Many Nigerians were anxious to get a glimpse on how September 19, 2020, Edo governorship election would look like. It is no longer news that the long awaited Edo state governorship election has come and gone and the winner announced by INEC. But the APC former National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, was the greatest loser as a self-acclaimed Edo state political godfather.
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a ruling governing party suffered the same fate from the popular protest votes. Edo she had produced two national chairman of APC, but even before the September 19 Edo election, political watchers predicted that the party was heading to imminent defeat due to Oshiomhole’s stubbornness, thinking he can make or mar his political godson.
The party disqualified Governor Godwin Obaseki who was at political war with his former godfather, Oshiomhole. Former National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, reacting said the disqualification of Obaseki by the APC screening panel is a hatchet job aimed at installing a stooge that will allow some people unfettered access to Edo treasury. While not a surprise, that disqualification was a clear indication that internal democracy has been murdered in APC, a party which was founded on the principles of fair play and good conscience.
However, for the self-acclaimed political godfather, there is a great lesson to learn as people have learnt the lessons of life through pain, melancholy and the vicissitude of life And sometimes, we learn the lessons of life through joy and comfort. Whatever the case, the most important thing is the great lessons we learn out of the lessons life teaches us. If you fail to learn the lessons greatly, life will teach you a great lesson.”
Really, Oyegun’s predictions came to pass as the party suffered dire consequences. But in real sense, the peoples of Edo proved the self-acclaimed m political master wrong by showing unflinching resilience against installing a stooge that will allow some people unfettered access to Edo treasury.
In a nutshell, Adams Oshiomhole still caused more damage to the governing APC than good. It was under his watch that the party’s strength weakened as the party lost control of Sokoto, Benue, Adamawa, Bauchi, Zamfara and Edo states to the opposition PDP.
Now, the people of Edo have again spoken by re-electing PDP. The challenge before the APC caretaker NWC committee now is to ensure that the party works hard to win Ondo state gubernatorial election. The onus is on the committee to mobilise the party, retain Ondo against drifting to the opposition PDP.
Finally, the outcome of the decisive Edo state gubernatorial election reflects that godfatherism is gradually fading out of Nigeria’s political circle. Against all odds, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state defied Kwankwaso and won the election in the 2019 general election.
There is a lesson to learn from the just concluded gubernatorial election in Edo state. Governor Obaseki defied Oshiomhole by defeating Oshiomhole’s godson and was able to dethronet self-acclaimed Edo political godfather from the political echelon of the state.
There is a need for all self-acclaimed political godfathers to understand the Yoruba proverb that the moment the masquerade begins to think he is God the masquerade will be unmasked and reduced to being a laughing stock that is lower than human.
Dukawa, a public commentator, writes via [email protected]
