GOV OBASEKI AND THE ‘FIRST ELEVEN’

“To choose not to choose is still a choice for which you alone are responsible” Gary Cox (British philosopher)

The whirlwind that blew through the Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo State, has gradually subsided, with the eventual restoration of the former embattled Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, as the bonafide chairman of the party.

This timely feat, deserves to be applauded; and I thank the various stakeholders for their incredible wisdom. Those that masterminded and constituted the arsenal that directly and remotely instigated the dissolution of the Executive Council of Edo State PDP, recently, indeed employed political bravado, in local parlance, “guerilla approach’; a sad development that must have been borrowed from a now demystified political godfather in Edo State.

This is therefore saluting the uncommon wisdom of political titans in the fold of the PDP who have cleverly handled the delicate situation positively, even as the party is currently back to the mighty shade under the known umbrella.

Today, it is heartwarming that various reconciliatory committees have sprang up into action, to calm frayed nerves of the aggrieved and the offended, a development which ultimate goal is to arrive at a ‘no victor, no vanquished’ situation for the general interest of the party in Edo State.

Talking about Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State ‘first eleven’, it is time to put in place a strategic political structure balancing.

Undoubtedly, Governor Obaseki is a technocrat in all ramifications, and l urge him never to lower his philosophy of excellence for the development of Edo State. As the bucks stops on his table, the governor has done wonderfully well so far, by putting in place a selection process, seeking the best and the most cerebral to make his ‘first eleven’, by ensuring that candidates are recommended right from the ward levels, in the various local government areas of the party in Edo State.

Honestly, Governor Obaseki, by applying this novel fantastic strategy in Edo State, the issue of godfatherism in picking members of the state Executive Committee has been jettisoned for now. This process, if taken or handled religiously without any political sentiments midway, will profoundly produce the best set of commissioners that will take the ‘Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) mantra of Obaseki to the highest levels.

This ‘first eleven’ being put together must be the ones that can or will navigate politically and positively through the old and the new breed politicians, because of their familiarity with the political terrain in Edo State. Using the football game scenario, the governor should watch out for the best guys, in terms of competence, energy, brilliance and experience who will make the difference ultimately.

Flowing from the above, the state governor should consider the old PDP party members and the All Progressives Congress (APC)/ PDP new breed to produce a go-getting team.

In drawing the new executive council organogram, l sincerely urge Godwin Obaseki to consider former local government chairmen, who might have been recommended already, technocrats known for excellence, while reserve bench should be for former commissioners.

• Diagi Lucky, Benin City