Leadership (Abuja)
Louis Achi
13 November 2008
Some irreverent humorists explained that former Edo State governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion had so much respect for tradition and history that he resolutely ensured the state sustained its historical label: an ancient kingdom.
For eight years as it were, the state under Igbinedion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remained a developmentally static theatre. So when the 2007 gubernatorial election came, it was not surprising that a totally disillusioned and angry Edo people voted out PDP. But the party had only to dig into its infamous bag of tricks then - and bingo - Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, the PDP candidate was declared winner and sworn in as governor.
The genuine winner, articulate former labour leader and Action Congress (AC) candidate, Adams Aliyu Oshiohmole was left holding the short end of the stick. But the PDP did not reckon with the guts of the personality they were trying to short-change. For a year and half Osunbor held sway as governor of Edo State , even after the Electoral Tribunal which Oshiohmole turned to, ruled that the AC candidate was the person legitimately elected as governor. Using the instrumentality of appeal to cling to power further, Osunbor was yesterday shown the door when the Appellate Court affirmed the tribunal's judgement.
An immediate issue here is the unseemly penchant local political players have of acquiring outcomes without the requisite processes. Selling programmes of action to the people by candidates on specific political platforms is a process. Educating and mobilising the electorate to go out and vote for their political choices is a process. The actual voting and accurate tallying of votes and their announcement are processes. When these processes are abbreviated or deliberately short-circuited and an outcome imposed, the fundamental meaning of democracy is usually endangered. This was what obtained in Edo and several states in the country during the last general elections.
But the pronouncement of the Appeal Court in Benin on Tuesday, reaffirming the victory of Oshiohmole signals that the era of impunity may be nearing its end in Nigeria . President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, while delivering the unanimous judgment dismissed all the grounds of appeal filed by Osunbor, describing them as "lacking in merit"
Upholding the decision of the lower tribunal which declared Oshiomhole as the elected Governor of Edo State, having scored the highest lawful votes in the election, the Appeal Court held that the AC governorship candidate satisfied the electoral requirements to be so declared, having scored at least 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of the local government. Intoned the learned appellate court president: "Oshiomhole is hereby declared Governor of Edo State." He then ordered the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return issued to Osunbor, ordering the "immediate" swearing-in of Oshiomhole.
While reviewing the decision of the lower tribunal, the court disagreed with the appellant's submission that the tribunal was wrong in annulling their votes in some local governments during the recount of some votes during the hearing of Oshiomhole's petition. It held that the lower tribunal did not annul votes, but merely cancelled voided votes, and that the tribunal was right to have relied on the documentary evidence provided by INEC to arrive at its decision in determining the winner of the election.
According to Abdullahi, "The most reliable evidence is documentary evidence, the tribunal was right to have relied on documents provided by INEC." As it were, the appellate court went on to uphold the decision of the lower tribunal in all the points canvassed, and held that the allegations of multiple registration and voting were proved beyond reasonable doubts by the respondents.
Interestingly in this unfolding drama, former Governor Osunbor graciously played the American John McCain, the Republican presidential conceding defeat to Barack Obama - when he responded that the Appeal Court 's re-affirmation of Oshiohmole's victory was "victory for the rule of law." Incidentally, Osunbor becomes first governor to be removed through an election petition since the controversial 2007 general election. This scenario contrasts with that of Dr. Andy Uba of Anambra State and Chief Celestine Omehia (Rivers) who were removed at the Supreme Court anchored on constitutional issues.
Even before the fall of Osunbor, the ruling PDP was already unravelling under the weight of its own internal contradictions. At the centre of the crisis that roiled the party and defied solutions were gladiators like former Minster of Works and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, former governor of the old Bendel State , Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia and the sacked Osunbor.
Previously, the duo of Ogbemudia and Anenih joined forces to battle Igbinedion. Unlike in the days of Igbinedion when all the leaders of the party were on one side but during the Osunbor dispensation they were divided. While Osunbor and Anenih are both brothers from the Central Senatorial District, Ogbemudia is from the South Senatorial District .
At issue was that Anenih allegedly wanted to control the party machinery in the state but Osunbor had other ideas. These ideas hardened after he learnt that the former Minister for Solid Minerals and in-law to Chief Anenih, Senator Odion Ugbesia, was being positioned to take over from him after his first tenure in office. Chief Ogbemudia who is versed in the antecedents of Anenih's men in the politics of the state was against such a move and counselled the governor to seize the party structure.
This scenario had a connection to the fallout of the 2007 gubernatorial election in the state. Anenih clearly favoured Ugbesia for the governorship seat but was prevailed upon by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo to drop the idea and let Osunbor take the slot. With Obasanjo out of power, Anenih has never missed the opportunity of letting Osunbor know that he will only serve one term in office.
However, matters got to a head in February when the two factions of the party in the state, one loyal to Osunbor and the other to Anenih conducted two parallel congresses and elected two sets of leaders. The rest is history. Or is it?
With the ouster of Osunbor, other calculations will naturally ensue in the PDP camp with the key players reassessing their strengths and updating their strategies. But with the Action Congress and an Oshiohmole, the diminutive dynamite in the saddle, the politics of Edo State may be re-scripted for good. And this may be for the long term good of a state which has seen little progress under the erstwhile ruling PDP
As Oshiomole was sworn-in yesterday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City , an enthusiastic crowd screamed - Obama! Obama!! Obama!!! This reflects a compelling expression of human hope and expectation.
As Edo's ruling party, the AC together with Oshiohmole mount the saddle, both, more than the PDP, must also appreciate the fine distinction between privileges and principles. According to former US president, Dwight D. Eisenhower in his inaugural address in January 20, 1953, "A people that values their privileges above their principles soon loses both." As Oshiohmole, not unlike Obama, moves with incredible momentum, powered by faith and vision to change the stagnant political and developmental landscape of Edo State , the scenario is comparable to a fresh breeze caressing and resuscitating the hitherto comatose 'Heartbeat of the Nation.'
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