Governor Monday Okpebholo has no business being a governor of a state in any society where sanity and strict adherence to the rule of law, merit or excellence are upheld, enshrined and rewarded. Okpebholo in all intents and purposes represents the worst of us and shouldn’t be seen anywhere near the vicinity of public service let alone occupying such an exalted office of public trust and responsibility.
For some strange but not unexpected reasons, our electoral process consistently throws up the worst of us as our leaders. A process that keeps rewarding people who are academically and morally deficient as our leaders will never get things right.
No matter the side of the political divide anyone may be, the fact remains that Okpebholo has no business being the governor of any state more so, Edo.
This dangerous pattern that has continued to define our politics in recent years is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.
This is not about politics but a threat to our collective wellbeing and calls for urgent measures. Politics and politicians must realise that there are more to this country than partisan politics. We cannot set the nation on fire just for politics. Therefore politicians must be properly guided on their utterances and actions.
This new culture of hate and intolerance in politics is highly inflammatory, combustible and very dangerous. It’s the culmination of all of this that gradually leads to violence and loss of lives during elections.
Recently, during a political rally Okpebholo warned the former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi not to enter the state without notifying him or obtaining security clearance.
The governor, a member of the APC, claimed Mr. Obi’s recent visit to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences, where he donated N15 million for the completion of projects in the school, triggered violence and the death of three persons.
He was quoted to have said, “This message is for the man who claims he has no ‘shishi’,” he said at the rally, apparently referring to Mr. Obi, who often uses the slang to express his disdain for extravagance, particularly by politicians during campaigns.
“For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance,” the governor declared.
He said, “There’s a new sheriff in town. He cannot just come into Edo without informing me. His security will not be guaranteed. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking.”
Indeed, there is a new sheriff in town, but from the way Okpebholo sounded, he is a sheriff of the mold of a tout and brigand than a professional and seasoned law enforcement officer.
Expectedly, his remarks elicited criticisms from civil society groups, lawyers, politicians, and other Nigerians, with many asking the Edo governor to withdraw the comments and apologise to Mr. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State.
Typical of a weakling, he again repeatedly said last Tuesday, that he has no regrets over the warning against Mr. Obi.
Hear him, “I am not supposed to talk much due to the rain. Even when they said I couldn’t talk, but just one sentence, everyone was crying,” Mr. Okpebholo began, referring to the criticisms that trailed his remarks against Mr. Obi.
“What I said was simply advice, don’t come to Edo without telling me.
“My job is not only to work for Edo people, but my job is to save the lives of Edo citizens and visitors coming into Edo.
“If telling him (Peter Obi) to notify me of his coming as the chief security officer of the state is a crime, so be it,” he said.
“I have no regrets about what I have said, and I repeat it: before you come into Edo State, notify me. It is not a threat.”
If this is not a threat, then somebody should tell us what constitutes a threat. I don’t have to be a card-carrying member of any political party to know that Okpebholo is a non-starter where Obi is and a political nobody but a creation of a crooked electoral process.
Meanwhile, in the same state where Okpebholo is the APC leader (at least by being governor of the state, even though we all know better), the party Chairman in Edo, Jarret Tenebe openly declared his hatred for the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, insisting he has every right to express such a sentiment.
Tenebe said Obi is ‘well-hated’ by many people in Edo State, including himself.
Tenebe’s submission is a lie that is pathetically unbelievable, even to a first time visitor to Edo.
In backing Okpebholo’s indiscretion and lack of civility, Tenebe said, “The governor can say that because of the kind of hatred people have for Peter Obi in the state including me and when you have so many of us that have hatred for people like that, most especially when they came to Edo State and people died, it is proper for him to tell the governor before he comes so that people like us can be sent on errand out of Edo before he can come and possibly go.”
Of course, those promoting these charlatans and prodding them are having a good laugh and also trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to rationalise what is clearly a case of indiscretion, lack of tact and lack of common sense.
From the way Okpebholo and Tenebe have spoken, it is obvious that the state would be a flashpoint in future during any election under their supervision. All those encouraging these bunch that do not have any business with the rest of civilisation should know that whatever happens in Edo in future, in the name of election, they should take the blame.
When charlatans who are not even fit to run motor parks and garages are governors and chairmen of political parties, are we still wondering how our political space has been hijacked and are being led by bandits and felons?
How did a man who cannot even read a speech prepared for him and who cannot speak on his plan for the people become Governor? How did a man who was shielded by his political godfathers from any serious scrutiny become governor?
Governance is beyond cutting tapes and launching road constructions and building bridges. Any dunce with the resources can do that. Governance must come with some responsibilities, public trust and a very high level of self-restraint and maturity. These ones are clearly not fit for the office they hold. They cannot set the nation on fire in the name of politics while their own children are all abroad. We must stop shedding Nigerian blood in the name of politics.
Can Okpebholo and Tenebe tell us where they have used strong words against criminals and kidnappers in Edo. Has Tenebe told us in public that he hated bandits and kidnappers?
This country is bigger than our politicians and their politics; we should stop these people before the nation is set on fire.
