It takes more than good intentions to mediate between a dozen very powerful, independent minded and outstanding political leaders equally zealous to offer their services for the development of their dear state and come out with an acceptable outcome like it happened in the just concluded APC governorship primary in Edo State.
Because of the passion and zeal shown by the contending aspirants, it was almost impossible to imagine a rapprochement that would make all the personalities agree on one candidate expect the processes are seen to be fair, just and transparent.
But that was exactly what the national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje achieved when he brought his wealth of experience, political acumen and legendary wizardry to bear on the process of electing the APC candidate for Edo state in the forthcoming September governorship elections.
The outcome was unanimously accepted such that when the APC national chairman presented the Certificate of Return to the winner, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, it was widely agreed that an end has come to the rancour which pitted three of the aspirants against one another.
The winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo polled 12,433 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants who contested the rerun election, which was initiated after the first contest was declared inconclusive by the leadership of the ruling party.
The final outcome of the exercise was announced officially in Benin by the new Chairman of the election committee and Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, following the collation of results from the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.
The manner the APC was able to still the storm threatening to tear the party apart has become a recurring decimal in the affairs of the party since the assumption of office of Ganduje as the party’s national chairman.
Internal wranglings are not allowed to fester but are quickly resolved for the general good of the party and its candidates.
Ganduje, has since assuming office, brought with him an all embracing transformational leadership style that unites, inspires and motivates party members to trump the interest of the party above individual ambitions and this has worked to make the party more formidable to win in almost all the elections it participated within the last seven months.
It was this style of leadership that saw to the landslide victory of the APC in the reelection of Gov Hope Uzodinma as the Governor of Imo state and that of Ahmed Usman Ododo of the APC as the governor of Kogi state.
This strategic and unique leadership skill was also used to capture majority of the 57 legislative seats that either had a rerun or by election across 26 states in the country.
The new wave of confidence Ganduje exudes has also rubbed positively on the party attracting high profile opposition figures including the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, former Minister Muktar Shagari, Sen Ifeanyi Uba, Sen Solomon Ewuga and the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly among others to the APC.
With the emergency of a candidate for the APC in Edo, all eyes would be on Ganduje, the APC National Chairman to reunite the contending forces to deliver a resounding victory for the party.
And from all indications, the APC appears set reenact the Imo and Kogi magic with the innovations brought about by the national chairman who had honed his leadership skills from his years of service to humanity.
His superlative performance in Kano State were he put in 16 years at the apex of leadership; having served twice as Deputy Governor under Rabiu Kwankwaso, and later served his two terms as Governor of Kano State, have added to his profile as a go-getter.
Fully equipped with such experience, he applied himself to hard work, determination and a strong vision to actualize the Renewed-Hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration as its chief salesman.
For a leader familiar with antics of opposition elements, Ganduje is confronting fiery darts being thrown at him to frustrate the ongoing necessary reforms being carried out in the country.
With the conclusion of the primary elections to the agreement of majority of the aspirants and stakeholders, the coast is clear to take back the state.
The electorates are clearly disenchanted with the woeful performance of the PDP “helicopter Governor “ a popular tag used to describe Gov Obaseki’s disconnect with the grassroots.
Again, like Obaseki, both the PDP and Labour Party candidates are perceived as outsiders due to their lack of connection with the local populace and inability to understand the coordinates that drive development in the state.
Unlike the candidates of the other parties however, Sen Monday Okpebholo needs no introduction when it comes to relating with the grassroots, especially the people of Edo where he is Popularly referred to as a ‘homeboy’, because of his deep connect with the home front.
He is a serving Senator representing Edo Central constituency who had earlier served his two-terms in the House of Representatives for Esan North-East/Esan South East Constituency. The Central zone is generally favored to produce a governor by popular acclamation of zoning for inclusivity.
This industrialist and entrepreneur has a sprawling business in agriculture, oil and gas, construction and hospitality amongst others. He is a humanitarian and philanthropist with a net worth of 250 million dollars!
No doubt, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC under the leadership of Ganduje knows what to do to win the election.
But suffice it to say that it should waste no time in rallying round all the other aspirants to work for the party; woo aggrieved PDP aspirants with grassroots followership like the Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu; while the former two-term Governor of the state and former National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole be mobilized to use his towering influence amongst the grassroots to work for the party.
The Progressive Governors Forum and the Serving National Assembly leadership including some former Principal officers like RT Hon Idris Ahmed Wase should also be contacted to bring their wealth of experience to bear on running the elections while Prof Nentawe Yilwada, an AI specialist and election war horse can assist in the IT process of the election.
As the party prepares for the Edo governorship elections in September, many are calling on Ganduje to use his magic formula to rescue Edo from the stranglehold of the PDP.
As an experienced bridge builder however, it is no shaking as the job seems cut out for His Excellency, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR, the National Chairman of APC, the iIwajoye of Ibadanland , Olorogun of Urhobo, Agu naechemba Ndigbo,” which means “Lion that protects the public,” to deliver once again for the APC
- Hon Yakubu Dati, Member, Edo LGC electoral committee is a former Plateau Commissioner
