By Chris Otaigbe
A major fallout of the just concluded Edo elections has ended in what many earnestly expected, the winner being magnanimous in victory, as Godwin Obaseki stretched a hand of friendship to his Challenger, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and the State’s immediate past Governor and sponsor of his contender, Adams Oshiomole.
An American soldier, born in 1885, but died 60 years later in 1945, George S. Patton, said Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.
This captures the recent Edo governorship election, which was won by the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki, to defeat Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
In what looked like a boxing rematch, both men had contested against each in 2015 through their original political platforms, while the 2020 edition or return leg, as in football parlance, swopped places on the same two platforms. In the end, the Edo election drama featured two political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Two contests cross carpeting and got the same result in both competitions.
And so, it turned out that Obaseki defeated Ize-Iyamu with over 84,000 votes.
Clearly, Obaseki won the election because of sympathy and protest votes occasioned by the groundswell gang up against him plus his record of achievements, which turned out to be the cherry on his cake.
Edo is traditionally a PDP State and that played a formidable role in returning him to office, especially as general sentiments against Mohammadu Buhari’s recent brazen anti-people policies were making Nigerians nurse the thought of ‘the devil you knew is now better than the Angel, unravelling in a most unpleasant manner now.’
Also being a PDP State, the party’s existing political structure was placed at the disposal of Obaseki, whose smart defection to the party paid off following his humiliating disqualification from the party primaries.
Throwing the incumbent governor out of the party has proved a most devastating loss to the, hitherto, ruling party in the state. As events have played out now, APC’s loss has become PDP’s gain. The Bola Tinubu factor proved to be injurious, just as Adams Oshiomole’s overbearing presence in the marketing of Ize-Iyamu turned out to be unhealthy for the party’s chances at the election.
Therefore, in the election held on Saturday, September 19, 2020, Governor Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who scored 223,619. It was an election in which Edo spoke loud and in unmistakable terms to assert its choice and it did with such euphoria, its people trooped to the street in wild jubilation and celebration.
The build up to the D-day was filled with so much rancour and acrimony between both sides. It was so fiery; it set the state on heat, threatening to set it ablaze.
Heightened tension occasioned by the quarrels, mudslinging and character assassination that ensued between incumbent Gov. Godwin Obaseki of the PDP and his erstwhile godfather, Adams Oshiomhole, the former National Chairman of the APC, created fears of a war-like theatre situation in the run-up to the election.
Interventions by the Oba of Benin, His Royal Highness, Eheneden Erediauwa, thankfully doused the tension-soaked atmosphere and facilitated the peace that the state enjoyed on the day of the election.
Now that the election has come and gone, lost and won, it is time for the Governor to resume the task of rebuilding the bridge of friendship, in a bid to carry all along for the responsibility of developing the Edo.
In their response to the outcome of the election, prominent Nigerians gave their view of the significance of the successful election to democracy.
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai, said up till three weeks ago, he was sure the All Progressive Congress (APC) would win the election.
Speaking on Sunrise, Channel television morning program, El Rufai said the Polls had indicated APC was going to win.
“I don’t know what happened in the last two-three weeks of the campaign, as you know, a large number of voters make up their mind in the last two weeks of election, many voters decide no matter what happens, this is how I am voting. But most people want to wait and watch and make up their minds in the last two weeks.” He said.
According to him, the results came out differently from what the APC had expected.
“The election was reasonably decent. We were all worried about violence. There was very little violence or none at all. So, Obaseki has won, that’s it. You can’t go into election without looking at the possibility of losing,” said Rufai.
He said unlike past governments, the Mohammadu Buhari administration does not believe in applying the force of the federal government in influencing outcomes of elections.
“One thing President Mohammadu Buhari’s government has always done is to say there must be free and fair election and the people’s choice must prevail. The President has never used what is called Federal might that other governments have used in the past to steal elections. We always insist that everyone must go and pitch to the people and may the best man win. We can live with it,” he said.
Reacting to the outcome of the election as announced by INEC, President Mohammadu Buhari said his commitment to free and fair elections is firm, because without free and fair elections, the foundation of Nigeria’s political and moral authority would be weak, adding that he has consistently advocated for free and fair elections in the country because it is the bedrock of true democratic order.
“Democracy will mean nothing if the votes of the people don’t count or if their mandate is fraudulently tampered with,” he said.
He commended the people of Edo State, the parties, candidates and security agencies for conducting themselves responsibly.
In a congratulatory message to Obaseki, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, said the victory of Edo State governor, signalled an end to godfatherism and militarism in Nigeria’s political system.
Commending the people of Edo State, and the PDP, for their resilience before and during the election, Atiku affirmed that a new dawn had come upon in Edo State, adding that Obaseki’s hard-won victory was not just a victory, but also a declaration of independence from the anti-democratic forces.
“No victory could be sweeter than this, and I heartily congratulate the governor, and the good people of Edo State for their resilience in the face of the forces arrayed against them. Edo has a rich history as the center of Black civilization, and to this, she is adding a new history as the bastion of Nigerian democracy. This double whammy of ancient and modern glories is a testament to a people who have, for centuries, set the pace as a beacon of light on the African continent. I most heartily congratulate the People’s Democratic Party, who stood shoulder to shoulder, with the people of Edo and their government, in good times and bad.” He said.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, urged the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, to be magnanimous in victory, saying his re-election reflected the choice of the people. While affirming the victory of the Governor, he said Obaseki’s magnanimity would not only be charitable but would help the hurts suffered by the opposing camps and the state at large in the wider interest of the nation.
As the former President noted, Obaseki’s success at the polls was proof that Edo people valued his leadership and appreciated his efforts in moving infrastructural development of the state further from where his predecessor left it, to their delight.
In his congratulatory letter to the governor, the former president stated that the outcome of the elections broadly reflects the choice of Nigerians who have, by their conduct, visibly demonstrated that they value the nation’s democracy and will do their utmost to make it work.
“I salute you and all those who worked for your re-election. I urge you, therefore, to reciprocate their trust by doing everything you can to strengthen their faith in democracy and in its ability to bring about improved material conditions and better service delivery. I also count on your support of well-meaning Nigerians like me in our quest for national peace, stability and economic development and trust that you will play an active and visible role in our pursuit of these noble and desirable objectives. You are now, as before, Governor of Edo State and not governor of only those who voted for you in Edo State.” Said Obasanjo.
PDP’s former deputy national chairman, Chief Bode George, while speaking on his party’s defeat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Obaseki’s victory was a rejection of Bullion Van democracy by the people of Edo State.
While he commended the people of Edo State for having spoken loud and clear by voting the governor back to office, George maintained that Edo people had spoken unambiguously, stressing that the people were bold and brave for rejecting the bullion van democracy.
He noted that Edo people stood against outside interlopers, adding that the people were firm and committed to the purity of the democratic process.
According to the retired Naval Commodore, Edo electorate made their choice in the person of Governor Godwin Obaseki, who the former national Chairman said had braved all odds and all the dark, devious machinations and intrigues of undemocratic forces, noting that the people’s will prevailed in the end.
Describing Obaseki’s victory over what seemed a great hurdle, he congratulated the state governor for a well-deserved victory.
“I congratulate Governor Godwin Obaseki for this well-deserved victory. I congratulate our party managers who pulled through this victory by ensuring that the right things were done at the right time. The election was peaceful, fair and just. The security operatives were much alert to their responsibilities. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) too conducted itself in a worthy manner. It was apparently neutral and committed itself to the fairness doctrine, which is the hallmark of democracy itself,” he said.
With reference to the Edo example, the retired naval commodore said Lagos would soon follow in the exemplary performance shown by Edo electorate.
“Even here in Lagos, there is a dawning realization that the slave-drivers will soon be chased out of town through the ballot box. Lagosians are equally sick and tired of 21 years under-development and massive gutting of their treasury. Enough of the primitive monetized ways of godfatherism.”
National President of the Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria (GPAAN), Ayo Baje, commended the security Agencies for ensuring adequate security during the election.
“On the part of the security personnel, with the deployment of over 31,000 policemen and close monitoring of those at the polling units by their superiors, their performance was above the average.
“There were, however, reports of some of them looking the other way while alleged vote selling and buying took place in some polling stations. Besides, there were pockets of violence and reports of some rural areas not adequately protected,” he said.
Although, there were reported incidents of late arrival of voting materials, slow response of the card-readers, Baje said the instant posting of the results, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its platform at the office in Abuja was a plus.
He, however, lamented lack of prompt punishment for those apprehended for electoral malfeasance, and the undue delay in the signing of the Electoral Amendment Bill by President Mohammadu Buhari, which describes as a minus for the conduct of the election.
At a little over 500,000 Voters out of 1.2 million who registered, turnout at the election was not impressive enough, according to the GPAAN Chairman as he maintained it could have been a lot better.
According to him, 25% participation in the election, which reflects voter apathy, is not good enough. He said more enlightenment is needed to sufficiently galvanize the people to participate in elections, while expressing his unhappiness that some of the voters were still being made to be pawns to political manipulation, pockets of violence and vote-buying even though they were isolated cases.
“The Truth however, is that those who voted for the governor have shown that they appreciate good governance and cannot be influenced by outside forces, including that of political godfathers. The quick congratulatory message from the president to the winner from an opposition party is commendable and should be emulated by the loser, Ize-Iyamu, who has lost twice on the platforms of both the PDP and the APC. The signal should be clear to him by now.” Baje said.
He further stated that the threats of Visa denial from the United States and British governments to Nigerian politicians who aid and abet electoral malpractices came at the right time.
Francis Chilaka, a political Analyst said, unlike other states, Edo were determined not to be used as guinea pigs in the hands of political gladiators; just as the people of Imo State did by outrightly rejecting Rochas Okorocha and his son-in-law.
“The bottom line is that the people are beginning to wake up, gradually and come to the reality that power belongs to them and that the leaders are mere custodians. Free, fair, credible elections that meet International standards and reflect the wishes of the majority of voters form the foundation for the House of Democracy to stand firmly on.” He said.
Barely 24 hours after the conclusion of the election, APC congratulated Obaseki over his re-election as the state governor.
APC stated that the decision to congratulate the PDP candidate after the poll was based on the party’s commitment towards ensuring free and fair elections as well as support any course that would further strengthen the foundation of the country’s political and moral authority.
The party, through a statement made by the chairman of its national Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, added that it was time for members to accept outcome of the election, unite to move the country’s democracy forward and put an end to era when the electoral contest becomes warfare.
In the statement released on Monday, September 21, 2020, APC argued that as the country’s governing party, it would take every step necessary to support the Federal Government towards consolidating on gains achieved during the Edo gubernatorial election held over the weekend.
While acknowledging that the election conducted and result released by Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) was free and fair, the party stated that the peaceful conduct of the election and its outcome represented victory for Nigeria’s democracy.
“We appeal to all our members to be strengthened by the outcome of the election and unite in order to correct all the problems that worked against our party and our candidate in the just concluded election. As progressives and democrats, we are confident that all leaders and members of the party will celebrate the outcome of the election as free and fair as acknowledged by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari. Let us unite to move our democracy forward. We must put an end to the era when electoral contest become warfare. We urge our candidate and all our members to join us in congratulating Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the PDP, being the declared winner of the election.” APC said.
The re-elected Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, in elegant demonstration of the magnanimity he had been advised to display, extended a hand of fellowship to leaders and members of the opposing party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
While receiving his certificate of return on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at the INEC office in Aduwawa, Benin City, Obaseki said the fight is over between him and his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, who is also the former Chairman of the APC, as he called on the flagbearer of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and other members to join in the administration of the state.
“I am using this opportunity to extend a hand of fellowship to my brother, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and other colleagues in the APC to join us and work with us so that we can move Edo forward. On a specific note, I want to use this opportunity to call on the former Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that the fight is over and he should come and join in building the house where he was part of laying the foundation. We have no malice. The only thing we disagree on is the approach in moving Edo State forward,” he said.
He added that both members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and APC are one family and cooperation is needed in moving Edo State forward.
“To our friends and brothers on the other side of the divide, we are one family in the pursuit to provide services and public goods for our citizens. Our citizens have decided that for now, they trust us more to provide the leadership. It does not mean that they do not have a role to play. It does not mean that they are not part of the family,” the governor stressed.
Both the winner and the loser in the historic election have come through in the words of George S. Patton that wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.
In other words, the election may have been won by Obaseki, the real winner is the people of Edo, while the true victor of that contest is Nigeria’s democracy.
