Breaking News: Faces of Edo fall guys

Recollect that in the course of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential poll in Nigeria some names kept recurring for very negative reasons. Most of them ended in ignominy and infact today nothing much is heard about them.

Such individuals include Daniel Kanu of the pro-Abacha One Million Man March fame; Abimbola Davies; Arthur Nzeribe of the notorious Association of Better Nigeria(ABN) fame; Justice Dahiru Saleh, who eventually gave the judgement that annulled the acclaimed freest election in Nigeria’s history and Justice Bassey Ikpeme among others.

This has not however deterred some new sets of fall guys emerging to undertake such dubious roles via a token ‘contract’ by willing paymasters.

Emerging to sort of replicate this kind of assignment in Edo State in recent times are the following:

1. Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. In the countdown to the 2016 All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship primaries in Edo State, Oshiomhole being the incumbent governor fought headlong anybody that opposed his choice of Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki his preferred successor. Not a few including the then deputy governor, Comrade Pius Odubu, who was also in the race, had a rough deal in the hands of Oshiomhole. Today, Oshiomhole will readily tell whoever cares to listen that his nemesis so far has been his preferred successor who played prominent role in ensuring that he lost his national chairmanship position in the ruling party among many other setbacks. He is now campaigning to be elected as a senator to represent the Edo North Senatorial District in 2023 on the ticket of the APC. He is up against incumbent Senator Francis Alimikhena of the PDP who is the choice of Governor Obaseki.
2. Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo(aka No Molest) was a key supporter of Oshiomhole’s dream of making his technocrat aide, whom he told the world worked pro-bono for eight years, his successor. Those who had contrary opinion had No Molest to contend with and he acted well. He was one of the earliest casualties of the new sheriff who ensured that he was locked up at the state Police Command Headquarters where out of frustration he nearly committed suicide. Today, he shuns public glare as he manages his Rockland Celeb hangout opposite the State House of Assembly Quarters in Benin City.
3. Stephen Oshawo whose only recognisable background was his chairmanship of APC Etsako Ward 10 which is Comrade Oshiomhole’s ward. He soon hug the headlines with his hatchet man role of unilaterally suspending Oshiomhole who was as at then the party’s National Chairman from the ward. He became a star of some sort even winning a few back of the street awards. Today nothing much is known about his whereabouts with some claiming that he has gone into hiding with his immediate family members having realised the enormity of his deeds.
4. Sylvanus-Peter Eruaga(aka Honourable Gallant Commander Double). He represented Etsako West 2 Constituency in the State House of Assembly at a period. He was the one who initiated the process of having a placeholder for the PDP group loyal to Governor Obaseki when the idea of defection from the APC was brewing. He had a lot of obstacles to surmount for the assignment. Today not much is heard of him.
5. Anselm Ojezua was the chairman of the APC during the period of the commencement of the defection of Governor Obaseki’s loyalist to the PDP. He played his role perfectly even giving full backing to Oshawo’s suspension of Oshiomhole’s script. Today, he is floating in his new role as an ordinary floor member of the PDP faction loyal to Governor Obaseki.
6. Chief Dan Osi Orbih (aka Kulukulu 1) was the state chairman of the PDP. He played a prominent role in ensuring that Governor Obaseki got the PDP governorship ticket in 2020 having first acted as the link between the then embattled Governor and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. He was instrumental in bringing about the deal that led to the compensation of the leading governorship aspirants of the party, Barrister Ken Imansuangbon, Engr. Gideon Ikhine and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama to step down for Governor Obaseki. Today he lives a greater part of the year outside the state in what some say is to avoid having a physical clash with the governor.
7. Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State. He was physically present in Benin City, the capital of Edo State during the governorship election of 2020 to safeguard his choice (Governor Obaseki) and ensure that he is not cheated. Today, he is at daggers drawn with Governor Obaseki even as he is having a running battle with the PDP over what is termed his anti-party stance in the countdown to the Presidential election in 2023.
8. Albert Obazee is a social media influencer who acted the role of the attack dog on any issue going against Governor Obaseki. He was an aide to the Governor who did his duty to the best of his ability. Today, it is said that he has found new pastures in overseas where he projects the Presidential aspirations of Peter Obi of the Labour Party. In a recent skit he confessed that he had been used and dumped and so adviced those who are neophytes to think twice and ‘borrow sense.’

New faces

1. Lydia Ehigiato Igbinigie now plays the role of advising Governor Obaseki on the need to acquire the piece of land on which the Edo NUJ is situated. She is a product of the Baptist High School, Benin and the Auchi Polytechnic.
2. Grace Osaro Aihie, the MD of Edo Geographical Information Service(EDOGIS). She was hitherto the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development. She and Igbinigie were instrumental in leading a team of foreign ‘experts’ with a detachment of armed security personnel to come and assess the NUJ premises so as to know how to acquire it for the EMOWAA project of the Governor.