The outcome of the Edo State governorship election has exposed the weakness of some bigwigs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hitherto seen as kingmakers, writes...

Yesterday’s victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Edo State governorship election, is likely to mark the retirement of some political godfathers in the “Heartbeat State” by a new power bloc led by the outgoing governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The godfathers, mostly of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and who hitherto called the shots, rating ahead of the poll had presented them as men who could turn the table against the ruling party.

They include former chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih; business mogul and the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; his son and former governor, Lucky; former Foreign Affairs minister, Chief Tom Ikimi; former Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen; former Chief of Staff to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadome; media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Senator Odion Ugbesia.

The party bigwigs had during the campaigns boasted that they will cut Oshiomhole, his anointed successor and APC to size. But in a twist of fate, Oshiomhole, like the Biblical David in the David and Goliath battle, led his party to trounced his PDP rivals for the third time – 2008 (through the court), 2012 and 2016 and thereby confirmed his preelection position that the political godfathers have outlived their relevance in Edo State politics.

Anenih popularly called “Mr. Fix It,” had boasted before the election that the PDP will emerge tops. He not only predicted victory for his party but assured its supporters that PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will have an easy ride because his rival lacks the capacity to be governor. But with the defeat, the former Minister of Works and leader of the PDP in Edo State was forced to swallow his words and justifies appeal on the self-acclaimed godfather ahead of the poll to rather dwell more on national politics and play the role of an elder statesman, than take the captainship band of domestic politics.

In fact, some political analysts had advised him to take a final bow from an indulgence that gave him fame having stepped down as PDP BoT chairman after the 2015 elections but he shunned the counsel, insisting that he still has what it takes to turn the table against Oshiomhole. Another godfather who is likely to join Anenih on the retirement train is the Esama of Benin, Chief Igbinedion, and whose son, Lucky, ruled the state between 1999 and 2007.

Perhaps, the people have not forgotten his son’s dismal performance in the eight years he held sway as governor of Edo State. For Igbinedion junior, the loss is a set back to his bid to re-launch a political career that has been on sabbatical after his ordeal in the hands of the anti-graft agencies upon leaving office as governor in 2007. He had boasted that Oshiomhole’s successor will emerge from his political family. Ize-Iyamu, the PDP candidate is his long term political ally, having served as his personal assistant when he was the chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Chief of Staff as governor and later Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Ikimi also joins the train despite his political sagacity. His case is made worse by the fact that he was among those who midwifed the victorious party – APC. He had hoped to lead the party to the 2015 elections as national chairman but the emergence of his kinsman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the party’s national put paid to his ambition as well as forced him to quit the party. While the godfathers are grieving their loss, a jubilant Oshiomhole declared that he has demystified them and dismantled their rigging machinery as well.

His words: “Over the last eight years, we have tried to orientate our people not just the voters but politicians that the season of election rigging, where one or two godfathers write the results is over and we were committed to dismantling the rigging machine.

“We have a rerun in 2012 with all the godfathers on one side and new forces of change on my side, I won in all the 18 local government areas. Our people have spoken loud and clear that they believe in democracy, they just don’t want to be beneficiaries, they want to be the drivers of the process. This was showed by the way they conducted themselves on election day.

“It is outstanding and remarkable that tensed as the election was with all the predictions, the APC won 15 out of the 18 local government areas decisively.

Those who were loudest in making noise have been revealed where they stand in relation with Edo people.

"We have humbled Chief Tom Ikimi even in the local government he claimed to have created. We defeated Chief Raymond Dokpesi in his polling unit, his ward and his local government.

In Okada, the political family that has boasted that they will continue to govern this state and even compelled the state to adopt them as the queen of England whose birthday must be celebrated was rejected.

“In Esan land, the senatorial zone of the PDP godfather, we won two out of the five local governments. We gave him a fight that he managed to escape. He used the factor of his age to play on the emotion of the people. It is a victory for the people of the state. Edo people are now proud they can now determine who rules them and no one godfathers can choose a leader for them.”


https://newtelegraphonline.com/oshiomhole-retires-godfathers/

Naso.com

modelmike7:
Naso.com

I concur.Com

Osho Baba !
Sometimes the press make some of these so called godfathers what they are not. What has Tony Anenih fixed that he is been called Mr fix it.
As minister for works and housing he couldn't even fix a single road.
Oshiomole has showed what leadership is all about and I must give kudos to the people of Edo state for standing firm on the quest for continuity of the good works of Adams and for demystifying the so called godfathers.
Long live EDO STATE
God bless Nigeria

retire anybody retireable

I expected the aggrieved Edo indigenes to go out and massively vote against the ruling party...But, the result shows otherwise...Serious minded Edo people, who are interested in continuity of good governance are many...they have their PVC, not just shouting online and Voted their choice to Victory.

Congrats the good people of Edo State.

Truly like the biblical David who defeated once and for all Goliath.

He not only retired them , he ensured they have now been reduced to "POSEURS WITH NO PENSION PLAN !! If PDP were to be at the centre, the party hierarchy would not only have bankrolled the process for them, they'd have covered any loss with "juicy" political appointments...

Now it's double wahala for dedi body!!Checkmate.








P.S... Where are the crazy wailers wey wan die for my mentions before this election? Especially the wannabe yorubas; crayon boy mai foto & and the "self assessing rich" election bankroller/former Tinubu boy/ election rigger? ...

The loss was not esperedet i guess, Cat got una tongues now? Bunch of crazies dem!!

straight up






if not for that idiot toney anehni we wouldn't have know this short, ugly, black, oshomole

Isie Iyamu shld hold this two thieves- Aninih, Igbenidion, responsible for his failure. Had it been they provided dividend of democracy when PDP was in power, it wouldn't have been like this.

amid economy recession..people still vote apc...it's apparent that pdp is dead,buried and dusted.oshobaba is now a nightmare to wailerz

Most of the people making noise online know little or nothing about the developmental strides that oshiomole achieved...Thank God for Edolites

adioolayi:

I expected the aggrieved Edo indigenes to go out and massively vote against the ruling party...But, the result shows otherwise...Serious minded Edo people, who are interested in continuity of good governance are many...they have their PVC, not just shouting online and Voted their choice to Victory.

Congrats the good people of Edo State.

modath:
He not only retired them , he ensured they have now been reduced to "POSEURS WITH NO PENSION PLAN !! If PDP were to be at the centre, the party hierarchy would not only have bankrolled the process for them, they'd have covered any loss with "juicy" political appointments...

Now it's double wahala for dedi body!!Checkmate.








P.S... Where are the crazy wailers wey wan die for my mentions before this election? Especially the wannabe yorubas; crayon boy & and the "self assessing rich" election bankroller/former Tinubu boy/ election rigger? ...

The loss was not esperedet i guess, Cat got una tongues now? Bunch of crazies dem!!

Yes oh.. .. .Retired them.. .. With no pension plans. Chai... .. That's the worst.

faaz24:
Osho Baba !
Sometimes the press make some of these so called godfathers what they are not. What has Tony Anenih fixed that he is been called Mr fix it.
As minister for works and housing he couldn't even fix a single road.
Oshiomole has showed what leadership is all about and I must give kudos to the people of Edo state for standing firm on the quest for continuity of the good works of Adams and for demystifying the so called godfathers.
Long live EDO STATE
God bless Nigeria

Hahahaha see you so you don't know why they call him that name "Mr Fix It"?
It's cause he fix who ever he wish to be in elections and appointment then before osho came on board politically. That gave him that name.

adioolayi:

I expected the aggrieved Edo indigenes to go out and massively vote against the ruling party...But, the result shows otherwise...Serious minded Edo people, who are interested in continuity of good governance are many...they have their PVC, not just shouting online and Voted their choice to Victory.

Congrats the good people of Edo State.

Those shouting online are those bitter developers of Nigeria. God bless Edo state.

modath:
He not only retired them , he ensured they have now been reduced to "POSEURS WITH NO PENSION PLAN !! If PDP were to be at the centre, the party hierarchy would not only have bankrolled the process for them, they'd have covered any loss with "juicy" political appointments...

Now it's double wahala for dedi body!!Checkmate.








P.S... Where are the crazy wailers wey wan die for my mentions before this election? Especially the wannabe yorubas; crayon boy & and the "self assessing rich" election bankroller/former Tinubu boy/ election rigger? ...

The loss was not esperedet i guess, Cat got una tongues now? Bunch of crazies dem!!

Lmaooo @Election rigger. Mr ballot box snatcher

Qmerit:


Hahahaha see you so you don't know why they call him that name "Mr Fix It"?
It's cause he fix who ever he wish to be in elections and appointment then before osho came on board politically. That gave him that name.

Alas ! He has been fixed as well...the only thing that is constant in life is CHANGE.
Its a good thing that these people are well and alive otherwise their supporters would have been saying 'had it been'
But as things stands now, they all can as well GO AND ... !!!

Politics is a dirty game, I will never be involved by vote.

Na only retirement? Abeg finish dem join!

6 foot tings!

Ginaz:
Politics is a dirty game, I WILL NEVER BE INVOLVED by vote.

Whocares.com

Elections are won on field, not nairaland.


Out next week: How to kill giant oppressors in your home with no drama - Oshiomhole

Pay no mind to what the detractors say. After all, people will always talk!

POI and his political godfathers "go and die" in Osho baba's voice

malton:
Elections are won on field, not nairaland.


Out next week: How to kill giant oppressors in your home with no drama - Oshiomhole

Pay no mind to what the detractors say. After all, people will always talk!

Shee?

NgeneUkwenu:
Then let them Migrate to Bafraud....their services are needed there....Useless thieves...

You yaff started today again abi? ;where on earth you dey see dem apt, very very apt pictorial representation of your opinion? Mehn nor be small sontin.

Wetin person go do about ya matter.

modath:


You yaff started today again abi? ;where on earth you dey see dem apt, very very apt pictorial representation of your opinion? Mehn nor be small sontin.

Wetin person go do about ya matter.

Wetin Person go do now ! The election pain Ipob miscreants more than Edo people....So make we join hands extend their misfortune..

Well,he is the new Godfather....

lalasticlala

it just a birth of a new godfather.. We keep moving in circles in this country

next political office holders must seek support from oko-lara.
Naija I hail thee

Edolites will surely learn one of this days.


Most people shouting on Nairaland here haven't been to Edo state o.

It's well