to ask you: where and when was this decision taken? In which meeting? Where was the venue? Who were the decision makers? Why are there aspirants from Edo North and Edo South spending millions of naira, campaigning all across the state? I don’t think you have any answer to any of these simple questions.
Most disgusting in the write-up is your opinion that some individuals that are having executive and legislative positions, that they are occupying at the moment, should not, in anyway, be part of those that are aspiring to become the next governor of Edo state. Looking through the list of those that have shown interest in the governorship, those you have in your wisdom weeded out, are some of the best hands from Esan land.
You may need to know that, the mentioning of some of the names of those you castigated, send shivers to the spines of the opposition figures within the party and also, within the other political opposition parties in and outside the Senatorial Districts.
Edo Central Senatorial District, like any other, and her citizens in the enclave of the nation called Nigeria, is ruled and guided by law and orders. As a citizen of Nigeria, those our brothers you heinously castigated, that are lawful engaged, have the inalienable rights to aspire to any position of authority in the land if they so desired.
You may need to be reminded that, there is a laid down law guiding the disengagement of one from his or her occupations before engaging in any party primaries. One who wishes to transit from any occupied executive position and aspire through election to any position of his or her choice is free to do so. Some of those you have chosen to discard are aware of this and are ready to resign from their gainful positions at the appropriate time. However, as for those in the legislative arm, there is no rule compelling them to resign from their position before contesting through primaries for any elections. Is good to state that it is not out of place or an offence for anyone to aspire to advance to a higher position of his choice if available.
My advice to you and those that have this contrary and erroneous view about who should be among the aspirants for the governorship, is for you to know that nobody has zoned the position of a governor to the Edo Central Senatorial District.
Politics is not a moral affairs. One struggles for a position before it is realized, unless it is by appointment.
Politics is all about struggle and lobby. It is a game of intrigues. It is not best played in the comfort of one’s abode. One must always be on the move, reaching out to every shade of interest in every nook and cranny.
Social media is good but the political answer to hit the nail on the head is not there. At times it is used for clandestine motives. Please avoid it.
Consequently, for any section or group of people to give a favourable consideration to the agitations of a people, the best hands from that zone must be projected.
It is not a moral game for the Edo central to be given the opportunity to produce a governor of Esan extraction. It cannot be on a platter of gold for it to happen. It doesn’t matter whether it had eluded us for more two decades. Esan people must work for it. They must produce their best hands which could be among those that have shown interest for the governorships. It doesn’t matter whether they are among those occupying any executive or legislative positions at the moment. Just but the best hands!
Vilifying anyone because of his or her ambition to run for governorship now or in the future is wicked and this is an aberration. Anyone that is doing that must desist from it. It is very uncivilized and unpatriotic.
Conclusively, I stand for the Esan people in the movement to have any Esan man or woman as the next governor of our beloved Edo state. Whoever is taken to fly the flag of my party, APC, is my candidate for the 2024 governorship election.
Hon. Jonathan Aifuobhokhan
Edo Central Political Director for
Dist. Senator Monday Okpebholo,
(AKA) AKPAKOMIZA, 2024, EDO GOV.
