No to the butterfly who thinks himself a bird

By Chris Osa Nehikhare

…if we are to build a stable and credible political culture, we must resist the temptation to celebrate noise over substance.

There are moments in politics that quietly remind us how things ought to be done. The recent unanimous endorsement of Hon. Osaro Obazee by APC leaders and members in Oredo Local Government is one of such moments.

In an era where ambition often outruns structure, and impatience attempts to override process, Oredo APC chose a different path—one rooted in order, loyalty, and recognition of political labour. By rallying behind a single aspirant, they sent a powerful message: party building is not a game of chance; it is a product of years of commitment, sacrifice, and presence.

Politics is not for tourists. It is not for those who arrive midway, scan the terrain, and immediately begin to plot their ascension. It is for those who have stayed, worked, endured, and contributed meaningfully to the growth of the system they now seek to lead.
This is why the endorsement of Obazee resonates beyond party lines. It reflects a reward system that values consistency over convenience and dedication over desperation.

Sadly, not everyone seems to understand this simple principle.

We are increasingly confronted with a brand of politics driven by restless ambition—where individuals, barely two years into an administration, already position themselves to occupy multiple offices, as though governance were a buffet to be sampled at will. It speaks not of capacity, but of impatience. Not of service, but of self.

Such characters bring to mind the image of a butterfly—colourful, visible, but fleeting—mistaking itself for a bird that has mastered the skies through years of endurance and discipline. The difference is clear: one flutters momentarily; the other has earned its wings.

Edo cannot afford to blur that distinction.

If we are to build a stable and credible political culture, we must resist the temptation to celebrate noise over substance. We must insist on rewarding those with verifiable political antecedents—those who have paid their dues, built structures, and demonstrated loyalty when it mattered most.

The Oredo APC endorsement is, therefore, more than a local political decision. It is a reminder. A statement that process still matters. That experience still counts. That loyalty is not a weakness, but a currency.

And perhaps most importantly, it is a quiet but firm declaration: In Edo politics, we must say no—to the butterfly who thinks himself a bird.

Footnote: Chris Osa Nehikhare, a member of the PDP, holds the firm view that regardless of APC’s eventual candidate, the PDP will emerge victorious in the Oredo House of Representatives election.