By Sir Ralph Okhiria
Like a gentle flame, the cold ‘war’ which started about a year ago between two Bini brothers and friends, Capt. Dr. Idahosa Okunbo, popularly known as Capt. Hosa and the Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has started to assume wider dimensions.
It’s a truism that when two elephants fights, it’s the ground and trees in the bush that suffers. So it is with the raging battle between the illustrious Bini sons.
Capt. Hosa is a well known and popular man in Nigeria, particularly in Edo State while Mr. Godwin Obaseki, since becoming the state governor has also become famous.
Both men command a very high degree of respect among the people. Dr. Okunbo is a highly successful businessman with renowned towering business interest in air, sea and land while his brother is a highly sought-after financial wizard in Nigeria and beyond and is currently the number one citizen of Edo State.
Sadly, the duo who have been personal friends for many years, are now bitterly separated by interests fuelled by the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Characteristically, when the rich and powerful fight among themselves, they can hardly reveal the real cause of their problem. They conceal the real facts of the matter but rather go to public with what they feel the people should know. But unfortunately, the gullible masses would not think twice before turning against themselves with everything available to them.
But just few days ago, the hitherto cold war between Dr. Okunbo and Governor Obaseki, was blown open when the former through a letter purportedly written to President Buhari and Edo people, calling on Governor Obaseki to leave him alone.
In the said letter, Dr. Okunbo accused Governor Obaseki of planning to use government resources to violently destroy his business empire and interests.
The lengthy letter reads in parts:
“I wish to make this save-my-soul appeal to all well-meaning Edo indigenes and Nigerian citizens both at home and in the Diaspora to tell Governor Obaseki to stop these continuous attacks on me, my family and my business. I have been told how they intend to burn my farm and revoke the Certificates of Occupancy of all my houses in Benin City. I have already alerted the Police to this heinous plot. But, what have I done to deserve this bellicose treatment?”
“My good people of Edo State, I have always wished for a state where we can have a desirable atmosphere to bring about investment opportunities and create employment for our teeming youth population. There is nothing I desire from the State Government other than to create enabling environment for me to bring investments back home, create opportunities for employment and, in the long run, retire peacefully in my old age.”
“I call on our people to tell Governor Obaseki and his team to leave me alone to exercise my fundamental human rights and, in particular, allow me exercise my freedom of choice without intimidation and blackmail. I am sincerely worried about the desperation and intolerance of the Governor. I am honestly worried that these agents and hirelings may go beyond the limits of their mandate at the risk of my life and that of my family, including the destruction of my personal and corporate investments which have taken me decades to put in place. I have never before experienced this high level of intolerance, wickedness and envy from anybody in my life, until now from a so-called friend and fellow Benin Man.”
“My dear good people of Nigeria and Edo state, in particular, IN CONCLUSION: if I could suffer all this injustice for no just cause, so you can imagine how many innocent citizens of Edo State that Godwin Obaseki and his agents would have been STANDING ON THEIR NECKS THAT CAN’T BREATHE?”, Capt. Hosa posited.
But Governor Obaseki swiftly replied in a letter addressed to Dr. Okunbo, alleging that his estranged friend and brother was economical with the truth in his open letter to President Buhari and Edo people.
According to Mr. Obaseki, “In your lengthy and convoluted missive, you accused me of being the mastermind of all your recent misfortunes, which range from the sublime to the ridiculous. I sincerely empathise with you over these unfortunate and negative incidents but hereby state without equivocation, that I am innocent of all you have accused me of.
“As your brother, I have been struggling to situate the probable source of your outlandish claims and wrong assessment of my character. Without a doubt, I am convinced that you must have been talking and consulting with the wrong people in your search for an honest assessment of my personality.”
“It is disappointing that despite our close family relationship, you could allow yourself to be convinced that I would do anything to hurt you or your business interests. You will recall that over a year ago in my house (at the early stages when the intrigues of the godfather began to manifest), I had advised you to steer clear of the battle which was going to be an epic one to get rid of the choking influence of the godfather from our political life. I knew at that time that the godfather was desperately shopping for allies of Edo South extraction to assist him in his obsessive quest to continue his choking and unproductive dominance in the affairs of our state.”
“It is unfortunate that you fell prey to the recruitment drive of the godfather and you have now found yourself in the position where you are actively working against the interest of your own people.”
“As you are aware, I have had my fair share of attacks for undertaking to serve my people and help develop my state. I have been humiliated, undermined and my age-old business and family name ridiculed by the godfather and his agents, simply because I refused to do his bidding, and deprive millions of Edo people the good life that they rightfully deserve. This is what comes with the terrain when any person involves himself in politics and the consequences that follow.”
‘I am saddened that you have made yourself the face of the forces that seek the continuous dominance of the godfather in Edo politics and have thereby exposed yourself to charlatans and opportunists who are now preying on your inner fears and insecurities to distort the real issues on ground.”
‘I respect your right to make your political choices and to support any political interests you consider appropriate. I also acknowledge your freedom to freely associate with any political tendencies that you find acceptable. But you must recognise that the world of politics is not a tea party and the choices that we make in life always come at a cost and we should all have the courage to bear and accept the consequences associated with those choices we have freely made”, Governor Obaseki said.
Both Capt. Hosa and Governor Obaseki have written just one letter each but these letters have since flooded all news platforms both mainstream and online media.
The matter now is the talk of the town and some jobless boys and adults are busy tearing themselves apart over the matter, perhaps for what they can benefit.
Already, many registered and unregistered groups have taken the front stage busying and bursting themselves in both the mainstream and online media, drumming up support for the warring duo. Also, mischief makers are having a field day, creating further animosity.
Similarly, combatants and supporters of Dr. Okunbo and Governor Obaseki, are flying hundreds dangerous statements/releases in and against each party. Several protests and counter-protests have been carried out and are still being held around the state, to drum up support for their leader/boss.
The duo’s foot soldiers on both sides are very angry and spoiling for battle. They are issuing ultimatums, verbal and legal threats, only waiting for the green light to do what they know how to do best.
Indeed, a free-for-all is on and a street fight loading.
Editor’s note:
More details about the raging fued between Dr. Idahosa Okunbo and Governor Obaseki will be published in our subsequent editions.
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