When APC appointed the Kano State governor Umar “Gandollar” Ganduje and his team that included Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Imo State Supreme Court governor Hope Uzodinma to lead a Pastor’s election campaign, I reminded myself how seemingly hopeless the polity is in Nigeria. I thought about the politician with the title Pastor in front of his name, Ize-Iyamu who these corrupt gladiators, that are celebrated election riggers are coming to help, and I almost wept. I thought of Mr. Anticorruption – Muhammadu Buhari’s total disregard for public opinion and about this team of riggers coming to Edo State to use Federal might and law enforcement agencies to contravene the people’s vote and voice, and I lament about those who worked to place this regime on us. Nigeria is indeed in a very terrible situation. In a sane nation, Ganduje and Uzodinma would have been shamefully quiet. On the contrary, because of the enabling climate for corruption and all sorts of governmental malfeasance created by Buhari and the nonchalance and accomplice of Nigerians, Ganduje is becoming bold and even beautiful to APC and Buhari’s supporters. These are indeed perilous times for Nigeria where rogues are celebrated, and honest hardworking people are seen as foolish and unproductive. The truth is that most if not all of us are guilty. If you observe the sycophancy especially in religious and political circles with regards to these leader’s conduct and how their followers turn a blind eye or suspend their reasoning faculty whenever they go wrong, you will downgrade our ability to come out from this mess.
Nonetheless, indigenes of Edo State and indeed the Niger Delta must protect their votes as if their lives depend on it. Because their lives actually depend on who governs them. This is not just a political fight, because APC and PDP have more attributes that integrate them than attributes that differentiate them. This is a fight to send a clear message to the “strongmen” of the land that the collective will of the people can overcome Federal might and INEC’s rigging algorithm. We must not allow a reoccurrence of what happened in Kano State and has been happening in Lagos State since the time of the assassination of Engr. Funso Williams to continue. Edo State youths most do all to truncate any imposition by any candidate and by any constituted or unconstituted authority on the people of Edo State that is the home to Africa’s pride – the Great Benin Kingdom. There is more at stake than most people realize in this forthcoming election. A victory for Buhari’s gangsters is a victory for the continued impunity of these evil and unreasonable men. A victory for them will also give these men the green light to increase their enslaving and self-enriching policies and practices on the populace where corruption is rewarded with a second term as it happened with Gandollar and might reoccur with Uzodinma. A victory for them will also be a slap on the face of Edo people including the traditional institution by the man who once deceived Nigerians that he is a comrade.
As the day of election draws near, the government and people of Edo State must not put their total trust on Nyesom Wike who is only a man that can fail or be compromised. All hands and resources must be on deck. The Edo State governor has shown his ability to shake and even upturn the table, however, the war has not been won. Adams Oshiomhole is a prized fighter who is still in the ring hoping to give a sucker’s punch. Governor Godwin Obaseki must do all within his legitimate and legal capacity to uphold the people’s mandate. Posterity will not be kind to him if he allows these political usurpers to vanquish the great fighting spirit of the Edo people whose great monarchy gave birth to Kingdoms from Onitsha in the Eastern fringe of the Niger Delta to the heartlands of the Urhobo nation. I call on all Edo State sons and daughters to see this election as a watershed moment to show Nigerians and the world why the Benin Kingdom is one of the most celebrated ancient Kingdoms in the world and that what happened in Kano State, Kogi State, Imo State and has been happening in Lagos State would not repeat itself in the home of the majestic and revered Benin Kingdom.
Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com