By Dr. Owen Idiaghe
The political character of any person is his habitual responses to political situations and this is rooted at his or her personality level.
These responses, include a wide range of attitudinal actions and traits formed over the years.
Some are apathy or interest, submission or asser- tiveness towards authority, suspicion or trust of other groups, empathy, emotional intelligence and several others.
Today, the political space in Edo State is bereaved of a man with political character. The result of this missing quality has resulted in the bumping and unstable socio-economic situation in Edo State.
A state that was on a steady rise during the stawardship of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has declined to that of social instability that has put her credibility in doubt with unending political infighting.
As politicians prepares for the September 2024 governorship election, the various parties must as a matter of fact, consider political character and antecedent as nunber one qualification to pick their candidates.
Edo State is at a crossroads and demands desperate but deliberate solution.
If the state manages to survive the next 12 months, Edo people will need a man embodying the qualities of an idealized conception of the male parent that will elicit from others the emotional responses from the citizens.
It has been eight years since Edo people experienced that convivial relationship with their governor.
Going through the pool of contestants that has declared their interest so far, no one has this all-important-quality. Many of them are ‘political prisoners’ with baggages.
It is at this moment of political rebirth that Edo State needs Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi. An avowed cerebral public servant with proven statecraft
The ability to be a savvy and effective political leader is statecraft and is the lifewire of any institution. If the Chief Executive, Governor or President is not skilled at statecraft, as in the case today in Edo, he or she will have a hard time accomplishing anything.
Born on 21 March 1951 in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, he attended Western Boys School, Benin City before proceeding to the University of Benin in 1969, to earn his degree in Applied Physics.
He was also at the University of Ibadan for a Post-Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering. He is an alumnus of Havard Business School and member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Ogiemwonyi is an outstanding technocrat that has contributed immensely to nation and community building.
In developed democracy, community service is considered as major requirement to be elected into public service such as the governor of a state. Ogiemwonyi has record of those he successfully assisted during his service at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and raised them to become big players in the oil sector.
He has continually till date extended assistance and contributions to community service through economic empowerment.
Unlike many of those that have declared interest across the political parties, only Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi and maybe a few others have home in their villages.
Like the servant-leader former governor Adams Oshiomhole, who lives with his people in Iyamho, Ogiemwonyi will certainly make his country home in Ugbo-Ighele in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, the ‘Camp David’ of Edo State.
In recognition of a glowing testimony of his service to Edo nation, the Omo N’Oba N’Edo uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa, hosted him to a royal reception and presented coral beads to him.
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) strive to reclaim Edo State after giving it up through the nail-biting error in 2016, the party leaders will certainly regain control of the treasured cultural land of great Benin Kingdom, by rethinking Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi as their candidate for next year’s governorship election.
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