When you hear that the national security adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has just sued the Edo People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Mr. Anthony Aziegbami for a whooping sum of ten billion naira for defamation of character as reported by Naijanews.com, you may mistake this to be a plot in a Lancelot Imasuen’s directed Nollywood blockbuster movie trailer.

It is alleged that the Edo state PDP chairman has accused the offices of the national security adviser and the department of state security service of having plans to deploy a staggering whooping sum of two million US dollars for “logistics” (vote buying and bribing of security agents) in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial off cycle elections. Is God not wonderful, if I may ask?

However, the nation has been having some heated moments lately as a result of terrible government policies and the unbearable cost of energy (PMS, diesel, gas, kerosene and their likes).

The forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election seems to be another major contributor to this heating up of the polity.

We all at least know a bit of the basics of Edo State politics as it pertains to Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Philip Shuaibu the suspended and reinstated Deputy governor and Adams Oshiomole.

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Senator Adams Oshiomole had anointed Obaseki at the time to lead the state on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC).

Mr. Godwin Obaseki won in that election where Mr. Philip Shuaibu was his beloved deputy governor.

They jointly led the state during their first tenure until some months back when what usually happens between erstwhile political godfathers and their god sons happened during the about to be concluded second tenure.

In an interesting twist of fate during the contest for the second tenure, Mr. Philip Shuaibu in a demonstration of loyalty to his immediate boss being the governor gave Senator Adams Oshiomole, his former Boss what we can loosely liken to a technical knockout in boxing matches, during the second term elections.

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This is the story line behind the now overly popular “Edo no be Lagos” slogan.

Mr. Godwin Obaseki moved to PDP when they wanted to play a fast one on him at APC with the fierce and visible support of his now arch enemy, Barr. Nyesom Wike.

Mr. Philip Shuaibu being one of Senator Adams Oshiomole’s boys at a time led the onslaught to demystify his erstwhile Boss, as he vied for their second tenure as the deputy governor with Mr. Godwin Obaseki on the same ticket.

Retrospectively, we can say that Mr. Philip Shuaibu did all these because of his interest to become the next governor of Edo State without feeling the pulse of his Boss.

At the end of the day, Mr. Obaseki made a choice of a successor in another not too physically handsome man whose curriculum vitae is extravagantly handsome and rich in quality, such that he can vie to govern even the United States of America, assuming he is a citizen.

The man being talked about here is an alumnus of the prestigious Kings College Lagos, from where he went to University of Ibadan to study Economics.

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He moved over to London school of Economics in 1984 to study law after which he was called to Nigerian Bar.

His name is Barr. Asuerinme Ighodalo, a former chairman of Sterling bank, director at the Nigerian sovereign investment authority, chairman of Nigerian economic summit group and founding partner at Banwo & Ighodalo Chambers.

The Edo gubernatorial election is slated to hold on the 21^st of September 2024.

From the facts before us, we are at a loss as to why Senator Monday Okpebholo is even a candidate in an election where men of stellar qualification and international reputation for excellence are vying for such a top position as that of the governor.

The Edo gubernatorial election as far as the masses are concerned is primarily between the PDP and APC unfortunately.

However, another excellent candidate whose reputation for excellence precedes him who is in the race to govern Edo State is Barr. Olumide Akpata.

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Barr. Olumide Akpata being the 30^th NBA President left a sterling record of excellent performance, leaving behind some striking innovations for the association which has greatly impacted positively on the welfare of lawyers across the nation.

Having taken my time to look at the qualifications and exposures of the most popular candidates vying for the office of the governor in this election, I am saddened by the fact that All Progressive Congress party has once again shown in very clear terms that they do not in any way think highly of the Nigerian people.

The above paragraph became necessary as one wonders how on earth a political party that seeks to do things differently with the aim of repositioning Edo State for good, would present such a man with no known established record of excellence in service to compete with highfliers like Barr. Ighodalo and Barr. Olumide Akpata whose record of service are literarily choking and easily verifiable.

Let me not assume yet that there is a card about to be flown by the APC in this election which would assure victory for them, the quality of their candidate notwithstanding.

This buttresses why we may continue to miss out on any opportunity to develop as a nation because any system that offers us anything short of the best of us to serve in public offices short-changes our society on the long run.

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Therefore, we are all aware that one of the notorious cards APC as a party is known for in elections is to obtain mandates that do not primarily belong to them through funny means, which unfortunately the judiciary plays a role in.

We cannot end up this write up without condemning in strong and clear terms whatever process that might have led to the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo as a flag bearer in an election where men of extreme excellent quality are contestants.

As the election holds this coming Saturday being the 21^st of September, it is our wish that either Barr. Ighodalo who has so much experience and international exposure or Barr. Olumide Akpata, the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria to ever lead the prestigious Nigerian Barrister’s Association in its over three decades of existence emerges at the end of the day.

If unfortunately, Senator Monday Okpebholor of the APC who refused to address the media on what he hopes to do for Edo people during the campaigns is declared the winner of the election, then be ready to experience the worst of governance in that state.

That Senator Adams Oshiomole and Mr. Philip Shuaibu are strongly behind such a candidate with an overwhelmingly poor quality says so much about what values they hold dear and what their interest in the governance of Edo State is.

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Let us watch Edo State closely in this election, with the consciousness that INEC has actively played terrible roles in the democracy of our nation especially under their present leadership.

Always remember that what you can give is what you have. Without consulting any deity, it is clear to all that the worst of either the PDP or Labour party candidates in this forthcoming Edo gubernatorial election would trounce the best of the APC candidate any day anytime in terms of performance.

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