Edo 2016: APC, Oshiomhole and the endorsement crisis

As the political parties and aspirants prepare for this year’s governorship election in Edo State, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that alleged endorsement of one of the APC aspirants by Governor Adams Oshiomhole may have raised the stake in the politics of South-South state

Governor Oshiomhole

Ahead of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, a cold war is brewing within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), over a rumoured endorsement of one of the leading aspirants, Godwin Obaseki, by Governor Adams Oshiomhole as his preferred governorship candidate of the party.

Obaseki, who is currently the chairman of the economic team of Edo State Government, is seeking the ticket of the APC alongside other prominent chieftains of the ruling party like Oshiomhole’s deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, ex-Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor, incumbent Commissioner for Works and political ally of the governor, Osarodion Ogie, former Minister of State, Works, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Kenneth and Gen. Charles Airhiavbere.

Although there has been no official announcement by the governor on the matter, proponents of the endorsement theory are citing Oshiomhole’s body languages as well as some public statements as reasons for adducing that he has Obaseki in mind as the next governor of the state.

“The governor has never hidden his desire to have a technocrat succeed him. He has said that much at many fora. He has even given reasons for his preference. Obaseki is a technocrat and not a politician. He is one of the trusted allies of the governor and he is in the race.

“Recently, while speaking at a programme he attended with Obaseki, the governor told the gathering that the man who will succeed him is at the event listening to him and learning more. It was after this that the other aspirants went to town with the endorsement allegations,” a source told The Nation.

“Oshiomhole was never a politician before he ran for the governorship of this state. But today, Edo State is one of the most vibrant states in the country despite its meagre resources.

“When Oshiomhole came, he constituted a team and this same Obaseki for instance, from day one, put a team together to support the governor. He supported the process to raise a strong team of professionals to help the administration of the governor.

“Obaseki remained in the policy cockpit of the Oshiomhole administration. What is needed in Edo State now as a recipe for development, not restricting the choice of candidate to those who see themselves as just politicians,” he said.

The Nation also learnt that some local party leaders informed their disciples about the alleged endorsement of Obaseki by the governor during the festive period while urging them to be prepared to work for his victory at the party’s primary election.

Consequently, other aspirants are alleging a plot to impose Obaseki on the party by the outgoing governor, vowing to resist such attempt. Observers of the politics of the state say if not well managed, the development is capable of affecting the chances of the ruling party at the governorship election.

Party position

But the chairman of the APC in the state, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, denied any plot to impose any aspirant as candidate while warning party members against misconstruing Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s rumoured preference for Obaseki as imposition.

The APC boss explained that it was the governor’s right to state who he prefers as his successor, explaining that will not stop the party from conducting primaries and providing a level playing field for everybody. He cautioned those threatening and abusing the governor over his preference for Obaseki.

He said: “It will be naive and unthinkable not to expect a sitting governor to have interest in who succeeds him in the governorship election. It is not true that the governor decided not to conduct primaries or whatever processes that may lead to the emergence of a candidate.

“I took it upon myself and I told the governor that we cannot leave this process open without managing it and that it is the job of the state executive to ensure stability. Now, we have almost 20 people parading themselves as aspirants in this party. If you don’t manage such a situation well you will be creating crisis.

“I am not aware that any statement has been made in terms of endorsement. But I can tell you now that if an endorsement is made, it will be legitimate. Endorsement is not imposition, it is a statement of expressing preference without prejudice to the processes of our party,” he stated.

The man Oshiomhole wants

Amidst the frenzy, Oshiomhole has insisted that his successor will have to come from the All Progressives Congress, APC, and must be someone who believes in the state and has the capacity to manage it well.

Addressing Benin Palace chiefs, led by Chief John Oviasogie, the Eribo of Benin, at the Government House recently, the governor said he is concerned about who will emerge as the party’s standard bearer just like any other member of the party, adding that there will be a level-playing field for all.

“May God give us a governor that will put Edo people first, that will respect the traditional institution and that will work for the unity of our people across the 192 wards, across the state.

“As I have said repeatedly, I think all of us must work together to ensure that we have a governor who, first and foremost, believes in Benin, and who believes in the state, because if someone does not believe in the state, and he has power, he will help himself.

“Running a government is different from running a private enterprise. When you are working for a government, the interest is the people of the state. The second is to have the capacity to manage finances prudently because you may wish to do your best, but you cannot give what you don’t have.

“If you don’t have the brain, if you don’t have the knowledge and you don’t have the capacity, you will not be able to do it. So, we need people who can apply resources creatively.

“From my inner insight of what this job entails, I believe we should look for people who believe in the state and have the capacity to run it. We have the right to educate the people about the person whom we think will be safe.

“Be rest assured that I am as concerned as yourselves because we have seen the damage which the wrong driver can do to our collective vehicle. Everything is the same, the only difference is the person who heads the government,” the governor said.

PDP watching keenly

Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be watching the developments within the APC with keen interest, hoping to benefit from the crisis should it escalate.

Sources within the party said the PDP is determined to return to the Edo Government House this year and is doing everything possible to ensure victory at the governorship election.

Those who may have indicated interest to run for the 2016 governorship race under the PDP include immediate past Minister of Works, Chief Mike Onolememen; former member of the state House of Assembly, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen; Vice Chairman (South-South) of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri.

Edo 2016: APC, Oshiomhole and the endorsement crisis