FREEPRESS – The level of obedience to the tenets of democracy by members of the Peoples Democratic Party will be shown in the forth coming primary election that will determine the emergence of a candidate towards the gubernatorial race in Edo state.
Political parties are some of the formidable institutions of democracy, which should be guided jealously by the political gladiators of our epoch. The issue in Nigeria is the prevalence of many powerful men who pose as democrats while their actions or in-actions constitute major clogs in the wheel of representative government. Some call them godfathers and many see them as power brokers, who would always manipulate things to their advantage. If these political gladiators conform to the simple rules and regulations of the secret ballot system, all will be well with the polity.
The incubation ground for the fair practices of democratic ethos is the political party, which is synonymous with democracy. The kind of party the people deserve is borne out of their attitudes and latitudes in the system.
The PDP remains the only true party without too many strange bird fellows and has come of age to avoid the mistakes of the past. Therefore it is expected that no one will take the law into his hands as the party undertakes the democratic exercise of choosing it’s flag bearer in the state gubernatorial election. When this is done the enabling environment would be created for the emergence of a credible candidate who is capable of securing electoral prospects for the party. One cardinal objective of the party is to ensure that there is a level playing ground for every member as long as his loyalty and adherence to the mission and vision of the party is not in doubt.
There is no gain saying it that internal squabbles and dissension in a truly large party is unavoidable. It should not lead to sabotage. Against this background, we are happy to hear the accord reached by all the PDP guber aspirants that they would all cooperate with whoever emerges winner of the primaries. They all seem to realise that the true redemption battle to restore the party back to power in the federal level in 2019 begins with Edo state gubernatorial election.
Information within our reach shows that no fewer than five candidates have expressed their desire to be the next governor of Edo state. They are one Senator Ehigie Uzamere representing Edo south, an architect turned politician and a returnee to PDP who once described the ACN as a “party organised around a sole administrator who overturns and overturns and overturns depending on his mood, desires, whims and caprices’’. Many are still of the same view despite ACN metamorphosis to APC.
Another is Hon. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, a onetime majority leader in Edo state house of assembly and former state representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) who said at a time ‘’we have had our crisis in the PDP and we learnt our lessons at different times’’.
We also hear of Chief Solomon Edebiri (MON), whose voice had not been heard so much as a critic. In the year 2007 governorship election, he contested on the platform of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) and placed fourth.
Also in the race is one Mr Osaro Onaiwu, the director – general of PDP governor’s forum.
The big fish is Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who has been too well known to have indicated his interest long ago. There is no doubt that all these aspirants are eminently qualified to the office but in the present circumstances Ize-Iyamu is the only person that can face, fight and defeat Oshiomhole whom he laboured to install in 2007 although regretted and had since apologised to the people.
As an insider in Oshiomhole’s government, he is familiar with the old school tactics of the comrade, who in turn dreads him. Evidently, the governor is more concerned about Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is far more popular than the rest who he knows do not pose any threat to him.
Many are now tempted to think that one of the major reasons the outgoing Comrade Governor is anxious to install a stooge in Osadebey Avenue is the fear of Ize-Iyamu and the impending binocular that would zero in on his financial management after his tenure.
It is expected that Oshiomhole would say more than ordinarily contemplated by the time the PDP concludes its primaries with the amiable pastor emerging as the party’s flag bearer in the gubernatorial election. That would be a deliberate attempt to discourage peoples to vote for him. Our people are not so gullible to believe just any thrash they are told, especially if reserved for the eve of election.
I want it to be on record without fear of contradiction that he is the only candidate who is popular and influential in the midst of the people and capable of securing Edo State for the PDP.
He is a son to the late Chief Ize-Iyamu, the Esogban of Benin, who played a prominent role in the administration of Bini kingdom during the reign of Oba Akenzua.
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