By Ehichioya Steve Odion
Edo 2024 September 21st governorship election is another opportunity for the Binis to come out en mass to support their own, Gov. Godwin Obaseki and the deputy governorship candidate of PDP, Osarodion Ogie, to vehemently reject Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole whose intention has always been to take charge of the Edo North senatorial district and now wants to extend such leadership and equally dominate in the Edo South Senatorial district.
For the avoidance of doubt, permit me to mention just few leaders in Edo South, who Adams Oshiomhole has been superintending since the period he became the governor of Edo State till date. They include the two former governors of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, former deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, former Minister of the federal Republic, Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi, former Deputy governor of Edo State, Lucky Imasuen, former governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Charles Idahosa and a host of others.
Meanwhile, Adams Oshiomhole has always disregarded this class of people, who are supposed to have taken charge of Edo South and decide the pace of things happening in the district politically.
Unfortunately, these political gladiators have fallen into slumber only to sell their hard earned political birth right to the former governor.
Oshiomhole has become 'the Lord of the flies' who decides all positions meant for the zone. I think this is something to ponder upon by the leaders concerned and take a far reaching decision to stop him and take charge of their zone.
I hope the Binis will not forget in hurry when Adams Oshiomhole threw an unforgettable insult to the Binis nation when he said in parable and described them as fowl who can easily be bought by throwing corn at them to eat. What will be more insulting for a people that parades themselves as the dominant in the state in term of population and landmark.
I also hope that the Bini nation will not forget in hurry how he treated their son, Dr. Pius Odubu who contested the governorship position to succeed Adams Oshiomhole in 2012. We all remember how he fought him to a standstill and humiliated him throughout that election period. We can also remember how he used Tony Adun, aka Kabaka to openly embarrassed his brother, Chief Odubu, calling him all kinds of unprintable names in the present of all the delegates that came for the primary at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. Recall, Kabaka chanted "Odubu For Chancellor" and pouring insults on him even as a sitting deputy governor.
What of the incessant humiliation of Chief Odigie-Oyegun when he ganged up against in Abuja and forcefully overthrew him Out as the national chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Also, he did not spare Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who he also demonized and called all sorts of names. Oshiomhole turned him into a laughing stock just to paint him in bad light, to ensure he lost the election when he contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2016.
Have you ever seen Adams Oshiomhole displaying such hatred for his kinsmen? No! Rather he makes sure all appointments meant for the Edo people are channelled to Etsako where he thinks and believes that only them exist in Edo North.
He took over from Sen. Francis Alimikhena, an Etsako man to become a Senator in complete neglect of the Owan and Akoko Edo axis.
Again, the only ministerial position that was zoned to Edo State, through selfishness and greed, he gave it to another Etsako man, Alhaji Abubakar Momoh, who is the Minister of Niger Delta.
The point I'm trying to establish here, which will serve as a big lesson for the Binis, is to learn how to protect and support their fellow brothers instead of allowing a foreigner to cause infighting among themselves. They should come together as one and put a stop to Oshiomhole continuous domination in their zone.
The Binis should be reminded that whatever decision taken by Oshiomhole is simply for his selfish personal interest not in any way meant to favour them.
Though there have been a cold war between Edo South leaders and Oshiomhole, having realized that Oshiomhole has been playing divide and rule with them, the political leaders in the area should be circumspect in not allowing him to use them further.
Oshiomhole as a person will always pretend that he loves them, but reverse is the case. He only pretends to love when he wants to use people for his personal aggrandizement.
Oshiomhole has marginalized other communities in Edo North. Akoko Edo and the Owans are only useful to him during elections. Immediately after election, he dumps them like a hot iron until another election circle.
Plenty thanks to Gov. Godwin Obaseki, who recently opened their eyes by making Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly from Owan axis while compensating the Akoko Edo people with the deputy governor position in the person of Engr. Marvelous Omobayo. The two major communities have since realized this and have vowed to teach him political lesson in this coming governorship election taking place in September 21st.
Therefore, this coming governorship election should not be business as usual for Adams Oshiomhole as the two ethnic groups are teaming up to say a big thank you to Governor Obaseki by supporting and ensuring Asue Ighodalo emerge as the next governor of Edo State.
We only hope that Edo South takes a queue by giving their full support to their two sons presently in the picture in this coming election, Governor Godwin Obaseki and the former Secretary to the Edo State government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie to win overwhelmingly in the September 21st election in Edo South. This will send a strong message that the era of scheming and domination by him is gone for good.
As for Edo Central, Esan people have since realized Oshiomhole's hatred for the zone. Therefore, the people also have declared him as enemy of the land. I can assure you that his last appearance in the Arise Television where he displayed his frustration and his usual ignorance in addressing issues by insulting the Esan people because of the new sheriff in Edo political space, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, will cost him a big unforgettable humiliation.
A Senatorial district that has produced two governors even before Adams Oshiomhole as governor who they are now treating as semi god and allowed to determined who become who in the Senatorial district is something for the Binis to ponder upon and finally put their house in order to put an end to it.
This Adams Oshiomhole made several attempts to implement his usual trick and domination in Edo Central and he met a brick wall. He only made attempt after the death of Chief Tony Anenih of blessed memory. The leaders in Edo Central have been able to restrict him to Edo North where they felt that he is in control without been challenged by any group or individuals.
If you don't know Oshiomhole's hatred for the Binis and Esan people knew no bound, but pretend to love them while give them bad treatment at any given opportunity.
Let take this election as between Darkness and light and between Oshiomhole and the good people of Edo State. Because Oshiomhole always want to be the leader in Edo politics for his selfish interest which he does not deserve. So, it is time to restrict him to Etsako axis and no longer Edo North.
The Binis should not be carried away by his initial support for a Bini candidate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa in this coming Edo election, until he was destabilised and over powered by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and other APC stalwarts in the state. That is exactly how he supposed to be treated since he has no respect for other zones in the state.
The Binis must wake up from their slumber quickly and take charge of their Senatorial district and stop Adams Oshiomhole from interfering in their political arrangements and remain united to always work together and learn how to support themselves.
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