Edo: The Godfather’s Sins That Nailed Ighodalo

Governor Godwin Obaseki is still reeling in the defeat suffered by his party in the September 22 governorship election in Nigeria’s south-state, Edo.

Last weekend, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Obaseki’s preferred successor and Monday Okpebholo of the All, progressives Congress, APC squared up in the historic election, which the latter won by over 40, 000 votes.

The independent national Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Okpebholo winner after scoring 291, 667 votes and won in 11 local government areas, to beat his main rival, Ighodalo, PDP, who polled 247, 274 votes and won in seven local government areas.

The magazine also reported that Olumide Akpata, Labour Party, LP, candidate in the election came a distant third after he failed to ein any local government.

In spite of the defeat suffered by his candidate Governor Obaseki has appealed to the people of the state to remain calm, and not to take laws into their hands, saying no matter how long justice will still be served.

The governor who expressed dissatisfaction with the results announced by  INEC, said “peace and justice” will triumph at the end of the day.

He said, ‘regrettably, the outcome of the September 21st governorship election appears to have daunted the spirit of many Edo people who feel powerless in the face of the brute force of the institutions that are supposed to protect them. It is therefore understandable that many people feel sad and aggrieved.

“But in the midst of this despair, I am urging all my fellow Edo citizens to maintain calm and not resort to violence and destruction of property in spite of this provocation.

“Peace and justice will always win at the end and this is my prescription to all the good people of Edo State who feel vexed and violated at this time.

“Clearly, it is obvious to the least discerning, the amount of impunity and reckless disregard for processes and law that was displayed in this gubernatorial election.

“In a democracy, there are safeguards for addressing grievances, and we hope that those affected will seek resolution for this blatant disregard of law and process.

“With this in mind, I implore all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses and rest assured of the commitment of our government to your well-being and security,” the governor said.

But as the governor continues to wallow in anguish over the defeat of his candidate, close watchers of the politics of the state say the governor is partly to blame for his party’s defeat, citing the fact that the voters were only waiting for the election  to take vengeance on Ighodalo because of the sins of the governor, his political godfather.

Factors that Worked Against Ighodalo

Phillip Shaibu

Since the emergence of Ighodalo as PDP candidate early this year, crisis had hit the party after some stalwarts, including reinstated Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, Anslem  Ojezua amongt others had accused the governor of imposing the former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc on the party.

Shaibu, who later defected to the APC was frustrated by the governor alongside other aspirants from running as the PDP candidate, the aggrieved aspirants had dragged the party to court over the matter, but their appeal was rejected by the court which affirmed Ighodalo.

Despite the affirmation of Ighodalo as the PDP candidate following the short legal battle, not a few insist that the party went into the election  strongly divided.

For instance, Shaibu, a former ally of the governor before the duo parted way due to his ambition to rule the state, had vowed to work against the interest of the party.

Obaseki’s Leadership Style

Another factor which analysts believed worked against the PDP candidate in the election, is the administrative style of Governor Obaseki which earned him many enemies, particularly among the state civil servants.

For instance, the top echelon of the state civil service are said to be angry with Obaseki who they accused of by-passing them while he concessioned key projects to companies allegedly belonging to his friend and cronies.

The aggrieved civil servants are said to be angrier because the companies failed to deliver at the end of the day despite the encomium showered on them by the governor. They waited for the election to take a pound of flesh on Obaseki, according to sources who informed the magazine that the governor really stepped on the toes of some vested interest in the state, including the respected Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.

Oba Of Benin

Recall that the Palace, as the Oba of Benin is usually referred, had clashed with Governor Obaseki over some artifact returned to the state by the British Government. The disagreement was centred around where to keep the artefact; while the governor insisted that they should be kept in a library to be built by the state government the traditional disagreed. The art materials must be kept in the palace, Oba of Benin insisted.

Even though the monarch has distanced itself from partisan politics, saying he’s father to all, the people of the state were said to have vowed to punish Obaseki for disrespecting the revered traditional by voting against his candidate.

Apart from allegedly disregarding the traditional institution in the state represented by the Oba of Benin, some people in the state accused  the governor for being unruly considering the manner he handled the judiciary, particularly the judges whose government treated like scrap metals.

According to Obaseki’s critics who cited the governor’s delay in  swearing in eight state High Court judges after they have been cleared by the highest judicial body in the country for judges, the National Judicial Council, NJC, the governor has violated the his oath of office ab the state chief executive.

High Court Judges Controversy

The judges include Justices Ovenseri Otamere, Obayuwana Osarenren Mathias, Edoghogho Eboigbe, Ojo Maureen Osa, Bright Eraze Oniha, Ehinon Anthony Okoh, Godwin Jeff Okundamiya and Osayande Ikwuemosi Awawu.

The governor only swore in five of the eight judges 11 months after they have been cleared by the NJC. Criticising Obaseki’s , Olumide Akpata, a former Persident, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and the LP candidate in last week governorship election, described the governor’s action as “travesty and tragedy,” saying it’s unacceptable.

Akpata said, “I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the reprehensible conduct of Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State. Firstly, for the unconscionable delay in swearing in new judges for the Edo State High Court 11 months after they were recommended by the National Judicial Council as far back as June 2023. Secondly, for the inexplicable decision to unilaterally select and swear in only five out of the eight recommended judges.”

“For nearly a year, these eight legal professionals languished in an unconscionable career limbo, with those previously in private practice suffering immense financial hardship through loss of earnings as they could not practise law as private practitioners having been recommended for appointment to the Bench, To subject any human being or public servant, let alone prospective guardians of justice, to such indignities is totally unacceptable.

“And now, by swearing in only five out of the eight recommended judges without any reason or explanation, Governor Obaseki has further rubbed salt into the injury, riding roughshod over another arm of government in clear violation of the principles of separation of powers and in the process, leaving the other three Judges and their families in a precarious dilemma.

“As a senior member of the Bar and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the reprehensible conduct of Governor Godwin Obaseki, who willfully failed and refused to perform his constitutional duty to swear in all eight recommended Judges for nearly a year without any plausible justification. The fact that he has now proceeded to unilaterally select and swear in five out of the recommended eight Judges is simply a tragedy and a travesty,” the former NBA President stated.

Meanwhile, other sources reliably informed the magazine that the cohesion in the ruling APC before and during the election  played a major role in  Okpebholo defeat of Ighodalo.

The governor did not agree. Governor Obaseki has blamed security agencies for his party’s defeat, but his critics insist that those that actually sealed the fate of his candidate were APC apparatchiks who ensured that Okpebholo got all the support he needed to defeat his opponent, the candidate of the incumbent governor.

“From the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, all APC Governors led by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq , Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, and other top notch of the ruling party were all on ground to support their candidate because they are united. This cannot be said of the PDP which has been polarised alongside former Governor Nyesom Wike, and the PDP Governors Forum, PGF led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state,” one of the sources said. Few days to the lection Wike, the Minister of the FCT and immediate past governor of River state had revealed that Obaseki begged him to support Ighodalo, saying he turned down the governor’s plea.