Edo 2024: When Pot Calls Kettle Black

By Ernest Omoarelojie

The build-up to the 2024 Edo state governorship election is becoming more interesting. In the main, the central issue seems to be the call by Edo Central senatorial district to have relevant stakeholders from the state’s other divides support its aspiration of producing the next governor. It is producing interesting brickbats-the proponents insisting it is noble for other stakeholders to throw their weight behind its quest, while the antagonists counter by labeling the call a celebration of ethnic bigotry, one that is lacking in capacity, character and other requisite qualifications.

Another interesting part of the ding dong is the fact that while the proponents take it for granted that the district has the capacity, character and competence, demonstrably so, the other set is convinced the district’s resort to more ethnic appeal is a tragic reflection of entitlement.

But between the demand and disdainful rebuffs, it is not difficult to notice that the accuser is even more guilty of guile ethnocentrism. That explains a number of the nay sayers, including a recent entry by a legal practitioner, would go as far as insisting, inter alia:

“If we are not careful in this forthcoming Edo Governorship election in Edo State by the choice we make, or if we allow the unnecessary emotional campaign for zoning defeats the real issues that ought to characterise a campaign for an exalted office of a Governor, we might end up having the worse governor in Edo State because this is the first time i am seeing people openly campaigning and seeking for support on the basis of ethnicity or Senatorial districts, and not on the basis of their qualification, competence and character.”

Generally speaking, the opponents want the general public to believe that they are only interested in making Edo Central avoid relying on ethnic sentiments and emotions and emphasize what they refer to as the real issues-whatever it is. Unfortunately, they attempt to do so while failing woefully to hide the real underlying intendment-a loathing for Edo Central aspiration. The tactic is more like a massive elephant lined behind a single, very thin bamboo stem, assured it is well covered. But as a colleague termed it, here is the entitled branding others as pursuing an entitlement goal. Putting differently, it is case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Whatever the case is, there is the more urgent need to put the matter in better perspectives. This is what I intend to do here.

I am a proud son of Esanland. I have never hidden my support for the call for other relevant stakeholders, across district and zonal divides, to support someone from the district given the established reasons-equity, justice and fair play. I probably do not like the term, ‘Esan Agenda’ because I think it narrows the essence, but in all the pieces I have written in support of my position, I have never insisted, not once, that other aspirants must drop or subsume their aspirations to their Edo Central counterparts.

Indeed, I am not aware, either by way of semantic definition or denotative interpretation, that calling for support is the same thing as asking others to extinguish or subsume their rights of participation. For that reason, I ended up wondering why an individual with legal background would resort to unfounded emotive moral submissions in place of sound legal arguments. That is by the way, any way.

For the records, let it be known that in all their requisite definitions, capacity, character and or competence are available in men and women across Edo Central senatorial district. In fact, the district is where one can find some of the most qualified individuals in matters relating to competence, character, capacity, industry and enterprise. To that extent, it is dis-ingenious for opponents to dismiss the district's support call or keep harping on them as the real issue. It is akin to asking an individual without any optical issue to tell others that he/she can see the sun in a clear blue sky.

For me in particular, not recognizing the fact that those qualities are in abundance in Edo Central amounts to being mentally lazy and ignorant of facts about the issue under review.

For crying out loud, Edo Central has a well documented track record of its sons and daughters making waves in industry and enterprise, both in public and private sectors. Theirs can match that of anyone from any other district. For instance, it is on records that the district produced Profs Ambrose Alli and Osaremhen Osunbor whose titles are proofs that they attained the highest height anyone in their fields can ever dream of. In particular, Alli’s recognition is clearly indicated in the honour done him with the naming of the premier state university after him.

Therefore, the district has no reason at all, to be shouting over what it has in abundance. That’s logical enough, isn’t it!

In addition to the professional qualifications of both Profs Alli and Osunbor, which no other governor, past or present has equaled, history did not record corruption as a synonym for their earned names and reputations before, during and after they presided over the affairs of the state.

If those feats are not good enough as reference points in matters relating moral rectitude, character, competence, capacity, mental and emotional stability, one is hard-put finding better ideals. Rather than repeatedly celebrate ignorance as the opponents do in asking for the district to turn what it has into a subject of pomp and ceremony in place of its earnest desire for a deserved role in the affairs of the state, a more reasonable demand would have been a call for it to identify one of its ideal sons or daughters to replace those masquerading as leaders but failed to take advantage of the state’s vast natural resources even while the people suffer inexplicably.

Yet, opponents of Edo Central’s call for support also went the extra mile of labeling it as an attempt by people “…who cannot ordinarily win a house of assembly election to be declaring to be governor because they are hoping to benefit from a zoning arrangement, but for the genuine men and women in Edo State who sincerely want the best man to win…”

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to find a more gross attempt at rational analysis. At the expense of repeating what has been indicated earlier, the district has men and women who can hold their place under any circumstance.

Deliberately discounting the fact is akin to a situation where those who thrive on entitlements are quick to accuse others of displaying entitlement mentality. Deliberately too, they ignore the real issue, which is that Edo Central lacks the presence of mind to evolve and deploy mob capacity which they (the opponents) blatantly deployed during elections.

Edo Central is not insisting on or asking other aspirants from other districts not to contest the 2024 governorship election. Pushing that narrative is like being clever by half because it only wants fair minded stakeholders to support its bid because it has been excluded from participation for far too long.

It is the same demand other geopolitical zones made of the Hausa/Fulanis, one that resulted in the emergence of the Tinubu administration which could have been truncated if the Northern power mongers insisted on holding firmly to it. Ironically, while those now calling for competence, capacity and character in Edo state find it distasteful at the national level, they seem to see nothing wrong in using it a a good measure for holding unto power while continually excluding Edo Central from full political participation. Give me a break!