Edo 2020: Frontline Governorship Aspirants

*What People Say About Them
*How A Winner Will Emerge
By Sir Ralph Okhiria

As the 2020 Governorship election in Edo state draws near, prospective Aspirants to the number one political office in the state, are in the field scheming how to become the elected governor of the state.
While some of the Governorship Aspirants are very serious, others seems to be jokers.
Some of the frontline Aspirants in strong contention for the Dennis Osadebey Avenue – Edo state seat of government, include the incumbent governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, former Minister of State, Works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, former Secretary to Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and a retired Army General, Charles Airhiavbere.
Others includes, the rice man, Barr. Ken Imansuangbon and the Honourable Member representing Oredo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
As at the time of fillng this report, it is highly unclear which of these Aspirants will make it to the top of their political parties as flag bearers, a journey they must take before coming face to face with members of the public.
Governor Obaseki, Engr. Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Airhiavbere and lately Pastor Ize-Iyamu and others will be in hot contention to be the Standard Bearer of the All Progressives Congress while Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama and Barr. Imansuangbon will battle for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party
The Governorship primaries of the various political parties participating in Edo 2020 guber election, are about six months away and it is expected that major political fireworks will commence in earnest early next year.
Mr. Godwin Obaseki: He is the sitting governor of the state. Presently, he is having a running battle with some leaders of his party (APC) over the control of the party and by extension, activities of the government.
The aggrieved APC leaders argued that their quarrels with Governor Obaseki, stems from his (governor’s) failure to implement party policies and manisfestoes.
But Governor Obaseki on the other hand alleged that some his greedy party leaders are fighting him because of his refusal to share Government money with them, insisting that he will never give them government funds for doing nothing other than being party leaders.
He, however vowed to continue to use Government resources for the wellbeing of the people and provision of massive developmental projects in the state.
At the moment, the governor is seriously embattled and his second term bid not automatic because some leaders of his party are vehemently against him. It’s no longer news that the state party executive is fragmented while his hitherto political godfather and backer, Comrade Adams Oshiomhiole who is the national chairman of the APC, does not want him to return as governor.
But in all these challenges, Governor Obaseki is not sleeping or day dreaming about his second term ambition, rather, his is also giving his opponents sleepless nights.
Besides, the governor is enjoying tremendous amount of goodwill from members of the public because they are fully convinced that their governor has done very well and therefore deserves another term.
Indeed, the current popularity of Governor Obaseki is capable of making him win the 2020 Governorship election in the state. However, he has to cross the first huddle which is getting his party nomination and then the people of the state will have the opportunity to vote him into office for the second time.
“The people want Governor Obaseki to continue till 2024 but some of his party leaders are saying no. That’s the problem. If he is able to get nomination from his party, then Obaseki is good as being reelected governor of the state”, says Matthew Osarienrien.
Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi: He is a business man and retiree of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. He was the Minister of State – Works, during the Government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
He is a gentle and mutured politician who can make a difference if given the opportunity to govern Edo State. He truly has most of the qualities required of good leaders and highly loved by the people.
But he has a Herculean task to emerge as the flag bearer of the APC. He is firmly on ground politically but the fragmentation of his party may hinder his progress because of his high level integrity which he may not be willing to lower.
“That man (Ogiemwonyi) is a good politician. He is very generous and humble but the greedy Hawks, Sharks and Pigs I’m the APC will fight him to a standstill. If they venture give him the party nomination, the people will not have difficulty voting him as their governor”, opined Mrs. Ijose Omoyemwen.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu: He is a strong and influencial politician but he has disappointed so many people for his inability to stay longer time in one Political party before heading to another.
He was in PDP where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and later Chief of Staff to the then governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion who later elevated to the position of Secretary to the State Government.
He later moved to the Action Congress, Action Congress of Nigeria and All Progressives Congress. He dumped the APC in 2014 and found his way back to the PDP. He was made the Governorship candidate of the PDP and contested the state Governorship election in 2016 but narrowly lost to his APC’s opponent, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Now he is back to the APC again and many people, particularly Christian Leaders and the voting Public are sceptical about his Political prospect in his new party.
However, Pastor Ize-Iyamu is rugged , strong and experience politician. Chances are that he may be lucky to work his way from the top to the top as the party candidate. Even at that, he may find a hostile voting Public to contend with if he is successful at the party’s primary election.
“The truth of the matter is that Pastor Ize-Iyamu had a better opportunity to become the state governor in PDP than in APC where they are currently fighting themselves but nevertheless, we are in Nigeria where anything is possible”, stated Johnson Onogboriayosioria.
Gen. Charles Airhiavbere: A retired Major General in the Nigerian Army. He is popularly called “Deep Pocket” in the political circle but he lacks the needed Political experience and maturity to triumph over most of his challengers in APC.
On retirement from the military, he started his Political career with the PDP where he was the flag bearer of the party during the 2012 Governorship election in the state. He lost the election to his rival from the then ACN, Comrade Adams Oshiomhiole who was the sitting governor.
Though he is one of the active founding members of political pressure group within the APC, known as Edo Peoples Movement, his level of acceptance by strong and influencial leaders of the group is unknown.
“The best bet for the General (Airhiavbere) is to rely on the EPM. But he will be on empty ground if that body refuses to throw it’s weight behind him because he has no Political structure in the state”, posited PA. Imagbenikao Iyekowa.
Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon: He is a heavy spender and many hungry politicians like his generosity but he is highly politically unstable and erractic. His presence in the state is only felt when Governorship election is near.
Not a few believe the legal professional cum educationist does not possess most of the qualities required for the position he is aspiring to. He is also not having strong Political structure but he is kind and caring.
The major programmes that brought him to limelight in the state were his annual distribution of free bags of rice during Christmas celebration to lucky needy members of the public and his essay competition for indigent students.
These programmes have since stopped. Many people in the state are of the opinion that the two humanitarian projects were politically motivated.
Besides, Barr. Imansuangbon has jumped from PDP to other Political parties in the past but he is again back to the PDP when he failed to secure APC Governorship nomination in 2016.
“It is a pity that desperate politicians who are in the habit of moving from one party to another, think the people are foolish to accept them anytime they present themselves for elective positions. That is not the case. We know them and they will not get anything from the people because they are wiser now. They will try but they will fail because they are deceivers who want to get to power at all costs”, Mrs. Osamagbe Oghomwen, stated.
Rt. Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama: He is one of the remaining strong voices in the PDP. He was early this year reelected into the Green Chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja as the Representative of Oredo Federal Constituency.
He is popular among his people in Oredo but many of his well-wishers think it is over ambition for him to be nursing Governorship ambition at this point in time.
“To me, he is not politically matured enough to embark on such venture which I may describe as suicide mission. He should not be in a hurry because age is still on his side”, Mr. Iziengbe Aivihenyo, posited.
Therefore, non of the aforementioned Governorship Aspirants in the state is a looser or inferior because it is commonly said that in Politics, it’s not over until it’s over. Who knows with the right and special connections, any of them could be dancing to the Edo State Government House because with God all things are possible but with Nigerians, anything can happen.
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