2024 EDO GUBER:
Mentality that Incumbent Must Anoint His Successor, How comes?
By: Michael Ezomor
I write this piece, to quiz our minds and awaken our spirits to certain pertinent issues that some think does not matter, but are actually the matters arising in determining our daily lives, destiny, as well as the destinies of our generation.
Before I go on however, I want to strongly warn that this writeup is not is meant only for those for those with good conscience.
In my opinion, anointing of a successor, and imposing same on the people by an incumbent governor, is meant only to cover up the skeletons the outgoing governor is leaving behind, nothing more. All that story about continuity, are all rubbish; as such, anointing and imposition of a successor, by the incumbent, is the main reason why corruption, embezzlement of public funds, etc continue in government.
The incumbent may have a preferred person who he wants as the next governor, but, that individual must be acceptable to the people, he must have the integrity, relevant governance and leadership experience and track record, not just 'my friend' or 'my business partner', kind of anointed successors that Oshiomhole did, and successor, Obaseki is trying to do.
Today, Governor Godwin Obaseki, is trying to force his so called anointed aspirant, Asuelimen Ighodalo, on Edo people, and surprisingly, some faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, including those that Obaseki severely dealt with, that were hitherto, very bitter with Obaseki are today singing Obaseki's and Asuelimen Ighodalo's praises; they have all fallen in line, behind Obaseki's so called anointed aspirant. TRULY, WHAT MONEY CANNOT DO, DOES NOT EXIST.
My question to all those that have sold their conscience because of their interest in their present monetary benefits, is this: 'does Asuelimen Ighodalo have the requisite mix of leadership qualities? Does he have governance experience? Does he have welfarist interest, Does he care about the people he wants to lead, or he is a mercantilist? Does he have the knowledge, competence and integrity, acclaimed not only in Nigeria, but globally, to stand up and speak for the people'? They need to honestly and objectively answer these questions, INTEGRITY AN TRANSPARENCY, MATTERS IN ASSURING A GOOD, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT.
When the incumbent brings someone from nowhere, someone that is alien to the root he claims he comes from, someone who does not have governance skills nor have welfarist interest a business man/mercantilist, who is buying up every conscience just because he wants to access Osadebey Avenue, Edo people should see that as a RED FLAG, straightaway. However, our so called leaders in Edo State, particularly in Esanland, are so blinded by money that they do not care about who the incubent is anointing and imposing on them, so long as money is involved. Give those epicurean so called leaders a whiff of money, and they will throw good morals to the gutters. This is one of the reasons why we are where we are today, in Nigeria, and particularly in Edo State; unfortunately however, the people have still not learnt their lessons, as they prefer momentary financial gains, only to complain of bad government tomorrow. They forget that, they cannot eat their cakes and have it.
The main reason why those at the saddle of power continue to impoverish the people they claim they are leading, is because, they want to keep them perpetually in a state of lack, so that, every four years, five thousand naira will mean a lot to the led, and with that amount, they buy their conscience...No wonder, in the past eight years, bad roads incapacitated our farmers from conveying their products to the markets, market women and artisans are excessively taxed to the extent that they have nothing left to save, and the sorry story goes on and on.
Edo State Peoples Democratic party, PDP, and Edo people in general, should be reminded that Ambassador Professor Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi, OFR, has the intellect, experience, national and international connections, and most importantly, the integrity to make things better in Edo State, and also make better things...let's support him now, for a better future. As we make our beds, so shall we lay on it.