OSHIOMHOLE AND DICTATORSHIP

BY OREGBE OMORODION

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is a man I have high respect for. This is a man gifted by God with oratory prowess to be oratory. He can talk to a deaf man and he will obey him. The respect I have for Comrade Oshiomhole is what I have for Comrade Paul Ohonbamu, Comrade Marshal Ohue, Fani Kayode. These are gift people who are courageous and blunt in their talk. Comrade Oshiomhole has been fighting what he termed “Godfathers” and as soon as he became the Governor of Edo State he practicalize it by pulling down the like of Chief Tony Anenih of blessed memory, Chief G.O. Igbinedion, the Esama of the Great Benin Kingdom and later those who played a big role in making him actualize his dream of becoming a Governor.
Comrade Oshiomhole and Governor Obaseki have known themselves over the years. The problem with Nigerians, indeed Edo people is that we like standing on the existing protocols. The protocol are not moving us positively forward and why must we continue to stand on them. Supposing the developed countries remain stagnant and continue to stand on the existing protocols we would not have been enjoying their products today. Comrade Oshiomhole fought against imposition but schemed out other supposed contestant in his second term bid nobody complained.
He also brought the pair of the Governor, Deputy and the SSG nobody complained. He was their lecturer and they now graduated and practicing what they learnt, why must Comrade be complaining today. He has forgotten that it was his time Hon. Zakawanu was forcefully removed as the Speaker. It was his time nine legislators were taken to the Government house and the budget of that year was passed. It was also his time the roof of the House of Assembly was removed with the pretence that he was renovating it. He is covering up with the claim that those he used to support Mr. Godwin Obaseki to becoming Governor, are been neglected. Note, this is not correct as he is playing the role of what he initially fought against. He wants to be Lord over Governor Obaseki. You claimed to be the brain behind Obaseki becoming the Governor; must you continue to be bottle feeding him?
May I ask, were the Bike riders not neglected? What did the bike riders gained from him? Of course a BAN. Instead of appreciating the bike riders who use their nuisance value to intimidate the Court to declare him winner of that election, Akugbe Ventures was appreciated. Tony Kabaka was a man who at the Court of Appeal collected brooms from us and set them ablaze. Governor Obaseki came into office and said he will change the rotten protocol of empowering individuals. He banned Agberos and CDA. Instead of Comrade Adams to be grateful to Governor Obaseki for sustaining the developmental strides of APC instead of this dirty fight for control. If it were PDP that succeeded him he would have known what Obaseki did for him. Governor Obaseki has empowered so many people today. Let us speak the truth. The EDSTMA, PUWOV, the Revenue Collectors employed by the Local Government Council, the Enforcers engaged by the three unions. All these people, are they not Edo people? Because individuals are no more collecting money for themselves that is the offence of Governor Obaseki. Those people complaining, I hope they have lost sight and not seeing the good works of the performing Governor. We should be happy that the money of Government is no longer going into private pockets. Oshiomhole did not allow NURTW to function in Edo State but today NURTW, RTEAN and ANNEWATT (all Okada Unions) are functioning legally.
Nobody is talking about Tayo Akpata University, Ekiadolor. The House of Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of two universities in Oshiomhole last lap, but only one was built. Why was the other one (Ekiadolor) not even started. The Local Government Council can attest to the modernized revenue collection system is better than the system of collection during Comrade’s eight years in office as Governor. Bauchi State have similar problem as Edo State but today they are out of it.
If not for selfish interest and that Comrade is from Edo state that is why the problems are still very strong in Edo State. Those crying foul are doing the biding of comrade. It is only a foolish person that you will advise to leave a smoking place.
In Oshiomhole interview published in the vanguard of September 14, 2019 the main offence of Governor Obaseki is that he introduced digital way of collecting revenue. In his words “the responsibility of government is to engage them and manage them in a way they can do their lawful business because the Road Transport Workers Union and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria are registered trade unions in Nigeria. They have a right to operate and it is not for a Governor to proscribe them. I have defended those rights when I was the President of NLC and I cannot accept that particularly when they have supported us to win election. It is not just carry computer boys to motor parks and claim to be collecting revenue” Comrade have not taken the pains to find out who are those collecting these revenue. Empowering individual and empowering institutions which one is better? Those collecting the revenue now with POS are employed by the Local Government and permanent staff. The Tony Kabaka he is fighting for how much was he remitting to Government both state and local? He Tony never employed people but himself. Where did he work and make the money he use in building his house and hotel? It is laughable for a man that is highly exposed like Comrade to forget so easily that during his time, National Union of Road Transport Workers were not allowed to operate. The Okada Unions that Governor Obaseki now brought together and now functioning where used, dumped and BANNED. Sir Osato Ize-Iyamu of blessed memory introduced digital mode of revenue collection one of the best way of collection but Comrade did not approved of it because he wanted to empower individuals. Comrade has not purged himself of what he has done to Okada (Bike) riders yet he is calling us thugs. But when he was using them he was very happy but other person appreciated the importance of Bike riders they are now thugs. After the BAN on the use of bike he promised them heaven and earth and made them to undergo a registration. For a month plus but at the end what came out of it. ZERO.
Comrade Oshiomhole protected his tenure by holding the House of Assembly to himself, why does he now want Governor Obaseki to open his eyes and watch the carpet pull under his feet. Please Comrade, allow Obaseki to maintain your stand against Godfatherism. By APC constitution, the Governor is the party leader in the state. Why must Governor Obaseki own be different? Since Comrade came to ship APC, APC have known no peace. Those elected people who refused to be inaugurated should better put their differences aside and come to Edo State to be inaugurated. They should know that after the dry of the rain you will see where a cripple passed. Some of those malfunctioning minds and brain are blaming Chief Oyegun for APC national problems. Oshiomhole was believed to be the solution but not knowing that he was coming to destroy the party. Chief Oyegun nurtured the APC to defeat incumbent party and never lost any state. Those narrow-minded praise singers are out of reasoning that Oshiomhole lost so many states that Chief Oyegun already won for APC. Those fighting Governor Obaseki let them come out and point to what they have done to their immediate environment. They should be ashamed of themselves. Edo people should shine their eyes and put a stop to this madness.
Comrade Oregbe Omorodion
Activist/Politician

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