For months now, there has been a power tussle within the ranks of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo state. The big question for onlookers so far is whether the tussle within the ranks of the party in Edo state is an issue of loyalty or that of self-interest overshadowing the effectiveness of the party structure.
Governor Godwin Obaseki ran for election on the platform of the APC in 2016 with the approval of the former Governor Adams Oshiomhole who referred to him at the time as the brain of the Edo State administration. What has changed since then?
The general consensus from the state is that the Governor has been a working Governor and the people’s favourite during his administration but during this time has failed to carry along the people that made him in the party including Comrade Oshiomhole.
Where should Governor Obaseki’s loyalty lie as a politician? Loyalty is an important factor in life but even more important in politics. Loyalty in politics must be divided into three parts, loyalty to the electorates, loyalty to key players and loyalty to your party.
The fallout in the Edo State APC so far has been as a result of the personal tussle between the state governor and the now ousted party national chairman.
The tussle which has led to the disqualification of the state governor from contesting in the party’s primary and thereby leading him to quit the party.
The genesis of the problems that have now pitted a one-time party favourite against the party in the forthcoming election started as a result of a disconnect between the Governor’s self-interest and the interest of the “Kingmaker” Adams Oshiomhole.
The all-important question to as here is if Governor Obaseki should have remained loyal to the man that made him despite the difference that later grew in their interest?
Let’s not forget that loyalty in politics does not lie in just a single angle. Loyalty to the people who are the subjects in governance should be the most important loyalty in politics, followed by loyalty to the party and then loyalty to individual players.
Loyalty is a principle of life that can always be shifted when it becomes necessary for it to be shifted and nobody should forget that in the case of Edo State, loyalty is only being shifted from an individual who orchestrated the events that led to the Governor quitting the party because he now has another anointed son.
The issue in Edo state is that of self-interest versus loyalty, but we should not forget that loyalty has only been withdrawn by Governor Obaseki towards Comrade Oshiomhole because of the class in their self-interest.
Governor Obaseki leaving the All Progressive Congress (APC) has been simply the consequences of his withdrawer of loyalty from Oshiomhole, it was certainly not his intentions or design to leave or withdraw loyalty from the party.
We’re now at the junction where the electorates will have to determine where their own loyalty lie by accessing who really have their best interest at heart with all the tussles going on.
It is important to note in this opinion that it shows clearly that Governor Obaseki has not withdrawn the most important loyalty that must be considered in this tussle, which is his loyalty to his people.
It is now in your hand to choose, what is more important to you, politician’s self-interest or their loyalty to serve you.
Let me know what you think in the comment session.
