There is no doubt that in our growing democracy, strange elements can help to define how people vote. Some of these factors may include poverty, illiteracy, intimidation, rigging, bribery, propaganda, victimization & thuggery.
In the build up to Edo 2016, we have witnessed the emergence of two manifestly distinct dramatis personae; IZE-IYAMU and OBASEKI. Pastor Ize-Iyamu is the son of a trusted Bini family and begotten by late Chief R.O. Ize-Iyamu who was himself, the Esogban of Benin. He was a loyal servant of the Benin Royal Family and the Benin people in general. A foremost administrator and influential socialite of his time, he was well respected by all and sundry.
On the other hand, Godwin Obaseki’s immediate father was not so well known in Benin, but he is a great grand son of Chief Agho Obaseki, who was Oba Ovoramwen’s childhood friend and later became his Chief.
In the wake of the British Invasion of Benin in 1897, Agho is recorded as betraying his Oba and friend and aided his dethronement by the British. He later lobbied seriously to be crowned the Oba of Benin against the time honoured primogeniture mode of succession to the Benin throne. He failed woefully due to the resistance of the Benin people. He was then made the Iyase of Benin by the British.
His grand father, Gaius Obaseki also rebelled against Benin Native Authority and mobilized a section of the Bini public to confer the title of the Iyase of Benin on him. Neither of them paid homage to the Benin palace in celebration of their unconventional chieftaincy trophies.
It follows that while Ize-Iyamu’s DNA is ladened with a deep sense of loyalty to the people, that of Obaseki is dotted with treachery and selfishness. The good news is that Edo people know about these elements.
Ize-Iyamu has been consistent. He went to Edo College and Uniben in Benin City. He has lived in Benin all his life. He has gained experience in local council governance and the conduct of Edo State government business over the years. He is familiar with the geographical terrain, the ethnic groups, traditional institutions, religious, business, political, youth and women leaders in the State. Over the years, he has studied the problems associated with governance and has articulated the solutions in his SIMPLE AGENDA.
On other hand Obaseki has lived most of his adult life outside Edo State and found his way into the State as Head of Economic team of Adams Oshiomhole. In this position, he made no contact with any one other than supervising the implementation of a harsh regime of Multiple taxation, facilitating borrowings for Edo State Government and collecting huge percentages from such funds. He barely knows the topography and make up of the State and depends on the out going Adams Oshiomhole to take him around.
Ize-Iyamu has been a registered voter in Edo State since he attained 18 years of age and has voted several times for different people for various political offices in performance of his civic responsibility. On the other hand, Obaseki registered as a voter in Edo State in 2016 for the first time at Emokpae Primary School, Benin. He has never voted for anyone in any election at any level in the State but expects that Edo people would naively vote for him.
Through out the campaigns, Ize-Iyamu has taken his message round the State by himself and with great confidence rooted in his knowledge of the State and thereby entering into a social contract with Edo people in terms of what he intends to achieve if he is elected.
On the contrary, Edo people have seen an unprepared Obaseki taken round the State by his benefactor, Oshiomhole, like a child on the mother’s back. In these visits, he has barely been able to state his case to the people by himself and has left the masses very worried about his overall know-how in governance.
While Ize-Iyamu has participated virtually in every debate organized by the academia, media, civil societies et al, in a bid to explain his understanding of the nature of the problems of governance in Edo State and the solutions he has put forward, Obaseki has dodged all such debates to the knowledge of Edo people and thereby unwilling to subject his views to competition and public scrutiny.
The 2016 Edo governorship election is very sensitive as the enlightenment of voters has been massively undertaken by stakeholders. There would be no room for thugs or hoodlums to hold sway. Intimidation would be unacceptable and neither will the abuse office be of help in this election. It is only the WILL of the people as expressed in the mantra of ONE MAN, ONE VOTE that would prevail.
If the decision is allowed to be made by the Edo people as we expect it to be, It can be safely argued that both from the point of history and consistency, Ize-Iyamu is more favored to emerge victorious in the contest for Edo State governorship on September 10th, 2016.
Dr. James Odigie; Research Co-Ordinator; Edo Development Foundation.
Ize-Iyamu has been a registered voter in Edo State since he attained 18 years of age and has voted several times for different people for various political offices in performance of his civic responsibility. On the other hand, Obaseki registered as a voter in Edo State in 2016 for the first time at Emokpae Primary School, Benin. He has never voted for anyone in any election at any level in the State but expects that Edo people would naively vote for him.
Through out the campaigns, Ize-Iyamu has taken his message round the State by himself and with great confidence rooted in his knowledge of the State and thereby entering into a social contract with Edo people in terms of what he intends to achieve if he is elected.
On the contrary, Edo people have seen an unprepared Obaseki taken round the State by his benefactor, Oshiomhole, like a child on the mother’s back. In these visits, he has barely been able to state his case to the people by himself and has left the masses very worried about his overall know-how in governance.
While Ize-Iyamu has participated virtually in every debate organized by the academia, media, civil societies et al, in a bid to explain his understanding of the nature of the problems of governance in Edo State and the solutions he has put forward, Obaseki has dodged all such debates to the knowledge of Edo people and thereby unwilling to subject his views to competition and public scrutiny.
The 2016 Edo governorship election is very sensitive as the enlightenment of voters has been massively undertaken by stakeholders. There would be no room for thugs or hoodlums to hold sway. Intimidation would be unacceptable and neither will the abuse office be of help in this election. It is only the WILL of the people as expressed in the mantra of ONE MAN, ONE VOTE that would prevail.
If the decision is allowed to be made by the Edo people as we expect it to be, It can be safely argued that both from the point of history and consistency, Ize-Iyamu is more favored to emerge victorious in the contest for Edo State governorship on September 10th, 2016.
Dr. James Odigie; Research Co-Ordinator; Edo Development Foundation.
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