Etsako East 2015: BETWEEN JEGA, ODIDI, OLOWU, GANIYU AND OTHERS WHO BECOMES THE FLAG BEARER? As the 2015 state assembly election primaries draws closer, aspirants of the People Democratic Party, PDP in Etsako East are putting final touches to their strategies in winning the ticket and the race is becoming more pressing. It is obvious that more political gladiators are joining the contest as Stanley Odidi becomes one of them. Here we draw the line between the main contending candidates of the PDP for Etsako East State Constituency seat, the chances and opportunities open to them towards winning the election. In few weeks from now, the PDP in Edo State would be heading for its primary election to elect candidates that will fly its flag in 2015. The pressure to win the hearts of ward delegates and party leaders is becoming more pressing on the contestants as the Dan Osi Orbhi-led PDP in Edo State has insisted that the party will be given all contenders an open contest in the primaries. In other words, the PDP in Edo State will not allow the adoption of any aspirant. From all indications, it is obvious that no serious aspirant from the ruling APC has truly indicated interest to run for the state House of Assembly as there are rumours that Peter Aliu could be returned by his party-something some party members have warned the APC leadership not to dare or it could be heading to brink. But for the PDP, there are more than nine aspirants out of which four or five have been considered stiff contenders. Here are the aspirants and their chances. Hon. ABASS MOMOH JEGA Abass Momoh, an experienced politician, former member of Edo State House of Assembly. Having served his first four years as a lawmaker, he was pencilled down as the prospective Speaker of the assembly in 2007 by his party, PDP. He contested for the second time but lost out as Hon. Godwin Eshieshi and his fellow Action Congress comrades single handily delivered Okpella to Peter Aliu. However, he was compensated and appointed a commissioner where he served as Commissioner for Finance and subsequently Commissioner for Works under the Prof. Osunbor led-administration but in October 2008 he was ushered out of office with the emergence of Adams Oshiomhole after a court order vacated Osunbor from Osadebe House. Since then, Jega fizzled out as it became obvious that the PDP in Edo State had lost its relevance. Hon. Jega resurfaced again to redeem his political relevance when it became understandable that the PDP has started gathering momentum due to the crisis rocking the APC in Edo State. During his days as commissioner, he was able to influence the construction of the Iddo-Okugbe-Awoyemi road in Okpella among other projects but the road construction was not completed as it was terminated when AC took over government from the PDP. With his credential, grassroots opinion has it that he stands a better chance to grab the ticket ahead of his fellow contestants. However some have said there are factors that may work against him if the party decides to pick its candidates on general consensus. For instance, they said he had been favoured so much in the past ahead of others having been given the ticket twice and was again appointed as commissioner with two different portfolios, the pendulum may after all swing to another direction. Apart from this factor, some have argued that should the PDP decides to zone the ticket to Okpella, it may not go to Jega because the Oteku axis where he hails from in Okpella had been highly favoured than any other axis by the PDP. They hold that, apart from Jega, in the last 8 years, the axis has continued to rotate every political position zoned to Okpella by the PDP. Edward Sado who served as the state party chairman under the Prof. Osunbor led-government was picked from this same zone and currently, the party’s Local Government Chairman is from the same axis. One other important factor that may work against Jega is that he no longer holds the political followership he had years back as some of his ward meetings have shown. This appears to be a serious setback for Jega who some have advised to step out of the contest for any face saving reasons. Hon. STANLEY ODIDI A fierce strategist as some of his admires describe him. Some say he buys into the Hobessian’s political school of thought connecting to the nature of man. A former Local Government Chairman who came in through transition and served for six years before the Edo State Government dissolved the local government council in Edo State. Staley Odidi came in 2003 and was adopted by the PDP against the incumbent and then Chairman of Etsako East Local Government, Hon. Godwin Eshieshi. It was rumoured that it was a case of the highest bidder and he bided higher and lavished a lot to get the ticket. To many, he came in through the back doors. In 2010, Odidi dumped the PDP for the APC with the hope to be given the ticket to contest for House of Representatives, Etsako East Federal Constituency but he lost out to Engr. Abubakar Momoh. During this period, his campaign programme was blemished with several allegations ranging from certificate falsification and other self-incriminating accusations from his contender, Abubakar Momoh. He went to the tribunal to challenge Momoh’s victory but his petition never saw the light of the day. During his days in office, some said he was able to empower Etsako youths and put some infrastructures in place but most of his projects were severely criticised for poor standard. However facts must be said about his achievements in the education sector; he employed hundreds of casual teachers and built more class rooms in the three villages that made up Etsako East. He is still described as one of the most accessible politicians of his contemporary. But there are various factors that will work against Stanley Odidi at the primaries level; even if he scaled through with the 5.3% chances he has, he will certainly suffer defeat in the hands of the APC, should the APC give the ticket to Hon. Peter Aliu who happens to be his kinsman. Just like Fayose who is best remembered for his unsuccessful reign in Ekiti State, some have said Odidi reign in Etsako East is mostly remembered for turning Agenebode to a war zone for cultists. Another factor could be the Eshieshi factor. It would be recalled that Eshieshi was in 2003 schemed out of the race to return to the local government in favour of Odidi after several political gimmicks that played out within the ranks of the PDP in Etsako East. Some say this could be a pay-back time for Godwin Eshieshi to return the favour to Stanley Odidi. Besides, Eshieshi may be working to ensure that the ticket is zone to Okpella. Case close! Some have come out to say Odidi is already bankrupt and must not be trusted with any leadership position as that could be tantamount to entrusting a bone to a dog. They said he has sold his only house to join the race, which by all indications, he may only be running his affairs in Benin which will make it virtually impossible for the people to access him. According to Prince Omoh Beture, the SA to Hon. Suleiman Afegbua; ’’Odidi has sold his only house in Agenebode and as soon as the ticket is given to him, he will be kissing the people of Etsako East bye bye’’. Another serious setback Odidi may face is his lack of loyalty to any political party he finds himself. He has been described as a seasonal political decampee. Barri Inaede, an indigene of Etsako has this to say: ‘‘He is a seasonal defector. He was elected under Pdp as chairman of Etsako East LG, but later decamped to ACN, but when he was not given ticket in ACN to run house of rep, he decamped back to Pdp...We ar waiting for him to come..Dey dont have d interest of d masses @heart, dey ar just after deir personal interest..Infact, he cannot win election again in etsako again’’ Corroborating Barri’s stands, Weppa Wanno Vanguad asked; ’’Is there always a second chance??? No! Odidi will not only be fighting external forces; he may all also be contending with some forces within his own camp. They have accused him of betraying the trust they have on him when he stroke a peace pact with Engr. Momoh to withdraw a petition from the tribunal for N20, 000 million. Hon. KAYODE OLOWU Kayode Olowu, apart from being a politician, though not the grassroots type, is known for one thing; he is an entrepreneur with a wide acumen to create job opportunities for the youths. Kayode served as a transition councillor representing ward 6 and also served as a transition chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council in 2006. Considering his short stay in office, he was adjudged the best performing local government chairman of Etsako East then. Some say he is very innovative and has eyes for good goals. Although Kayode has never contested any elective position before to test his popularity at the polls, his closeness with Chief Joshua Ogene, a chieftain and Edo North PDP Chairman, is giving others reasons to be worried of. Like Kayode, Chief Joshua Ogene is from the Ogute axis and known to be one of those who call the shot in Okpella politics. Some said the coming on board of Hon. Godwin Eshieshi, a political strategist, who is also from Ogute, is an added advantage to Kayode. However there is one major factor that could work against Koyede as opinion has it that he may not have the support of the youth constituency in Etsako. Kayode is not a grassroots politician and most youths have said his Western-like style of life has created a cleavage between him and the larger part of the youths in Okpella. Engr. ABU ABDULGANIYU Abu Abdulganiyu, an entrepreneur cum politician, first tested his leadership prowess as a student’s union leader way back in his days at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he served on different capacities. He became the National President of the National Association of Okpella Students in the late 90s and records have it that he served diligently to the best of his ability. In the last local government elections in Edo State, he indicated interest to contest as a lawmaker at the local government level but had his interest withdrew because the coast was not clear for the platform he was to contest under. He has remained one of the most loyal and staunch member of the PDP from inception, promoting the party even after PDP lost the state to the APC, Abdulganiyu remained committed to the fight to revive the party and bring it back to winning ways in the state. His efforts as a grassroots politician have led to the success of the PDP in Okpella through the large followership he has from the youths in Etsako East. Abdulganiyu, unlike other contesters, has adopted a decentralised campaign strategy, engaging voters in their domain, using the opportunity to explain to them what are not being done rightly and what are going to be done to correct the situation and bring about a system that will introduce policies that affect the lives of rural dwellers. He has also employed the social media interaction with the electorate and regular phone calls by his campaign team. Currently, Abdulganiyu is professional engineer plying his trade in Abuja. His emergence to contest as a member of Edo State House of Assembly did not come to many as surprise. He came when the long agitation and clamour for youth’s representatives in government was becoming too demanding and was called by friends and supporters to give it a shot having possesses the qualities. As a former student’s leader and a member of the youth constituency, Ganiyu seems to be a more of a grassroots politician who has the full endorsement from the youths to represent them. His campaign strategies seem to be giving him the needed boost ahead of other aspirants. An Opinion poll has it that Ganiyu is pulling almost 47% supports already in less than three months after he registered his interests. Ganiyu has taken his campaign beyond what others have yet to imagine; aside consulting party leadership, community and traditional leaders, youths and women, he has been given the endorsement from the presidency, with the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youths and Students, Comrade Jude Gabriel Imagwe, OON (an Etsako East Youth) already playing his role from the federal level to ensure that the voices of youths are resonated in government. This means he is always two step or more ahead of other aspirants. Some say he has adopted the Eshieshi’s like political strategy where hast are made when the sun shines. However, Ganiyu still has strong forces to contend with as the coast is not going to be as clear as a youth aspirant may perceive. For him to lambano the ticket, he will have to wrestle it with the old guards who he must fight for their money.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 16:56:35 +0000
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