The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, ( PDP), will face herculean task as over 735 delegates converge at the Dr Samuel Ogbemudia main bowl? to pick a candidate that will confront? Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s ruling Action Congress of Nigeria in the epic political battle that will make or mar the PDP. PATRICK OCHOGA, writes.
For? the Edo state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, the biggest task before it this year is how to unseat the incumbent governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria,? A C N .?
To achieve this, the party has decided to open up the process of selecting its standard bearer that will ultimately confront the governor in the July 14 gubernatorial election for Edo State.
To this end, about ten aspirants had initially indicated interest to contest the party’s primaries to pick the sole ticket of the party.
Among those who have indicated interest include: Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, former presidential adviser to Obasanjo, on project monitoring; Senator Osariemen Osunbor, who lost out in the governorship battle of 2007; Ken Imasuagbon, who defected to PDP from Action Congress as it was then known; Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere, a retired 2-star general of the Nigerian Army; Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, a former majority leader in Edo State House of Assembly and youthful Jacob Idinye who presently works as General Manager in the Africa Independent Television AIT.
Others who were considered as jesters and pretenders are Rev. Moses Itoya and a former Special Adviser during the Osunbor’s ill-fated regime, Barr. Kevin Aigbe. Of the lot, only five appear serious with the battle ahead.
The serious ones among them have thrown their hats into the ring by deploying all that they have to ensure that they emerge winner, while the rest are banking on mother luck.
But for the PDP leadership, it appears that all is set for a titanic battle which they believe they will get right this time around in order to re-occupy the Dennis Osadebe avenue.
However, they still have to contend with the issue of which senatorial district should produce the standard bearer of the party. Presently, the party structure is made up of the chairman who is from Edo North Senatorial district.
The secretary is from Edo Central, while Edo South has the deputy state chairman. Edo central also boasts of the only ministerial slot from the state, while Edo North has the Ambassadorial nominee.
So, picking the right and popular candidates is an uphill task before the party. Ordinarily, the party would have settled for a candidate from Edo South senatorial district given the numerical strength, but while the district has good and credible candidates that can give Oshiomhole a good fight, the other districts boast of purposeful and serious contenders.
For instance, the likes of Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and Prof. Senator Oseriemen Osunbor come from Edo North and Central respectively and both boast of rich political pedigrees to stand the challenges ahead.
Given the numerical strength of Edo South senatorial district, and given also that Edo North and Central senatorial districts have clinched the ministerial and ambassadorial slots respectively; the choice of a gubernatorial candidate from Edo South is deemed natural to balance the zoning equation.
Major Genearal Charles Ehigie Airhievbere, a retired Two-star general has long indicated interest for the plump job. But his candidacy seems shaky. First, it is believed by some that he is little known.
There is also the belief in some quarters that he may be dictatorial, given his military background coupled with the fact that he has not spent the two years required of a PDP member to quality to vie for an elective position, though he has the right to a waiver from the party.
The fear of his possible disqualification and the desperation for an Edo South candidate saw the entrance of Matthew Iduoriyekemwen into the race should the party regret the General. It is assumed that Iduoyekemwen controls a lot of ‘boys’ at the grassroots and with a strong support base being provided by former speaker Zakawanu Garuba who is tipped as a running mate.
The duo are capable of creating an upset in the guber race.
However, what might be the Achilles-heel of the party if it settles down for this pair is the possible mass exodus of party faithful loyal to Ken Imasuagbon, Jacob Idinye and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.
It is believed that their political activities over the last three years kept the party alive in the state since it lost power in 2008 to ACN. Ken Imasuagbon has been sharing bags of rice round the state in the last three years, while Jacob Idinye has been engaged in the mobilization of the people to strengthen the party and make it relevant in the state.
They have however, vowed to move against the party if the primary election is not free and fair and does not meet with the expectations of the party faithful.
Also, there are party faithful and leaders who insist in the conduct of free and fair primaries, as well as conducive and level playing ground for all aspirants irrespective of money, connections and social status.
They are of the view that before money becomes an issue, the party must first of all have the human resources on ground which is the basic requirement. They therefore do not support the position of the party leaders who have allegedly endorsed the retired General. They believe that the General should take his time to mature as he is still a neophyte in the political arena and if the party insists and goes ahead to carry out its plans, then, it may bid farewell to the ambition of occupying the Edo State government house.
Whichever way the party chooses to go, it already has an uphill task before it going by the activities of the Comrade Governor. To some Edo people, it will be easier for the head of a Carmel to pass through the eye of a needle than for Oshiomhole to be defeated.
This is also corroborated by a member of the PDP and former minister of state for works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi who told his party members that it would take an angel to defeat the incumbent going by his popularity and his works in the state. But for some others the name Oshiomhole is odious.
To them, his first tenure has brought nothing but hardship and would not want a repeat of what they described as a one-man show administration. Some of the sins of Oshiomhole include the heavy burden of taxation for which most civil servants see the July 14 election as an opportunity to take their pound of flesh, the demolition of people’s property without compensation, as well as his role in the recent fuel subsidy removal.
But politics being a game of numbers, the PDP may spring a surprise and whether that can happen, only July 14, 2012 will tell.??