Elections in Nigeria always draw out the bad sides of our politicians, but every stakeholder must take note and come together to douse the threatening conflagration in Edo State. The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the governorship election in Edo State for 19 September 2020. Seven months and some days to the date and the gladiators are threatening to turn Benin City into a physical battleground.
The unease in Edo State concerns the bad blood between former Governor and chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress Adams Oshiomhole and incumbent governor Mr Godwin Obaseki. Saturday, 22nd February brought out the beast as thugs disrupted the visit to Benin City of Adams Oshiomhole. Both men now accuse each other of a threat to their lives and persons.
The still-unfolding Edo miasma depicts in bold relief some of the worst aspects of Nigerian democracy. It concerns control of the party structure, management and control of the state apparatus post-election and the relationship between godfather and godson as well as between incumbents and their predecessors. Aspects of these manifestations have featured in various forms in the last 21 years of the Fourth Republic and in many states. The Edo gladiators are bent on taking it to the extreme.
While the governor Godwin Obaseki accuses Oshiomhole of violation of protocol in visiting the state as a former governor, Oshiomhole says there is nothing stopping him from entering his state as and when he desires. The Edo State government raised the stakes 24 February disclaiming responsibility for any harm that could befall the APC chairman in any subsequent visit or clash.
Through Crusoe Osagie, spokesman to the governor, Obaseki claimed that the visit of Oshiomhole to attend a function in Benin City caused “sudden tension in Benin metropolis which resulted in large, unruly crowds gathering in strategic points and military personnel shooting sporadically, thrusting the city into pandemonium”. Osagie added, “It is unfortunate that a former Governor who should understand basic security and protocol standards will repeatedly violate them and cause tension and severe threat to public safety and security.
“Apparently, Comrade Oshiomhole has continuously defied all efforts by security agencies across the country, including the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS), among others, to ensure peace, therefore posing a severe threat not only to Edo State but the country at large.
“We, however, want to warn that since Oshiomhole has decided to carry on with his character of impunity, disrespect for processes and continuous stirring of crisis and disruption of peace in the state, the Edo State Government would not be responsible when he reaps the consequences of his unruly behaviour.”
Statements by both the Edo State Government and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole amount to sabre rattling and a threat to violence. It runs against the spirit of the forthcoming elections as articulated by the INEC. The electoral umpire warned against violence and other unseemly conduct ahead of the elections only on February 21. It also warned the political parties to ensure they conduct peaceful primaries that deliver candidates without any liabilities such as have caused continued litigations post-elections in many states. We pray that INEC will fulfil its promise to “rigorously monitor the primaries and where necessary, apply sanctions as provided by law”.
The Edo State matter is a challenge to the political class and the elite of Nigeria. It calls forth the issue of elite consensus on values, processes and practices. Citizens look forward to how the elite of Edo State and the nation manage this crisis.
The Nigerian Governors Forum, for one, may need to step in with its conflict resolution mechanism to resolve the differences between its current and former members. It is the call of leadership for interest groups such as the NGF. The All Progressives Congress needs to play a significant role to quench the many fires in its homestead. Civil society leaders in Edo State also need to step up to the plate. Similarly, the Edo State Government has a moral burden and constitutional duty to ensure that there is peace and security in the state, whatever its differences with the former governor.
The Federal Government should initiate measures to ensure that the chairman of the ruling party and one of its governors do not cause an uncontrollable crisis in Edo State before, during and after the elections. Edo State must not become a theatre of violence for political warlords.
FG must intervene to prevent political violence
