By Adesina Soyooye
Not a few people were surprised, Tuesday, to read Edo State money-man, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, congratulating PDP’s Governor Godwin Obaseki, on his victory in the September 19 Governorship Election over APC’s Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
More than any other Edo money-man, Okunbo fought Obaseki with all his strength, might and money.
Ize-Iyamu was his prefered candidate. And, the Okunbo threw all he had, in the ring, to fight Obaseki on his behalf.
Money. Pen. Judiciary. Interviews. Wide network.
He said he was prepared to see to the defeat of Obaseki by spending his last kobo. He did. But he failed on both fronts. He still has loads of money. And Obaseki was not defeated.
He so fought for the defeat of Obaseki that it became, almost, obscene and suffocating.
He granted long, damning, interviews a couple of times, published in influential Newspapers – the most recent, a couple of days to the election day.
He put out, and paid for, several pages of damning newspaper adverts, telling his sad story with Obaseki.
He also went to court.
To him, he fought a good fight. But, on September 19, the good fight came to nought.
Obaseki roundly defeated Ize-Iyamu. And Okunbo became one of the biggest losers.
But he is not a bitter loser.
On Tuesday, he, as usual, bought pages in newspapers to admit that: “The people have spoken in no uncertain terms.”
Also, admitting the role he played in the weeks leading to the hard-fought election, he wrote in the statement he issued: “It is incumbent upon me as a protagonist for the candidate of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to now issue a statement in my personal capacity as a private citizen as I did at various times during the campaign.”
After showering praises on Edo people for their sense of responsibility in trooping out to perform their civic duties, he congratulated Obaseki for his victory.
Okunbo: “I also wish to congratulate His Excellency, the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for winning the mandate to continue for another four years. Congratulations.”
He enjoined all Edo indigenes “at home and abroad to join hands with the Governor to build a vibrant democracy, and also to build a vibrant economy where the youths can find gainful employment in an atmosphere of peace and security.”
Okunbo, a son of Edo State, is an industrialist and philanthropist. He was, initially, an Obaseki supporter before they fell out.
