OPINION
SEARCH FOR LOST MANDATE:
The Long Journey That Leads To Nowhere
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
Since the conclusion of the 2020 Edo governorship election, the media space has been awash with some persons claiming that some mandate was stolen; as such, they are embarking on the recovery of, according to them, their ‘stolen mandate’.
In my opinion, their claim is as amusing as their hope. Again, equally ridiculous, is the way they are going about their 'business' of recovering their so called ‘stolen mandate’.
Hold on please, don’t vent your anger on me…
In 2022, when Edo state Local Government election was conducted and the entire twenty four local governments in Edo state was declared won by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; when all the Ward Chairmen and Councilors that were declared winners, are all PDP candidates, was any mandate declared stolen by anybody?
When in 2019, some fourteen members-elect of Edo state House of Assembly were viciously schemed out of a midnight so called inauguration, did heaven fall? NO! Oh yes, those aggrieved fourteen members took the matter to court, but I hope we have not forgotten how the four years’ term of those fourteen members ended?
Today, some persons wielded machetes, and guns, they shot sporadically into the air, disturbing the neighborhood with their shouts of “give us our mandate”, even within the precinct of the Venue of Edo Election Petition Tribunal, as if mandate, is some sort of candies. Hahahahaha… Edo is a scene of surprises.
Today, some persons have taken the laws into their hands and thrown their sense of decorum to the dogs, claiming they are in a mission to recover a so called “stolen mandate”? This is very laughable.
Heloooooooo????? In all sincerity, every person reading this, will agree with me that, no sane or insane person will attempt anything close to this degree of lawlessness when Governor Godwin Obaseki was the governor of Edo state. No one!
In my opinion, the simplicity of Governor Monday Okpebholo has been taken too much for granted by some persons.
Isn't it worrisome for a whole election petition tribunal to relocate out of Edo state, just because some persons decided to take the laws into their hands, as if Edo state is a Banana republic? Earnestly, I cant understand.
Is this the aftermath of the claim by former governor Godwin Obaseki that, “Nigeria will burn”? I hope the smoke of the ‘burning’, is not what we are seeing in Edo state?
May I remind all those that are trying to fan the embers of discord and chaos in Edo state, that, this state is a peaceful state, as such, they should desist from any act that is capable of tampering with the peaceful atmosphere of Edo state.
Away from all the above though, I wish to announce to all the people of Edo state, that, if you are one of those that celebrated Obaseki’s midnight inauguration, and today, you are ranting; “Ighodalo is coming”, I have some news for you: You will rant for eternity… believe me or believe nothing else.
I say this, because, whatever you do, good or bad, the repercussion awaits you in future. ‘Yesterday’, you guys celebrated evil, celebrated what the National Assembly described as “executive rascality”, while people like me were pained by the irresponsible and undemocratic use of power by a self-acclaimed emperor; but today, the pit that you guys dug, is consuming you. Karma is truly a bitch. Every action, definitely has an equal and opposite reaction. Again, in the words of Dele Giwa of blessed memory; “Every evil done to man, will surely be repaid; If not by man, definitely by God”.
I can recall with painful nostalgia the pains that I went through, the time I wasted, my hopes that were dashed, and my resources that I lost, when those fourteen Edo state House of Assembly members-elect were denied representation in the House of Assembly.
Today, however, when I see some people ranting on social media that “Asuelimen Ighodalo is coming”, it only reminds me that, I once had such hope; but, how did it end? Therefore, those on a journey of searching for a so called ‘stolen mandate’, should be reminded that, they are hoping against hope, as Governor Monday Okpebholo’s eight years of progressive development of Edo state, of progressive putting of smiles on the faces of the people, of progressive practical governance, of improvement of the Health, Education, Infrastructure and other sectors of Edo state economy, cannot be reversed.
Lastly, I like to remind the dreamers that are in search of a lost mandate, that, they are on a long journey that leads to nowhere.