Edo: Parties battle to win voters’ hearts

Gov . Oshiomole

Barely two months into the governorship election in Edo State, political parties are on the turf out-doing and underminig themselves to curry voters’ sympathy. Osagie Otabor writes on the strategies being adopted by the contestants in the race to the Osadebe Government House.

The race to the Edo State Government House on July 14, 2012 is becoming more interesting, with the emergence of more candidates, contrary to expectations that the battle would be for incumbent Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Maj-Gen Charles Airhiavbere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Solomon Edebiri, a consensus candidate of the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties (CPPP).   

  The other candidates include: Mr. Imaguomwanrhuo Erhunmwunse of the National Conscience Party (CPC), Mr. Andrew Igwemoh of the Labour Party (LP) and Elder Roland Izevbuwa of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Very little is known about the candidates of the NCP, LP and CPC. Apart from some of their posters pasted at their party secretariats, nothing more is heard about them and their preparation. They are yet to begin electioneering campaigns and rallies.

The events that led to the emergence of governorship candidates of the NCP, LP and CPC was dramatic. Their parties had in collaboration with others formed the CPPP under the chairmanship of Godwin Erahon, a comrade. The aim was to form a united front against the ACN and the PDP with the presentation of a consensus candidate. They settled for Chief Solomon Edebiri of the PPP, who they adopted as their standard bearer.

Edebiri, a professional welder and governorship candidate in the 2007  election, was later unveiled at a well-attended ceremony, witnessed by members of all the parties involved in the coalition. Erhahon told the gathering that they were out to win the forthcoming governorship election.

 He said: “We came together because we have seen that none of the parties that have dominated governance have lived up to expectation.

 “They have not made life easier for children of the poor and they have taken education beyond the reach of the common man in the state. We should work to ensure Oshiomhole does not come back in 2012.”

 Few months later,  wranglings within the ranks of CPC, LP and other political parties led to a crack in the CPPP.

 In the LP, former State Chairman of the party, Dr. John Ogbeide decamped to the PDP. The LP chairman in the state, Isaiah Osifo, was forced out of the party by another faction-led by Dr. Sam Omede.

Omede, while addressing LP members after becoming a factional chair, vowed that the LP would rather go into the election as an independent party  than being an appendage of the ruling ACN.

He said: “Today, Labour Party can perform. As from now, we will not take the crumbs from the master’s table anymore. We have made a name in the history of Edo State. We are on ground.”

On the coalition, Omede said Edebiri was adopted by a faction of the party against directives form the party’s national body.

 He said: “Solomon Edebiri is not our candidate, if he wants to run under Labour Party let him come and discuss with us. He would have to contest with other aspirants. We don’t just adopt candidates in Labour Party; they have to go through the stipulated rules and regulation of the party by going through the primaries. 

 “Those who claim to have adopted Edebiri are factions being led by Isaish Osifo and Sunny Aguebor,  We are talking and dialoguing. There is hope the party will come together once again.’’

 The CPC on its part pulled out of the alliance after the national body settled its intra-party squables.

 Edebiri insisted that that the coalition still stands and is running for the governorship under the ANPP banner.

 But with the discordant tunes ripping the cnpp apart, the race to the Osadebe Government House is between Oshiomhole and Airhiavbere.

 The duo has turned Benin, the state capital to a political battle field with huge billboards and campaign posters. 

For instance, on the ever-busy Airport Road, Airhiavbere opened a campaign office opposite the State Secretariat of the ACN. The campaign office is awashed with huge billboards.

The ACN building has billboards, showcasing Oshiomhole’s achievements. 

Despite the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to Airhiavbere by the police to relocate the campaign office, the directive has not been heeded.

The Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Matthew Urhoghide, said the building was not the candidate’s campaign office but a donation by its owner to support Airhiavbere.

 Urhoghide described the police ultimatum as an infringement on the right of the landlord to support a political party of his choice with his propertty. 

However, the ACN and the PDP  have locked horns in their battle for the people’s votes.  Oshiomhole, who insisted on a “campaign of issues,” promised to create 113,000 jobs through tourism, agriculture and power if re-elected. 

He listed Edo-Azura 450Mw power projects, building of ultra modern shopping complex, the construction of a Five Star Hotel, Ihorvbor Industrial Estate and revitalisation of the Urhonigbe rubbber plantation as proposed areas of investment through Airhiavbere Public-Private-Partnership (PPP).

He noted that the Edo-Azura power project would attract direct foreign investment of N90 billion besides creating 1,000 job oppotunities for the citizenry.

 On his part, Airhiavbere promised to reduce tuition fees at tertiary institutions in the state,  a reduction of taxes and distribution of security votes as soft loans to women and small scale enterprise.  

The ANPP flagbearer promised to introduce a special education fund for indigent students, as well as pursue the ideology of the coalition if elected as governor. 

Denying speculations that he would defect to the PDP and step down for Airhiavbere, he said: “I was approached to step down and guaranteed the governorship in 2016 but I refused because I know that more parties are waiting to join this coalition.”

Last month, the PDP showed reporters a building purportedly being built by  Oshiomhole at his Iyamho country home. the magnificient structure was valued at over N10 billion. The opposition alleged the building has a cinema, swimming pools, artificial caves, walkways among other features. 

But Oshiomhole, who spoke through his Media Special Adviser Tony Iyare, said he has built the house more than 20 years ago. He also claimed having houses in Kaduna and Abuja several years before he became the governor.

He said: “The house in Iyamho is currently undergoing some renovation which is aimed at providing some walkways and an out-door bar on the existing empty space. The so-called N10 billion mansion was an imagination of those who contrived the existence of such building.”