AFTER EDO2020 – THE OPPORTUNITIES AND LANDMINES AHEAD FOR OBASEKI.
By Lucky Okoedion
The victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the September 19 governorship polls of Edo State comes with huge responsibilities beyond merely winning another four (4) years to rule as governor. It is expected that the demands and hazards now facing his leadership have become at least four times greater than what they were prior to this victory. Little wonder the saying goes that “with great power comes great responsibility”. The peculiarity and cost of his victory are responsible for this heightened nature of things.
The Edo-2020 elections saw the incumbent governor – Obaseki – faced with an opposition that had in its ranks some thugs who brag about their ruggedness in the streets, many of whom have built their mafia reputation to some hero status in that underworld also known as “the street”. These “street” men publicly called themselves lions and tigers in the run up to the elections, with so much audacity as to hurl insults at the governor. And it is believed that for a politician to successfully silent opposition thugs the services of a new set of thugs is required. This is the reason why many do not believe that a politician’s promise to get rid of thugs should be taken seriously. The popular notion is that the politician will only end up falling into the trap of replacing one set of monsters with another.
This is also the public perception about a promise by any politician to end godfatherism. Many believe that it is unrealistic and naive to expect that a politician would be able to resist the temptation to sit on the vacant godfather throne after unseating the previous occupant of that position. It is the general belief that all politicians are the same. That there is no morality in politics. That most campaign promises are insincere at least or fake at worst.
Many wonder how Governor Obaseki will be able to cater for the interest of the other “street” men who have purportedly gravitated towards him in an effort to help him “deal with” the opposition thugs whose actions have been considered by these other “street” men as overbearing all the while. Can the governor cater for and reward the new “lions” and “tigers” who think they have worked for his re-election? Will he not be faced with another case of a group of people breathing down his neck, demanding for a share of the resources of the state. That is on one side. There is another dimension to the new challenges that face the governor.
There is now a huge vacant godfather seat that many would lure the governor to occupy. Resisting that temptation is easier said than done. One can bet that Adams Oshiomhole would till date be at loss about how come he ended up practicing the “godfatherism” that he has been accused of. The same Adams Oshiomhole who was the champion of “war against godfatherism” a few years prior.
Like it or not, Obaseki is now the natural heir apparent to the godfather throne in Edo State. Will he like Oshiomhole end up ascending the throne even without knowing it? Time will tell. But all who love him should pray for him not to allow anyone to lure him into the Oshiomhole fall from grace.
