Governor Obaseki must use the wonderful opportunity this epoch victory has afforded him, to heal political wounds, not to inflict fresh ones; every or any form of vendetta must be jettisoned; he should use the next four years to embark on a drastic quest, to enhance mutual co-operation and brotherhood with progressive stakeholders; he should seek to correct those ‘critical things and arears’ of shortcomings. More attention must be paid to functional, well equipped, staffed and funded healthcare institutions to serve the dire needs of the people in every community. Also needing more attention is the water storm project and educational institutions in the state. Above all, history shall be most unkind to him, if he eventually drops his present mantle and steps into the toga of a ‘new godfather’ like his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole did. A word is enough for the wise. He must never fail to make the people that ensured his recent magnificent victory, the absolute cornerstone of democratic dividends.
When the bottled up political emotions and fury of Edo State voters came up aflame on September 19, 2020 during the gubernatorial election, the demented political godfathers were adequately descended upon mercilessly by the masses.
Before the last ballots were counted and announced by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on September 20, the electorate had made sure that the godfathers were not only humiliated, but abundantly disgraced.
In ensuring that the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Godwin Obaseki, who equally doubles as the incumbent, won the keenly contested election, the people of Edo State, have indeed beaten down the degenerated political godfathers, at a pace never before experienced in the annals of the State.
Therefore, our heads are not only swollen at Alltimepost.com, but we equally want to say big congratulations to the electorate who did the political wonder for their doggedness, resilience and courage.
The message is clear and loud enough, that political money bags have been demystified for once; and the weekend victory was a fundamental way to put a stop to the rule of selfish, chronic and egocentric pursuits by some political godfathers in Edo State.
The point the people of Edo State have made succinctly is that: outside the harsh selfish discord and unpalatable divisiveness between established rival political players, they are the unifying and rallying factor, as the beautiful political brides to be counted upon.
This development is a mighty plus for democracy; and what we see glaringly is democracy in action, and the electorate in Edo State nay Nigeria must continue to use this well-deserved victory as a template for future elections.
Because the godfathers tried in vain to destabilize the psyche of the people, consume democracy, jolt the state and derail the focus and tempo of meaningful development programs being pursued by his civilian administration, Governor Godwin Obaseki must be magnanimous in victory. We are encouraged by his statements of peace and unification so far.
Governor Obaseki must cultivate the virtue of democratic tolerance, love and forgiveness; he must see his recent resounding victory as a titanic collective struggle, in which the might of the people played a most significant part; that can never be questioned.
Governor Obaseki must use the wonderful opportunity this epoch victory has afforded him, to heal political wounds, not to inflict fresh ones; every or any form of vendetta must be jettisoned; he should use the next four years to embark on a drastic quest, to enhance mutual co-operation and brotherhood with progressive stakeholders; he should seek to correct those ‘critical things and arears’ of shortcomings.
More attention must be paid to functional, well equipped, staffed and funded healthcare institutions to serve the dire needs of the people in every community. Also needing more attention is the water storm project and educational institutions in the state.
Above all, history shall be most unkind to him, if he eventually drops his present mantle and steps into the toga of a ‘new godfather’ like his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole did.
A word is enough for the wise. He must never fail to make the people that ensured his recent magnificent victory, the absolute cornerstone of democratic dividends.
We must commend the glaring excellent, political maturity and impartiality displayed by President Muhammadu Bihari, by ensuring level playing field for all candidates and political parties that featured in the election.
Now, that democracy has been allowed to breathe undisturbed in Edo State, we hereby call on the electorate in Ondo State, to stoically replicate same during their governorship election slated for October 10, 2020.
Imperatively, we demand from the electorate in other states making the Federation of Nigeria, to go the way of the recent success story in Edo State, by systematically pulling down political vestiges of godfatherism and refusing to be hostages of mean and lawless political godfathers.
Malevolent godfatherism limits the ability of a nation to fully develop and harness its manpower for constructive national agenda; it is most regrettable and pathetic that Nigerian political evolution has been characterized by periodic instability, instigated mostly by the elitist manipulation of power, as their parochial survival strategy.
Edo people, home and in the Diaspora, we salute your sheer courage and doggedness.
