How Adams Oshiomole crushed politics of godfatherism in Edo
By Emmanuel Udom
In the past, Edo state in Nigeria used to be regarded as one of the volatile states. Then, what comes to mind as you mention the word edo were politics of bloodsheds, godfatherism, violence, blackmail, fetish activities, politically motivated assassinations and so on.
Really, these do or die brand of politics is not limited to the state alone, as some other ones in country do have their fair shares. Adams is an action governor, an orator and fearless warrior.
He is not a fellow you could take for granted. An activist, orator, performer, radical member of the Action Congress of Nigeria and the incumbent governor of the state.
When he came on board as the governor during his first term, he promised to crush the politics of Godfatherism, tackle the age old fetish nature of the state that was then regarded, rightly or wrongly as a glorify village with little or no social amenities to show.
The Anenis and Ogbomudias of Edo will not forget this aluta man in a hurry, as he has in the past shown through words and deeds that he is damn serious to make life comfortable for the people of the state, despite real or imaginary challenges confronting him.
As expected, the many social amenities like roads, schools, hospitals, drainage systems, water, security and education, which he delivered to his people during his first tenure worked for him, as he was re elected for the second term to govern them…
There is a revolution that is slowly, but surely spreading through the 36 states in Nigeria. Politics at the local, state and even federal level is shifting from parties to personalities, merit and performances
Adams is a card carrying member of Action Congress of Nigeria, a self acclaimed opposition party founded by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. But, the reality is that the party has no national spread beyond the south western parts of the country. So, to tackle PDP, Tinubu should work towards having a party with a national spread, otherwise, no dice.
Therefore, it is not strong enough the tackle the almighty Peoples Democratic Party, which is ruling at the federal level, with significant representation in virtually in the states, senate and federal House of Representatives
But, Adams on Saturday humiliated the PDP gubernatorial aspirant, who was boasting during his campaign that the election could swing in his favor and the re elected governor voted out from office.
It also goes to show that today, politics is Nigeria is not about how much money the politician is willing to throw about, but about issues, ideologies, performances and democracy dividends.
PDP may be the strongest party in the country, if in 2015, the party takes the wrong steps forward, at the local, state, and federal level, it could spell doom for the party. This is the lesson Nigerians should learn from the outcome of the Edo election.
Merit based on performances, not really party platform, cash, personality, ethnicity, fluency in English, religion etc could determine who gets what and where in the 2015 general election.
Secondly, when I read that the federal government of Nigeria, with President Goodluck Jonathan ordered 3,500 fully armed and stern looking soldiers to go over to Edo and partner with the police in the serious business of checkmating security before, during and after the Saturday election, I thought initially that the security agents were sent on war mission.
But, when I watched my TV on the day the Edo people decided, and how the police, soldiers, SSS operatives and other security agents performed their duties, I was highly impressed with Muhammed Abubakar, the recently confirmed inspector general of police.
Frank Mba, Force police spokesman was visibly elated this morning while speaking on African Independent Television on the strategies the police in particular and other security agencies used to perform the magic on the election day.
Adams won the heart of his people because he crushed politics of Godfatherism, fetishism, business as usual, and performed creditably well to the admiration of the Edoites. If, he was afraid of rocking the boat, stepping on toes and deviating from the so called established norms, I am very sure the PDP man could have floored him at the pool.
This is good for the politics of Nigeria and a lesson to some of our politicians, who think that it is still about throwing cash all over the places and failing to deliver when voted into power. A kind of political investors, who are only interested on making bountiful returns on their investments and not service to the people.