On the crisis in Edo

GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State recently released a  press statement supposedly restraining his media team and other state actors from ‘joining issues’ with ‘our revered National Chairman’ over the home truths Comrade Adams Oshiomhole served in an interview with Channels Television which clearly rattled members of the administration, including the governor himself who termed them ‘hostile comments’. The claims of the national chairman in the interview, including the fact that Obaseki allegedly did not abide by the continuity and consolidation agenda that facilitated his electoral victory, are visible facts requiring no corroboration. It is on this note, therefore, that time or words will not be wasted on those who are presently wailing over the comments. Their pain is understandable, although more pain and wailing them when the people get the chance to demonstrate their rejection in a few months from now.

The sudden desire for peace is nothing more than a calculated effort to curry favours. History, distant and past, has witnessed unpopular leaders like himself who, upon the realisation that their time  is up, retreat to the court of public opinion  and appeal to emotions by playing the victim. The disingenuity of the instructions contained in the press release is immediately exposed by the simple fact that even at this moment, online hacks devoting their time to spreading falsehood and denying the achievements of the national chairman are still at work, carrying on their deplorable assignment.

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But no one can blame them for acting out a script when Governor Obaseki craves peace after taking his own party to court for simply asking him to renege on the illegality where nine members in a 24-member assembly supposedly elected a leader.  One wonders where this pursuit of peace was when the governor allegedly fired commissioners and other government officials over suspicion that they were loyal to the national chairman, or when he staged a rally and issued threats to ‘Abuja politicians’, or when he refused to attend a meeting organised by other state governors and concerned national political actors to find an amicable solution to the political crisis of the state. It was the same case when he came to the public with allegations that politicians in the state opposed to his second term ambition all wanted him to share state funds, but failed to name even one person despite repeated urging from all concerned.

It is said that a man who brings home ant-infested faggots should not complain when he is visited by lizards. Obaseki should therefore not be surprised at the whirlwind raging at his door, about to sweep him away from office .

• Mayaki is a former Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State governor