Edo 2020 and Obaseki’s tyranny

Festus Ebhota

 

SIR: It was Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who famously said his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian and true to his words, he left the stage peacefully when Nigerians decided to vote in President Muhammadu Buhari.

Godwin Obaseki has hypocritically mouthed that phrase while at the same time stocking tension and visiting violence and mayhem on perceived opponents and Edo citizens all in the vain desire to achieve an unmerited second term.

Edo has had elections, Edo has mounted campaigns to end godfatherism before but never were these prosecuted by violence or intimidation. The question then is what has changed?  The simple answer is Edo presently has a chief security officer by name Godwin Obaseki.

A government which spent over three years fighting perceived foes rather than facing governance. A government which rather than concentrate scarce resources in developing rural communities but chose to empower foreign consultants. When suddenly faced with its failure rather than leave in peace is threatening to bring down the roof of the state on its citizens.

It must be sounded without equivocation that no amount of blackmail or intimidation will avert the verdict of the people from the ballot September 19.

From Ososo to Ewohimi, Opoji to Okpella, Ehor to Iguobazuwa the verdict is loud and clear. Obaseki’s second term is not worth the blood of any Edo citizen and Nigerian. His second term is negotiable; it is earned and not a right. It is the people’s to give and take and on September 19 they will issue him a red card.

 

•Festus Ebhota, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.