13 Nov 2008 |
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Oshiomhole: Welcoming the Comrade as Governor! Comrade Adams Oshiomhole made name for himself as the strong-willed successful President of the powerful Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). During his time in the saddle he fought many wars against the political establishment that refuse(d)s to do the right thing. Oshiomhole never hesitated to call out workers and Nigerians on strike any time the Obasanjo administration increased the pump price of petroleum products sometimes using contrived artificial scarcity to announce increment in prices. Ever since Obasanjo came to power petroleum products has been scarcer than the commensurate increment upon increment in their prices. I'm still yet to be told why OBJ siezed the petroleum ministry for years upon his rise to power from prison. But the PTDF huge scam involving him and his estranged VP had explained better! The former NLC boss now replaced by Comrade Abdulwahed Omar has left the national scene and retreated to his home state of Edo where Governor Lucky Igbinedion has messed up governance equating it to personal ambition of the conquest of Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa and foreign trips where white whores are paid handsomely to warm his bed! Igbinedion is a disaster in government and this was expected because his family does not give a damn about the welfare of the people. When his randy father, Gabriel's car was reportedly stoned in Textile Mill Road by aggrieved residents who were protesting the bad roads in Benin City Igbinedion Snr. reportedly told his tormentors on that occasion that he was not Lucky, the governor but his father! Talk about passing the buck shamelessly. A visit to Benin City and it's environs reveals a beautiful old city, culturally-strong and historically rich, left to depreciate and rot away by a wealthy family in power who care more about self-aggrandizement and themselves and their business empire than improving the poor people's lot. Igbinedion will forever be remembered for his unique moustache and irredeemable failure as governor of a highly literate and mobile state like Edo. Here comes comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the friend of the poor and oppressed in the society. As a gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress (AC) Oshiomhole stands shoulder high above all other candidate including Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor of the PDP. In a free and fair election any day Comrade Oshiomhole will defeat whoever that opposes him towards the government house in Benin. But with rigging popularly associated with the ruling party PDP one only hopes that the people's votes will count in the polls. Oshiomhole reportedly crippled Benin City traffic wise the other day as his campaign motorcade moved about streets with him receiving wide acclaims, chatting with the old and young at heart especially primary school children and telling them to go home and tell their parents and teachers that when he's voted into power issues such as unpaid salaries and teachers' strikes would be a thing of the past. When Oshiomhole took his campaign train to Uromi, Tony Anenih (Mr Fix it) PDP BOT chairman's hometown the traditional ruler was bemoaning the stagnant state of things praying for Oshiomhole and urging his subjects to vote en masse for him because he is the right and best candidate for the job. The local king lamented how his people and their towns and villages have remained undeveloped despite the fact that their son has been in Abuja for many years as one of the decision makers. Perhaps unknown to him Anenih is working for himself and his master! Comrade Oshiomhole should be told that despite the failure of PDP in the state forces against change within the state may not be too comfortable with the rise to power of a radical mind like him. So every loophole must be plugged to prevent attempts at rigging or stealing of his victory at the polls, a victory which is as certain as the sunset and sunrise. Just recently Oshiomhole had cause to address a press conference in which he asked INEC to redeploy the Resident Electoral Commissioner who was re-posted to Edo State and immediately he landed in Benin went straight to Chief Tony Anenih's Uromi home perhaps to arrange the fixing of the guber polls; with Mr Anenih as Mr fix it in Nigerian politics with negative connotations Oshiomhole was right in raising alarm. With huge support of workers across the board and people like the former arrogant foreign affairs minister under the late Gen. Abacha, Tom Ikimi then Oshiomhole may well be coasting home to landslide victory come April 14th. With Oshiomhole in the driving seat in Edo government house many believe the Edos will have cause to be happy once again. And Benin City especially will be given the facelift that is long overdue. Edo state has had it terribly bad under the Igbinedions and their flagrant abuse of mass development preferring instead to crimminally maintain the status quo of poverty and silence that gives them some leverage over others. This's wishing comrade Adams all the best and luck as he makes his way to the seat of power in the Edo State capital. Welcome comrade as governor! Remember however when eventually you get to Dennis Osadebeh Government house on May 29 that the overall interest of the poor people should be your overriding and abiding responsibility. Your efforts in power tailored towards dramatically transforming the socio-economic well being of your people will be measured largely by what we see on the ground like the provision of basic infrastructures: electricity, roads, and water and health facilities. The success recorded on that score will be used to judge your performance as the number one citizen of a state we hold dear even when we are not Edos. I am convinced he knows that the standard of living of Edos especially those at home without the Italian or European connections has continued to cascade with torrential rapidity, with cruel deleterious effects for the common man on the street; this presents a sorry picture of econo-social slaves in the 21st century when the opposite ought to be the case. That state and its capital city (which he will be presiding over as your Excellency soon by God's grace) literally fed and accommodated us for many years. And tolerated our exuberant radicalism when we were seeking higher knowledge yonder. Needless to say here that the audacity of hope (apologies to Senator Barack Obama of America) in the future we obtained in Benin City is one one cannot wish away. I have more friends in Edo State than any other place in Nigeria. May God guide and guard you aright Adams as you confront the deepening crisis of underdevelopment and other sundry issues of the state, your home state which you genuinely want to serve. Long live comrade! Long live the Edos and long live democracy in Nigeria! SOC Okenwa, NB: This article was first published by the NVS on Friday 6th April 2007. http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/sunny-chris-okenwa/oshiomhole-welcoming-the-comrade-as-gove.html
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