My Dear Edo APC Members, Now That Okpebholo Has Emerged: We Must Set Forth At Dawn! 

The Governorship ticket of the APC for the coming Edo governorship election has to be the most highly prized and highly contested for in recent times.  I was actually not surprised given the array of personalities and interests at play.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a veteran of Edo politics. He’s probably the most organised and calculating political personality in modern Edo politics . Prof. Oserhieme Osunbor was Governor for 18 months after being senator for 8 years. Prince Clem Agba was super Commissioner under Oshiomhole’s 8 years governorship and Minister for about four years under buhari. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere was governorship candidate of PDP in 2012 who was unfortunate to run against Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the height of his popularity as Edo Governor.  Then he became Director of Finance in NDDC. Anameri Dekeri is a business man, oil magnate , philantropist and currently a member of the House of representatives.  He’s very popular especially in the Etsako area. Dr. David Imuse was state party chairman for a long time and an orator who electrified his audience during visitations to local government party leaders. Chief Lucky Imasuen was Deputy Governor to Prof. Osunbor and Chief of staff at some point to Chief Lucky Igbinedion. Dennis Idahosa is a member of the House of representatives and as it turned out, was heavily backed by the influential leader of Edo APC , Senator Adams Oshiomhole. His apparent youthfulness appealed to a section of the youth. Senator Monday Okpebholo is an unassuming business man and entrepreneur. He was a close confidant of the legendary Chief Anthony Anenih and perhaps used the chance of such close relationship with the late sage to build relationships with relevant personalities and blocs across the country. He was the first to win a federal election for the APC in Edo central. At 52, he’s comparatively a young man and appropriately fits the bill of a youth.I took out time to look at some of the leading aspirants at the time so as to show you why the APC primaries was always going to be rancorous with fierce contestations.  It is gratifying now, that all is well that ends well as the members of the party finally had their way in choosing their candidate ,devoid of the influence of any godfather, unlike our PDP neighbours, where Governor Godwin Obaseki beat up other aspirants in that party to deliver his friend and business partner of many years , as their candidate.

Members of the APC should be exceedingly glad that they now have a candidate that represents the yearnings of Edo people: a paradigm shift of having a young person and a person with an admixture of private sector and politics, as Governor of Edo state.

My few years of interactions with Senator Monday Okpebholo have clearly show him as a focused and disciplined leader , whose humility is second to none and whose drive and passion for Edo renaissance trump any primordial consideration. He will be a breath of fresh air and help Institute a new righteous order of governance and politics anchored on respect, competence, integrity and result.

One cannot deny the fact that the primaries leading to the choice of senator Monday Okpebholo created certain misgivings and divisions among some APC leaders and their respective followers, but these are not divisions that cannot be overlooked , and misgivings that cannot be quickly discarded for the general good of the party.

For me, it was a contest of no Victor and no vanquished,  a contest among brethren and should be treated as such. Those who did not win and want to ventilate their reservations against the outcome and process should be allowed to. Those who won should show understanding and constantly reach out in humility to their brethren on the other side, allowing them see that we are all on same voyage to treasure Island,  requiring all hands to be on deck. We must quickly mend any outlet for water to enter into our ship so we can together,  get to that treasure island , which is the collective desire of all Edo APC members.

Dear party leaders and members, Senator Monday Okpebholo is the man Edo needs now to steer the ship of State from the rudderlessnes of the last eight years. We cannot afford to miss this chance his nomination affords. He has shown he’s a team player who works in silence, achieving results. He’s not a braggart, neither is he slothful.  He is focused on reclaiming Edo for Edo people.  We must join him to make this happen.

I am aware some supporters of an aspirant in the primaries still believe that something can happen and their aspirant will be accepted and returned as the APC candidate. I won’t be careful in responding to them that IT IS NOT HAPPENING. THAT SHIP HAS LONG SAILED. We must now join hands to ensure we deliver for the party and our candidate ,because in this lies our own redemption and ascendancy . We cannot afford to allow Godwin Obaseki to succeed with his selfish agenda of replacing himself with his business partner.  We cannot allow the continuation of arrogance in government, failed promises, belligerence against our people,  use and dump, repaltration of our collective wealth to other climes  and outsourcing of our jobs to lagos.

God bless Edo State!