EDO 2016: The curse on deputies

The no love lost relationship between outgoing governors and their deputies has been the hallmark of transitions at the state level in Nigeria. That is the tinge of the unfolding developments in Edo State. By Gabriel Enogholase 

The political history of the nation clearly shows that governors usually have strong dislike to their deputies succeeding them. Since the return of democracy in 1999, examples abound of how governors refused their deputies to succeed them, despite being the closest to them in terms of political ascendancy. Where the deputy governors insisted on contesting against their bosses’ wishes, they did so at their own peril. Only the deputy governor of Kano State, Alhaji Umar Ganduje succeeded his principal in the 2015 general elections. Before then, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi the then deputy governor of Zamfara State was the only one of 36 deputies who succeeded his principal in the 2007 transition. That is the odd that is now playing out against the outgoing deputy governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu who has apparently put his political life on the line in a make or mar attempt to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Though    the governor has not come out to make a public pronouncement, it is generally believed that his body language is tilting towards the head of the Edo State Economic team, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as his successor. This has inevitably pitched him against his deputy. While Odubu appears to enjoy the support of a good number of the party leaders, who can reach the hearts of the delegates, who will determine the party’s candidate, it, however, appears Oshiomhole, as governor, knows how to get the same party leaders to his side. Odubu it is alleged had long known that Oshiomhole would not support him for whatever reasons. That is despite his famed loyalty to the governor. So given his insight, Odubu it is alleged used the last few years building a political network that could challenge the governor’s plans. Remarkably, that network came in handily for Oshiomhole when both men combined energies to prevent the former South- South vice chairman of the defunct ACN, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, from controlling the grass roots structure of the APC when the inaugural ward and local government congresses of the party was held in 2014. In preparation for the battle ahead, Odubu was able to put some of his men in charge of the wards and local government’s executives of the APC during the 2014 ward and local government congresses of the party. It appeared things became easier for him after Ize-Iyamu defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, where he is now a governorship aspirant. Odubu was largely successful in taking control of the APC in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, while some key ward and local government positions in other councils, especially in the Edo South region still fell to his political network. Political network He also got himself busy using associates to build bridges in the Edo Central and North districts. *Odubu Odubu may also be banking on some support from the Benin palace to realize his ambition especially given the belief that Oshiomhole’s man may not be enjoying the support of the majority in the palace despite having some of his relatives there as Palace chiefs. While not particularly expressing their preference for Odubu, it was learnt that decision makers in the palace had informed Oshiomhole to drop his support for Obaseki and bring another person to them. This may not be unconnected to the role played by the by Obaseki’s grandfather, Agho Obaseki, during the invasion of Benin by the British in 1897. Remarkably, Odubu’s muscles and moves which have been largely not disturbed in the past years, are apparently now being checkmated by the Oshiomhole camp. Last year the governor sacked two commissioners, who were reportedly working behind the scene for Odubu. The affected commissioners were the former commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky James and former Commissioner for Basic Education, Mr. Patrick Aguinede. Odubu-Oshiomhole The two are now working with Odubu with James coordinating political activities for him in the Edo North district and Aguinede doing the same in Edo Central Indeed, it appeared Odubu covered so much ground while Oshiomhole was busy with governance. This is the advantage Odubu has and perhaps the reason he is proving to be a hard nut to crack. Anti-party activities A signal that Odubu could pose a serious challenge for Oshiomhole’s plan was the attempt last month to depose the Edo State vice chairman (South) of the APC, Barrister Gentleman Amegor, by some party members led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Henry Idahagbon, who is perceived as one of the arrowheads of the Obaseki project. Amegor’s crime was anti-party activities committed during the general election of March 2015 and failure to convene regular party meetings in the district. The move, however, collapsed despite claims that five out of the seven APC local government chairmen in the Edo South endorsed it. Amegor fired back by saying that those, who suspended him such as Hon Henry Okhuarobo, Pa Ogbomo, Vincent Uwadiae did not have the statutory power in the party to carry out the action. It got messier after the Edo State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Godwin Erahon, also poured cold water on the alleged suspension declaring it null and void. Nothing has been heard of the suspension since then. However, nothing recently could be done to save from sack, Mr. Osaretin Edoma, the commissioner representing Orhionmwon Local government area in the Oil and Gas Producing Area Commission. Edoma who is alleged to be a strong ally of the deputy governor who is also from Orhionmwon was sacked on the grounds of incompetence.

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