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If only Governor Obaseki had performed meritoriously, using the resources and allocations that accrued to the state in a most judicious manner, he would not be in his current political cul-de-sac. His avouched resolve to unleash terror on the electorates, and his readiness to spill blood, is akin to the last kick of a dying horse as the butcher’s knife serates the chord. It is a vivid sign of a battle weary commander at his wits end, struggling to make the last call as the bugle is sounded to the troops. Governor Obaseki, unfortunately did not perform well. He underwhelmed his onlookers and marooned himself inside the protective walls of the Government House, dishing out orders to his “hyenas, lions and tigers,” imperiously.
At first, he ranted that should anybody attempt to arrest his “boys,” heaven will not know peace. He thundered again, that if anyone decides to disturb the tranquility of his fortress, “Nigeria will burn, and he will lead it.” Nobody needs further cogitation to know that Governor Obaseki is set to spill blood, all in a bid to foist his godson as his successor. As far as we are concerned though, all his talk are plaintive, and going towards cheese; with his mind set on mischief.
Roosevelt was right when he said that a leader exiting power, contemplates his successor like anyone contemplates death. Unsure of what his successor will do to unnerve him, an outgoing leader thinks restlessly in his inner cocoon trying to improvise his exit gate. Knowing power to be a crazy aphrodisiac, it has caused Governor Obaseki to become a problem unto himself. His squad is suffering attrition by the outlawing of his Edo Security Network- a body that has been armed to serve as an alternate Police Force during the election, and many of his praise singers have eloped. This time, the power of contradiction is eating away the likely possibilities.
The power to decree reality in sync with Governor Obaseki’s preferred choices, is unresponsive, ignoring every effort to bring it to action. He suddenly realises that he has been unclothed by just a whimper and the underbelly of his initial prowess is now exposed. Again, If only Governor Obaseki had utilised the huge resources of the state to positively impact the people, and create a conducive atmosphere for them to pursue their legitimate aspirations, his current frustration would have been obviated.
I deem it right to say that Governor Obaseki has been lawless as the Chief Executive of Edo state. He has also been reckless in his utterances, suggesting that he may have been under certain unassured influence. Now he is left supine. As a Governor, he has been an enabler of gangsterism and high-handedness. He has succeeded to some extent to create palpable fear in the hearts of the people, raising his voice above the normative, to announce the likely consequences of a lost battle. He threatens and roars like a frustrated lion struggling with the evocations in his mind, what his failure at the elections would mean for his life ahead, if any.
He plotted complex political “coups” that would fetch him the trophy, but the lose ends of his plots have severally been his undoing. When I imagine a State Police in Governor Obaseki’s hands, I see terror!!! Edo people would have been draining blood into Obaseki’s rivers of blood. His threats, intimidation, harassment and violence have been most audacious, odious. He is despised at home and abroad.
A seemingly lawless Governor suddenly realises that laws should be obeyed to make the society orderly. His new poise is cadaverous. He, Obaseki’, can be said to be the father of the heightened entropy in Edo State: he conducted sham Local Government elections, and selected those he wanted, took them to Benin City, handed over certificates of return to them, while the elections were still ongoing in the field. When some APC candidates were declared winner in the field, he mocked them as bested, because he wasn’t ready to recognise their victories.
He was the almighty Governor, whose word was law. The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission seemingly lost the “IN” and was dependent on Governor Obaseki’s paps, hence they kept mute. Legitimate winners of the election were transmuted to losers by executive fiat, while the losers were summoned to Government House to take their oaths of office. Raw power on display it was. If his wishes were horses, today, he would want a repeat of that; but this time, he is crated. His grip on showmanship and sheer bravado is enervated. He snubs the King, and snubs the people. He scandalises his political opponents and blackmail them with perfunctory ease.
He now knows that there are limits to his lawlessness, hence his incessant cries from frustrations, and hallucinations; his drama wearing the garb of desperation and his comportment now needing a supporting spine. His milieu is being filtered.
Election on its own is sui generis, giving the people the unique opportunity to have a say in what happens in government. Elections should never be a battle-field engagements. They should never call for bloodletting. Elections give the people an opportunity to use civilised means of enthroning a leader by simple majority votes. The people’s franchise ought to be guaranteed, but Governor Obaseki wants to take it away by his “do or die” stance. He wants to spill blood to appease his gods of infamy; to appease his baals. He wants to force the morsel down the throats of Edo voters, or kill them. His preference must be declared; so he says. When power is departing from the terminus, it bids farewell to the players. The clock ticks away, by the minute and the seconds, following in quick succession, leaving the terminus with sweet or bitter reminiscences of way back when. The hours wear off at the speed of light and what seemed a halcyon life quickly draws to a close.
Edo people will need to “do and live”. Nobody will die, I pray. Obaseki, you don’t have to spill blood because you desire power. You need power to oil human undertakings and create an impact to support the people’s daily aspirations. You governed the people leaving huge debts, you left their infrastructure decrepit, their existence in imbroglio, and now you want to perpetuate yourself! Today, you threaten hails and brimstone simply because of your fear of defeat.
You want to roll out your armoured tanks to crush the people, and arrest their souls; because you are suddenly realising that your power is coasting home to an end, when it will leave you unsung. I boarded a flight with two former governors two days ago, they were courteous and affable; we all sat in a convivial atmosphere as we chatted our way to our destination- no airs, no threats, no intimidation.
They didn’t have to profess their own tigritude; their positive actions resonate with the people and speak for you even in your absence. Election is not a “do or die” engagement; it is a pathway to electing one out of the multitude, to make the society a better place. Anything short of that goes by some other appellation. Governor Obaseki wasted his opportunity to become a hero; now he is afraid to be recognized as zero. Saturday, 21 September 2024 beckons, from which time he will lick his wounds as a random fellow.
