Esan People Turn Obaseki’s Victory Party to Governorship Seeking Platform

On the sideline of a series of joyous activities to celebrate the Supreme Court verdict in favour of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Esan people of Edo Central Senatorial District tdemand an opportunity for one of their own to rule the state come 2024, writes Adibe Emenyonu

The Supreme Court judgement Friday, May 28, 2021 elicited a lot of joyous carnival across Edo State, expecially in Edo South and Central Senatorial districts.

In last year’s governorship election in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s main rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress) (APC) had approached the court to nullify the election of Obaseki for alleged certificate forgery.

The legal battle which began at the Federal High Court, also passed through the Court of Appeal before the final judgement by the Supreme Court, all giving the governor a clean bill.

Immediately the apex court made its pronouncements in favour of Obaseki, the entire state went agog with his political associates in jubilation, hugging each other and clinging glasses of wineq to celebrate the victory.

Reacting, Obaseki’s deputy, Philip Shaibu, described the Nigeria judiciary as the referee of Nigeria democracy through enforcement of the rule of law, to protect the minorities from the power of the majority, despite their attempts to tilt the playing field against the rules.

Shaibu said the ruling of the Supreme Court has shown that the judiciary does not lack teeth but has clearly exhibited that the rule of law is a strong pillar and rock on which Nigeria’s democracy stands.

According to him, every other foundation is made of sinking sand except the judiciary that is no longer bound by artificial limitations. He said the judgment of the apex court has reaffirmed the victory of Governor Obaseki, because with the landmark judgement, the court has displayed decisional and institutional independence which underscores its ability to make decisions free from political influence.

“The Judiciary constitutes the most important vessel in the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria” Shaibu declared, reminding politicians that the Supreme Court is not a systematic instrument for the acquisition of political power as the final judgement has demonstrated to the world that the Nigerian Judiciary is not a pawn in the hands of desperate politicians to realise their ambition.

According to him, “The rule of law has prevailed and and this has ascertained further that no one can sit above the law. Justice is the greatest interest of man and the ligament which binds civilized people together.”

He added that the extent to which the Nigeria judiciary is free to perform it’s roles efficiently will determine how developed and how deep rooted democracy would be.

Edo State leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not left out as it also celebrated Obaseki apex court affirmation. The party in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, described the victory as a testimony to the fact that Obaseki’s administration was enthroned by the wish of Edo people and had the blessings of God.

The PDP called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Obaseki led PDP government instead of traveling the road of ignominy, saying with the Supreme Court judgement, it sincerely hopes that the APC and it’s leadership will turn a new leaf of cooperation and collaboration in building a society where Edo people’s welfare is the watchword.

“Though we understand and concede that the legal route has become part and parcel of electioneering process. But do not understand nor condone how, when the people have spoken loudly and clearly through the ballot, politicians will manufacture charges in an attempt to deny the electorate their choice”, the Edo PDP stated.

Obaseki’s victory celebration train, also berthed at Edo central senatorial district as the people culturally referred to as Esan, congratulated the governor on the affirmation of his September 19, 2020 governorship election.

They said the victory is an indication that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not wrong in pronouncing Obaseki winner of the election.

But while congratulating Governor Obaseki, the Esan people, made up of five local government areas of Esan West, Esan Central, Esan North East, Esan South East and Igueben, added another dimension to the celebration and congratulatory messages, saying it is their turn to produce who becomes the governor of Edo State come 2024.

Setting the tone for the agitation in a two-day summit with the them, “Esan Leadership Question: Matters Arising”, at Ewohimi, a town in Esan South East council area of the state, the Convener, Timothy Okojie in a welcome address, pointed out that the dream behind the agenda is borne out of the desire to ensure that someone from the Esan nation is part of Nigeria and Edo State, to come together and speak with one voice because they need each other to accomplish the objective behind the gathering. According to him, except the zone develops the least among them, the best amongst them cannot succeed.

“Against this backdrop, what we are saying is that other communities of people in other parts of the country are meeting, talking about the way forward in Nigeria of today. So our meeting today is to fashion the way forward for the Esanland which is getting the governorship of Edo State through persuasion in 2024.”

In a keynote address at the meeting, Abuja based school proprietor, Mr. Kenneth Imansuangbon, described Obaseki’s victory at the court as a double glory for the people of Esan; to complete his eight years mandate and for Esan man to succeed him. He therefore, called on all and sundry to support the governor in his quest to reposition the state for the benefit of all.

Imansuangbon who noted that the victory Obaseki scored is the reason they all gathered, added that the gathering was to thank God and make the victory total with “Esan Agenda” which will translate to one of their own becoming the governor of Edo State come 2024, when Obaseki’s tenure will come to an end.

The businessman cum politician, popularly called “Rice Man”, because of his annual distribution of rice to the poor, Nevertheless, said though the zone will negotiate with the Binis and Afemai in order to actualize the agenda of the district, their demand is based on equity, justice and fair play, because it is their turn. He pleaded with the Binis and Afemai to emulate Delta State where power is rotated among the three senatorial districts seamlessly.

“Today, we have just issued a memoranda that in 2024 we stand for the Esan man or woman to be the governor of Edo State. Since Prof. Ambrose Alli of blessed memory, we have not had Edo governor of Esan extraction. That of Prof. Osunbor cannot be counted because in the eye of the law, he never was.

“In Esan agenda, I make bold to say that what we are clamouring for is the Edo State agenda that is anchored on fairness, equity and justice which will guarantee peace and development. Let us emulate our sister state like Delta where power is rotated among the three senatorial districts”, Imansuangbon declared.

In his contribution, the Speaker, Edo House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobu another sons of the soil, expressed delight with the summit and thanked the organisers because “there is strength in unity”. He expressed delight to be among the discussants for the political future of the zone.

Onobu pointed out that beyond the clamour for inclusive politics anchored on justice and equity, the driving message is unity among the people.

He said: “It gives me joy today to be among us to discuss issues about our future. We are all people of Esan and no matter the local government area you come from, we need to rally round our own as a people.

“The message to take away is to be united. The quality of leadership is not one who puts food on the table but one who can mobilize the voting population of our people, galvanize the consciousness of other senatorial districts for us to accomplish this agenda”.

Also lending her voice, one the daughters of late Prof. Alli, Mrs Stella Alli-Ukburebor while felicitating with Governor Obaseki on the apex court victory, said the victory of the governor is also the victor of Esan people who rallied round him during the election, adding that “we are at this summit to talk about Esan agenda come 2024 which must be accomplished as we are using this medium to plead with our Benin and Afemai brothers and sisters to join us to see to its reality.”

Professor J. Omo-Ojugo, also form Edo central, in his presentation of a paper titled: “Expected Roles Of Youths And Women Towards The Actualization of Esan Agenda 2024”, explained that Edo State is sitting on a tripod, Edo South (Benin), Edo Central (Esan) and Edo North (Afemai).

He said since the advent of the fourth Democratic Republic 1999 -2024, Edo South would have had four slots of four years each as occupant of the governor’s seat, while Edo North have had two slots of four years each; adding that all through these periods, the Edo Central have not been privileged which is not fair.

Professor Ojugo also argued that since Nigeria operated federal system of government, it is incumbent on every federating unit to be given a sense of belonging for peace to reign and for even development, noting that since Edo State is part of Nigeria, what it practised in the larger Nigeria must be replicated in the state as well.

Nevertheless, he noted that occupying the governorship comes through competition and cannot be given or donated freely and therefore, postulated that a group seeking to provide an occupant of the governorship seat must be ready to field or sponsor a credible candidate.

QUOTE

Obaseki’s victory celebration train, also berthed at Edo central senatorial district as the people culturally referred to as Esan, congratulated the governor on the affirmation of his September 19, 2020 governorship election. They said the victory is an indication that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not wrong in pronouncing Obaseki winner of the election. But while congratulating Governor Obaseki, the Esan people, made up of five local government areas of Esan West, Esan Central, Esan North East, Esan South East and Igueben, added another dimension to the celebration and congratulatory messages, saying it is their turn to produce who becomes the governor of Edo State come 2024