The Unfolding Drama of the Edo Governorship Campaign- Kassim Afegbua

Propaganda has become the trademark of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in their desperation to sell their candidate who is an antithesis of what a governor should be. From one cesspit of incoherent monologues, to legal battle, the PDP’s Guber candidate has been sweating profusely, wondering how to get a handle on this thing called politics. Senator Monday Okpebholo, Asue Ighodalo, and Olumide Akpata are the three front-runners for the coveted seat of the Governor of Edo State. As the campaigns are gathering steam, the true character of the candidates are unleashed. A single incident would define the depth of the psychoanalytical content of the candidates: It is the incident of a student’s plea for help: Mr. Ray; a student of Ambrose Alli University (AAU)Ekpoma. He is presently undergoing a kidney treatment and up till last week, needed N6m (Six Million Naira) to get the full dose of his medical prescription.

Propaganda has become the trademark of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in their desperation to sell their candidate who is an antithesis of what a governor should be. From one cesspit of incoherent monologues, to legal battle, the PDP’s Guber candidate has been sweating profusely, wondering how to get a handle on this thing called politics. Senator Monday Okpebholo, Asue Ighodalo, and Olumide Akpata are the three front-runners for the coveted seat of the Governor of Edo State. As the campaigns are gathering steam, the true character of the candidates are unleashed. A single incident would define the depth of the psychoanalytical content of the candidates: It is the incident of a student’s plea for help: Mr. Ray; a student of Ambrose Alli University (AAU)Ekpoma. He is presently undergoing a kidney treatment and up till last week, needed N6m (Six Million Naira) to get the full dose of his medical prescription.

Next to pass by was Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate; on getting to the spot, the students flagged him down, and made their supplication; “help for Mr Ray” was boldly written on their placards. Senator Okpebholo alighted from his vehicle, and approached the students. He listened to their representative and felt touched by the sense of urgency in their request, displayed in an atmosphere of solidarity for their own. He instantly transfered Seven Million Naira to the students, and promised to do more if the need arose. The atmosphere broke into a wild unbridled cheering and chanting. The students proclaimed, “Akpakomisa for Governor! Akpakomisa Na you we want!! God bless you! God will grant you victory!!. You are a God-send. Remain blessed!!!”

Earlier, Akpakomisa stopped at Idumabokhae where he donated N28m (Twenty Eight Million Naira), and a brand new 500KVA to the community to resolve their protracted power predicament. Ewohinmi, the place where Asue Ighodalo claims to be his home, has been in darkness for upwards of 8 years; unmistakably abandoned by a government that has practically done zero project in that part of the state. Recall that Asue Ighodalo has been Governor Obaseki’s adviser-in-chief for the last eight years, and he never deemed it fit and proper to draw government’s attention to the palpable pain and suffering that plagued that community. Akpakomisa has promised that the pain and suffering in Ewohinmi will be one of his top priorities once he takes over the mantle of leadership in the state later this year.

The people of Idumabokhae are full of praise, plaudits and prayers for the man with a heart of gold, Senator Okpebholo, who has always opened his heart and doors to everyone, in service to humanity. Juxtapose that with the feeling of the people in Ewohinmi towards their son. Ewohinmi people have lost touch with what electricity looks like, save for the ray of light that shines in Ighodalo’s family house, each time he makes a brief stop in the community. They are murmuring and lamenting their neglect by their billionaire son, who can neither speak their language nor understand their wishes and demands, when he is spoken to. His presence in the community is reminiscent of the white man who came to distribute mirrors and gin.

The last time Asue visited his village, he spoke to his people, through an interpreter whose delivery was a travesty of his intentions and message. They saw a practical stranger in their midst, asking to be recognised by his people as their own, and then be chosen as their governor. If they even tried to overlook the language obstacle, and cling to something else to base their choice of him on, it would be overwhelming challenge for them; by his unfriendly looks, he can’t attract even an inebriated village woman. Without any offense meant, Asue’s frowny looks, and tangled appearance are so grotesque that even his kinsmen would reject him if election knocks today. His people are now calling on Senator Okpebholo to come to their aid and grant them the opportunity to see light once again.

Added to the ugly scenario of darkness, not Asue’s unfriendly looks, I mean the darkness in the community, is the parlous state of Ewohinmi Roads, and the Secondary School. Their billionaire son is oblivious of their plight, and is totally disconnected from them; seeing him in their midst is as boring as reading the back of a bottle of bleach while taking a dump, because you forgot to grab your phone. The people are now singing new songs for Senator Okpebholo, calling him a talk and do man. They referred to Okpebholo’s contribution to their security initiative for Esanland, when he donated several millions of Naira, and six Sienna Vehicles for ease of mobility. When their billionaire son was contacted, he turned his back against them with a vexed visage. This is where we are. The man with less talk does great things. The lugubrious one, another son of Esan land, who is fond of blowing big big grammar comes with excuses everytime his attention is needed for community responsibilities. Edo people, the choice is clear. Okpebholo has no rival. Vote for him, to restore Edo’s lost glory. The time is now!!.