RECLAIMING LOST EDO: A herculean task

 Reclaiming lost Edo: A herculean task

By: Oriaifoh Godwins

Edo state is lost! This is a fact that is verifiable especially going

by the developments that has been happening in Edo state in the past

two to three years and more importantly, in the very recent past.

Every normal human being that knows what the Heart Beat of the Nation, Edo state, was, cannot argue with the fact that the state has colossally disintegrated so much that the economy is in disarray, morals are bankrupt, due process thrown into the dustbin, executive rascalities has taken the Centre stage, the law making organ of government, muffled and its members reduced to mere errand boys, the wind of uncertainty blows on a daily basis in Edo political and business environments and worse still, hoodlums cultists, and other criminals are having their field day with absolute impunity and confidence and a good number of Edo youths have been prematurely sent to the great beyond. 

In view of the above, the big expected question, on the lips of every

one, is “how did we get here”?

Yes, Edo state did not just get to this degenerate situation in one

day, it was a gradual, steady and progressive rot that were at every

point, ignored and undermined. Edo state got this rotten as a result

of the selfish and self-centeredness of the political leaders that believes in dictatorial process of governing the state.

During the hay days of the late Chief Tony Aneni in the political

atmosphere of Edo state and Nigeria, all powers rested in the hands of

Mr. Fix it, as he was popularly called. However, Chief Aneni,

erroneously, but fortunately for Edo state, anointed Comrade Adams

Oshiomhole to pilot the political affairs of Edo state.

Oshiomhole got to Osadebey Avenue and ensured that he was in total

control of all…the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. It

was during Oshiomhoile’s time as the governor of Edo state, that the ‘War

against godfatherism’ was fought and won, and the political kingpins

that controlled the political environment in Edo state, that decides

who gets an appointment, who wins an election, were made irrelevant.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole sure made a point, and also set a good precedence.

Edo people will forever respect and give credit to Oshiomhole with

respect to infrastructural development especially in the Schools, Road

networks, and Health; as Oshiomhole’s impact in these areas, were, and

are still evident in the three Senatorial districts of Edo state.

Again, history recorded that during the time of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the roof of the Chambers where plenaries were held in the Edo state House of Assembly, EDHA, were removed so as to disallow

sittings from taking place, and according to Oshiomhole, he did that 

to prevent the legislature from impeaching him at that time…..this

however, is a bad precedence.

However, at the expiration of Oshiomhole’s tenure, he erroneously and

unfortunately anointed Mr. Godwin Obaseki to succeed him, in spite of

all the dissenting voices from Edo people and his party members.

In 2016, Obaseki took over the saddle of Edo government, and shot his doors to all the structures that assisted him to climb, including the

so called godfather Comrade Adams Oshiomhole inclusive…the law of

karma? Yes, indeed, but Obaseki did worse…as he went ahead to connive

with others to ‘pull’ Oshiomhole, who lifted him up, down from a ‘high

level’.

Mr. Obaseki  did not only scheme out the majority members elect of the

Edo state House of Assembly, EDHA, from being inaugurated, when he conducted a selective nocturnal  inauguration of five willing members

elect plus four unwilling members elect that were kidnapped and forced

to be a part of a shameful so called inauguration, it is also on record how thugs, backed up by the Police, and led by the then Chief Security Officer at the Government House, DSP Chris Nwokolo, invaded

Golden Tulips Hotel where the other fourteen members were holding a

Press conference, beat them to a pulp, vandalise their personal

effects and exiled them from Edo state. ...Yes, the current government

of Edo state took the sordid and disdain treatment of the legislative

arm of government to a higher level than what Oshiomhole did, and

unfortunately, some Edo people clapped for and hailed this

incongruity.

Again, when hand grenades were used to attack the homes of political

opponents, some Edolites hailed the violence, while many underplayed

the negative impact it may have on the society in the short and long

run… Chief Francis Inegbeniki, Hon. Chris Okaeben and Barrister Henry Idahagbon were at the receiving end when this happened.

The above treatment to the legislature was just the beginning. 

The Edo state House of Assembly premises was turned to a den of thugs where

cannabis and other hard drugs were freely used, as the governor, Mr. Obaseki and his Deputy, Phillip Shuaibu, on the 6th of August,

supervised the blocking of the entrance gates to Edo Assembly premises

after ordering tipper loads of gravel to be offloaded to block the

gates.

If all the above explained, does not constitute irregularities and

recklessness of the executive, I wonder how else executive rascality

can be described.

The whole world witnessed with disdain and rude shock how some persons in the diaspora who claimed to have “worked” for the reelection of Mr.

Godwin Obaseki came on social media asking for their share of Edo

commonwealth. This was not only surprising, but very embarrassing to

Edo state.

*SECURITY IN EDO TODAY:* As it stands today, in Edo state, the

government seems to have lost the control of security as the

maintenance of the security of lives and properties in Edo state, is

now a herculean task; so titanic a task it is, that cult killings,

daylight armed robberies, kidnappings and the likes happen on a daily basis on the street of Edo state capital, Benin…. How did we get here?

It is clear that the journey to where we are today, started from somewhere; and who knows, Edo might just still be on transit.

Edo state today, can be aptly likened to what Thomas Hobbes described

as; “…a state of nature” where life is brutish, poor, nasty and short.

Edo state of today is characterized by complete anarchy, illegalities,

undue process and breakdown of law and order, as people now sleep with both eyes open. Yes, some may be quick to conclude that all what is

happening in Edo state today, particularly in Benin, is a fall out of

the “End SARS” protest, but may we be reminded that the protest also

took place in some other states in the country; and has those other

states not since moved on, with peace and normalcy restored?

The long and short of my write-up, is to speak to the consciousness of

every well-meaning, and patriotic Edolites as well as lovers of Edo state,

that we have derailed for too long and it is expedient for us to

retrace our steps in reclaiming our peaceful and beautiful Edo which

of course, will be a herculean task, especially as many are bent on

supporting and cheering illegalities and undue process, just because

of what they benefit from the rotten system.

Oriaifoh Godwins, a Journalist writes from Benin.

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