Diminutive two-term former governor of Edo state and national chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole is apparently attempting to wield the ‘federal might’ like a cudgel to bludgeon Governor Godwin Obaseki into ‘godson-like’ subservience. But from unfolding events, the former feisty labour leader has badly miscalculated in his effort to cage the unassuming graduate of Classics, versed in nuances of Greek power lore.
During his years as governor, Oshiomhole brooked no competition. He fought the late powerhouse of Mid-west politics Chief Tony Anenih to a standstill. He was the sole face and voice of the government, an inimitable public space man, who offered the essential articulation and defence of his administration’s policies, programmes, as well as its actions and inactions.
Then, Obaseki was chairman of the Economic and Strategy Team (EST) under Oshiomhole. In that capacity, he pioneered successive, innovative policy reforms that saw the state restructure its public finance, secure funding for infrastructure and improve the business environment to attract investment in power, agriculture and other critical sectors.
He was also instrumental in attracting the Edo-Azura power project, with support from World Bank to the state.
Obaseki’s demonstrable strategic vision earned him prime consideration in Oshiomhole’s search for a successor that would continue his administration’s policies and development programmes. Oshiomhole knows full well that a sound economic foundation is imperative for a solid political superstructure.
Therefore, his decision to pick Obaseki instead of his former deputy Pius Odubu, an astute politician, flowed from that knowledge.
Perhaps, Oshiomhole also chose Obaseki because of his seeming apolitical disposition so that he would continue to supervise the APC political structure in the state once out of power, while his inducted godson Obaseki frontally confronts the state’s governance issues.
But when godfathers become over-bearing and dodgy, a fight-back to neutralise political asphyxiation ensues. It’s then little surprise that one of the crucial lessons that Governor Obaseki learned from Comrade Oshiomhole was how to fight overbearing godfathers. He however is sufficiently modest to give credit to the Edo people, stating: “the Edo people will be the ones to put a final end to godfatherism in Edo politics, not me.”
Speaking during the GO Support rally at Ring Road, the governor spoke loudly: “They hate to see our youths respecting their elders; but, like to see a seating governor abusing the likes of Esama, Tom Ikimi, Annenih, and co, who are old enough to be their father.
“They hate to see a modern city. Let them continue with their blackmail, the truth will be told at the poll. The Edo people will be the ones to put a final end to godfatherism in Edo politics, not me. I repeat, I won’t share Edo state money with any godfather or corrupt leader.”
Expectedly, political interactions that characterise relationships between godfathers and godsons, where a godfather insists on total supervision of their godsons, there is bound to be conflict of interests that could obviate whatever the earlier understandings were.
Whether or not Oshiomhole is benefiting from sound advice by his aides, it is evident that his moves to retain sole control of Edo state APC structures, executive governance activities, and even the state parliament are clear errors in political visioning.
The national chairman is simply progressing in egregious errors and strategic missteps, thus escalating intra-party tension to the joy of the opposition PDP. It is claimed that Oshiomhole does not have the temperament to lobby and persuade, which is the reason he has resorted to arm-twisting and witch-hunt.
It is this dictatorial feature of the essential Oshiomhole that made him grossly mismanage his party’s governorship primaries before the last election where APC lost several states due to in-house wrangling spawned by his bruising, non-consultative style. Many are worried at the possible consequence of Oshiomhole’s heating up of Edo politics.
The emerging consensus now is that Oshiomhole is in a cold embrace with karma, having done some things similar in his past political voyage.
By engaging in a cold war with Obaseki over control of the APC structure, he is misreading the political terrain of Edo state and repeating history. He is perhaps over-estimating his political worth against his now erstwhile godson. This quite explains the growing strength and popularity of Obaseki and sure consolidation of the state’s political structure.
Those close to governance in the state know that the erstwhile labour leader went into over-drive to strangulate Obaseki. From day one, Oshiomhole had been showing more than a passing interest in the administration of the party in Edo, because it is the political machine that continues to oil his political relevance, especially as national chairman. At what cost?
Shockingly, Oshiomhole is seen to be demonstrating political naiveté at odds with his often over-hyped political experience. Governor has successively rebuffed many demands from an over-bearing godfather.
Oshiomhole’s consistent effort to overthrow governor Obaseki has also penetrated the state legislature. The Edo State House of Assembly has been embroiled in controversies over inauguration and election of speaker confirming the rift between the governor and Oshiomhole.
Currently, in a move widely seen to have Oshiomole’s imprimatur, members of the House of Representatives had given a one-week ultimatum to Governor Obaseki, to issue a fresh proclamation for the Edo Assembly. But in its reaction to the Reps ultimatum, the Assembly rejected the move to disrupt activities in its chamber, calling on the Inspector General of Police and head of the Department of State Services, APC National Working Committee (NWC) to respect a subsisting court order restraining them from interfering in the activities of Edo Assembly.
Speaker of the Assembly, Right Hon. Frank Okiye, clarified in a statement he issued in Benin City, stating that, “It has come to our knowledge that the ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating issues surrounding the inauguration of the Edo Assembly has recommended that the IGP and DSS should seal up the Assembly.
“Considering what we (have) come to know in the course of this process, the recommendation of the committee does not come to us as a surprise.”
He correctly counselled that, “The National Assembly must take note that they are expected to act as agents of peace and not merchants of crisis. Edo state has always been peaceful and any attempt for them to carry out this order will certainly disrupt the peace that is currently being enjoyed in the state.”
Perhaps, realising that his political fate hinges on dislodging or destroying Obaseki politically, expectation is that the former governor would go to the extreme to achieve his aim. However, many discerning observers know that Obaseki is no rooky, having been forged in the intricate furnaces of both the private and public sectors. Being misread by many is seen as advantage in the governor’s bruising battle to right-size Edo state’s dodgy godfather.
Chukwuma, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja
