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Adams Oshiomhole: A Labour Activist As Governor

By:
Jideofor Adibe
pcjadibe@yahoo.com



The recent threat by the Edo State Governor ‘Comrade’ Adams Oshiomhole to arrest Chief Anthony Anenih, the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, made headlines.  Oshiomhole was quoted as saying: “Whether Anenih likes it or not, I am the chief security officer of Edo State. I can restrict his movement in this state if he becomes a security risk. I can arrest him, prosecute him and have him jailed.”(Daily Sun online January 24, 2010).
 
The context of Oshiomhole’s threat is the battle for the soul of Edo state, which, Chief Anenih, also known as “Mr Fix it”, had long regarded as his fiefdom. It is thought that Oshiomhole exploited the schism between Anenih and his former political godson Professor Osunbor who was declared the winner of the 2007 poll by INEC. Apparently Oshiomhole promised to be a more loyal political godson than Osunbor in exchange for Anenih’s support during Oshiomhole’s protracted legal battle to unseat the law professor from the Edo Government House. Oshiomhole was reported to have publicly feted Anenih as a father figure to him and had in numerous public fora poured effusive encomiums on the political godfather while the alliance lasted. However as often happens between political godfathers and godsons, the unholy alliance began to unravel as soon as power was won and consolidated.  As the former allies fell out, the 23 January 2010 re-run elections of the Etsako central constituency of the Edo State House of Assembly became an opportunity to determine who is really in control of the soul of Edo politics.
 


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While I am not a fan of Anenih’s politics, I equally believe that so-called political godsons who obviously exploit the political godfathers to gain power only to start demonising them once they have won and consolidated power, are not often sufficiently told their ‘sins’ to their face. There is something morally wrong in the present trend whereby some relatively weak power hawks willingly enter into an unholy alliance with some powerbrokers only to double-cross their benefactors and camouflage their deceit by unnecessary moral grandstanding. To constantly demonise the political godfathers while exonerating, or even lionising their political godsons, is akin to blaming only the perpetrator of a 419 scam while treating the victim as innocent. Just as both the perpetrator and victim of a 419 scam knew they were involved in a shady deal, so does a political godson often know that his adopted political godfather can deliver power to him only by using unconventional methods. Where is the honour in double-crossing the devil after using the same devil to achieve your goal of capturing power? It is unacceptable to assume the moral high ground when the devil wants to fight back because anyone who wants to go to equity must go with clean hands.
 
Apart from being unimpressed with Oshiomhole’s grandstanding, there are also concerns about the implications of his threat for our young democracy. In his threat, Oshiomhole was implicitly telling us that as the Chief security officer of Edo state he has the judiciary in his pockets and even knows the type of punishment that will be meted to those convicted by the courts. In more mature democracies such as the US and the UK, it is extremely difficult for public officials to even bring libel actions against the press or anyone for fear that such could ‘chill’ free speech and undermine democracy. In free speech jurisprudence, Oshiomhole’s threat to Anenih is a greater danger to democracy than the threat of using libel action to ‘chill’ criticisms of a public official. 
 
Though Oshiomhole impressed many people as President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, history teaches us that some of the most famous labour leaders of the past few decades failed woefully as political leaders. This should be a source of concern to Oshiomhole. Consider for instance the cases of Lech Walesa of Poland and Frederick Chiluba of Zambia – two of the most celebrated labour leaders of the last 40 years.
 


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TIMOTHY
Date:Aug 18, 2010
How can a labour leader become a Governor in state will there not be problem in that state

marxist kola edokpayi
Date:Mar 13, 2010
Dear Compatriots you are fully aware of the fact that one of Oshiomhole slogans in his campaign is "lead the people lead" and " Let's make poverty history in Edo State" It is a painful thing that todayThe so called Comrade Governor turned comeandrade Governor has been exercerbating the political and developmental problems in Edo state by drifting from the philosophy of what he advocated and preached as the number one citizen of workers. Oshiomhole a critic of Osunbor government was believed to alleviate the plight of the people with his pedigree as a labour leader but the reverse is the case. He is now elevating poverty by demonlishing houses without compesation by sending traders away from road sides and sores without relocating them to where they will buy and sell like what his counterpart in Ondo state is doing. knowingfully well that these people are the bread winners of their families. Recalling the unsperakable sacrifice the masses made for his sake it is difficult that he anathematise the masses who deserve better treatment from him. I can remember vividly in the press conference organised to formally present his running mate Honourable Pius Odubu. Oshiomhole said and i quote "When elected Governor of Edo State our state and its people will be in safe hands. I have demonstrated capacities that convince the ordinary Nigerian that we can make a difference in governance The People will Lead and give the Orders When we are elected the ordinary people will be the policy and decision-makers" All that he promised to do within six months he has not even achieve 0 let alone 1 percent. There is nothing diffrerent from what we have been experiencing in edo state previously. oshiomhole and lucky igbins are aviens of common plummage. The comrade turned bougeose rode to power on wave of popular support from the peasants market women old women traders workers etc. The electotare of Edo state had endured eight brutal years of Lucky Igbinedion's kleptocracy kakistocracy and lootocracy. We saw Adams Oshiomole emergence as divine intervention and we heaped all our hopes and aspirations on him. We believed that as a former labor leader who was familiar with the common people he knew our pains. We thought the he is the Moses that will lead edo people out of the political Egypt to the land flowing with milk and honey. About 10 months into his administration no lucid achievement has been made It is preposterous that he has not commission any project Oshiomole continues to have a very close rapport with former governor do nothing Igbinedion and other reviled PDP chieftains such as Tony Anenih who held Edo state hostage for eight year. In one of his campaigns in New Benin axis Adams Oshiomhole did promised to preside over the political burial of Anenih but now he is giving mr Fixer who could fix him a red carpet reception. Abba Adams nan so we go dey dey. May be oshiomhole is afraid of the history of 1982. That is fracas between Former Governor Balarabe Musa and Kaduna State House Of Assembly members that led to the former impeachment in 1982. Is Oshiomhole unconscious of the fact that Sarah Palin former governor of alaska resigned as governor? Why is Oshiomhole afraid of Impeachment. other achievement negatively is the suppression of the masses by turning them to refugee in their countries of birth .As a Marxist I know that masses whom oshiomhole has tried to repress depress and suppress shall rise again some day like the phoenix. Oshiomhole has betray the masses who sacrifies their careers liberties pleasures to the actualisation of his mandate. Those who died in the struggle are now weeping in their graves. No wonder the irishman Henry joy MacCracken said and I quote" The rich always betray the poor" To betray one'a comrade as to gratify the wishes of godfather and attain selfish advantage is akin to death and the greatest treachery to the national cause. I was so astonished to see Oshiomole when the Kwara state governor and Chairman of the NGF Dr. Bukola Saraki led governors Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and the leadership of the Forum’s Secretariat on a trip to Harvard University a trip that has now turned into a scandal. The subsequent announcement of an MOU between the "Governors Forum" and Harvard University has now been repudiated by the University leaving Oshiomole exposed to shame Many Nigerians were shocked because they expected the governor who rode into power on the promise of preparing Edo State for total revolution.The masses are crying desperately for help. I think Adams will be shown the way out when the revolution occurs. He has appointed confreternity of crooks who have stained hands cranks roguesand dishonest fortune hunters and questionable characters in his government with a view to feathering thier own nests. I know of a failed presidential candidate he appointed as justice commissioner who appointment his daughter as his personal Assistant (PA) leaving his party men and women to poverty. The latest of Oshiomhole shenanigans and fumbling is the presentation of 2 jeeps and 1 utility vehicle to former Governor of the defunct Bendel state Dr. Samuel ogbemudia. It would be recalled that Oshiomhole had earlier collected the two jeeps given to Dr. Ogbemudia by former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor for breaching due process. The sun Newspaper of Wednesday January 21 2009 Oshiomhole said "I do not want to do anything that will lead to some form of embarrassment but on the other hand it will be far more embarrassing that people who are already very privileged are appropriating vehicles to themselves while majority of our countrymen cannot find panadol in public hospitals".The governor has done the worst by taken the vehicle and given him back in ten folds like what he some many people cannot afford panadols. He has open the pandora's box. I can see the writing on the wall. The singular act of the chameleonic comeandrade GOVERNOR has led to unprecedented level of kidnapping poverty hunger in the midst of plenty. Kidnapping that has never been experienced in Edo state is now very lucrative in my state because the masses have been raided by Adams. He has ridiculously increase tax in all sector so as to service the godfathers he promised to preside over their burials. Lecturers teachers doctors masses are against him for increasing tax foolishly and ridiculously. they even went on strike to that effect. we were also told how he spent 130 million naira for the renovation of presedential lodge including the construction of ordinary swiming pool for 15 million naira.I think Oshiomhole owes the Former governor osunbor and obasanjo apology. History will judge the Self confessed people governor. For in Edo State it is not yet uhuru. from the blind passion of those that worship power may Allah saves Edo state from the hands of the political saboteurs vampires vultures that take delight in rendering the people homeless in their home. Marxist Kola Edokpayi writes from Benin

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