By Ogbemudia James

Prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Penultimate Friday, at Irrua, the administrative headquarters of the local government, switched their loyalties to the Action Congress (AC).

Edo Central Senatorial district used to be Esan division with headquarters in Ubiaja in the first republic. Then, the politics of the area was dominated by Action Group (AG) because of the influence of Chief Anthony Enahoro, an associate of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the party’s founder.

It is on good record that most of the amenities like schools, roads and pipe borne water were provided by the government of the then Western Nigeria controlled by the AG as a political party. This was not because of Chief Enahoro, but because the Esan people are disciplined, versatile and technocrat politicians who knows their onions.

This trend continued in the second republic when AG metamorphorsed into the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) which nominated and produced the late Professor Ambrose Folurusho Alli as governor of the old Bendel State. Professor Alli brought more development to the area. For instance, it was Alli who established the Ekpoma based Bendel State University (BENSU) that later became Edo State University (EDSU) and now Ambrose Alli University (A.A.U.), named after the founder.

The progressive stronghold on the political power of the then Bendel State was however loosened when an unknown retired police officer, Chief Anthony Anenih came into the political circle of the area.
Chief Anenih’s entry into the polities of Edo State had the effect of a political Tsunami. As the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Anenih effected the dethronement of Professor Alli from power, thus ushering in Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia as governor of the state. Dr. Ogbemudia, who is today referred to as two time governor, rule the state for a period of three months before a group of butch military boys swept the politicians away.

It was from that moment Chief Anenih’s imprint on Esan land, Edo State and Nigeria politics began to look indelible. Even in the ill-fated third republic, he achieved the fact that might have hitherto been deemed impossible, a Southerner, Chief Moshood Kolawole Abiola, popularly known as MKO, supposedly won the presidential election which was annulled by the military regime of the time, headed by the self-styled evil genius, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babagidda (IBB).

Such was Chief Anenih’s supremacy that he was looked upon for the victory of political aspirants as he did not disappoint his admirers in such a way that he made it possible for his party, SDP to win the governorship of the state, despite the influence of the Federal Government who was believed to be favouring the opposition party, National Republican Convention (NRC), and political forces like Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Chief Tom Ikimi, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, amongst others.

In 1999, when Nigeria returned to a democratic rule, the story was not different, as Chief Anenih resumed his larger-than-life role in the politics of the country, his home state and his senatorial district, as his words became laws that must be obeyed.

He manouvred his way to become the chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of his new party, the PDP. Anenih became an egghead in the decision making body of the party. At a time, it was argued in some quarters that whenever he sneezed Edo State politicians in the state caught cold. He was code named Mr. Fix it.

However, like in the popular parlance of historians, empire rises and fall. And as the human element that everything that has beginning must surely have an end, Anenih’s influence in the politics of Edo state and Esan land where he hails from appears to be dwindling by every moment. This may have been underpined by the last but one Friday decamping of key members of his party (PDP) to the Action Congress (AC).

Although, in the past loyalists of the PDP have been defecting in their thousands to the AC, but this very one that took place at Irrua touches the very foundation of the party’s manipulation during elections.

Eguare Primary School, Irrua, venue of the rally was filled to capacity, as the state youth leader of the PDP, Chief Francis Inegbineki, a National Woman leader of the party, Hon. Herberta Okonofua Ayu, and the entire structure of the PDP in Esan Central Local Government Area decamped to the ruling AC.

Also in attendance at the event which was largely graced by party faithfuls, was the Esan Central Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale who defected to the AC along side with his vice, Hon. Ubeni Francis and all the councellors in the council.

The rally and many others that came before it, according to analysts, signifies the liberation of Edo State, and Esan land in particular. This is because in the past, one man has remained the only one who dictated the face of politics in the area. Not only that some felt that the time has come when a new movement for participatory democracy should be put in place, not the one anchored on any godfather who dictates who and who should occupy a particular position at any given time.

The Irrua rally has open up another vista in the political history in the area where everybody will be a co-founder and joiner.

An All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) House of Assembly candidate in the 2007 elections, from the locality, who is now a member of the Action Congress, Barrister Osifo echoed this when he declared that the people are tired of one man dictatorship, and they considered AC as the only political party that can provide leadership.

Also speaking, the AC leader in the Local Government Area, Hon. Frank Erewele, lambasted Anenih for refusing to relinquish power to the younger generation.

Erewele said, “Though, he claimed to be 86 years old, we have decided to take over power from him. We will take the power and decide who will rule us. Today is liberation day for our people. We have agreed to take our destinies in our hands. It is time our age bracket take over power.”

On his part, Chief Inegbineki noted that Chief Anenih has descrated in the PDP in the state, hence the defectors could no longer stay in the same umbrella with him.

In her own remarks, Mrs. Okonofua Ayu said they were defecting to give the younger generation hope to decide who lead them in the future.

According to her, “what is happening today transcends party politics. Parties in Nigeria are still struggling to be based on ideologies. Today is about change. It is about the future of young people. It is time for some people to realize that the young must be allowed to grow. It is the establishment of true democracy where you can aspire to whatever you want to be without anybody telling you that there is no space.”

Former Minister of Internal Affairs, and a national leader of the AC, Chief Tom Ikimi pointed out that he had earlier advocated for new breed of leadership in Edo State, adding that the time for the enthronement of such leadership has come.

In his words, “The time has come to enthrone a new leadership in Edo State. Change has come. It has taken roots in Edo State. PDP does not exist in the heart of Nigerians.”

He remarked that he had no hesitation in accepting those decamping into the AC from the PDP, noting that what transpired between him and Inegbineki has been a thing of the past. He promised that he will ensure a democratic process where everyone in the party will have equal opportunity.

Welcoming the new entrants into the Action Congress, the state governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole stated that it was fair to see in one Local Government, persons, cutting across different age groups, united with an idea that never again will they labour under one man dictatorship.

Nigerians, he noted, did not wish to exchange one uniform for another when they struggle for democracy. And the essence was to create a political environment where people in full freedom can sit together to discuss issues that affects them based on the value of majority.

The peoples’ governor whose slogan is ‘Let the people lead” affirmed his earlier statement that an elder in the state, as minister of works could not fix the roads in Edo State, as well as providing water for Esan land. He called on the leaders to behave in a way that command respect. He assured that AC will provide the platform for popular participation.

However, going by the recent happenings in the political landscape in the state, watchers of political events are worried that because of the caliber of people decamping from PDP to the AC, the party may soon be pron to internal crisis.

Some political pundits are of the view that the state might be turned into a one-party state, a situation which they said is not healthy for the advancement of democracy. According to this group of analysts, the phenomenon is capable of producing a situation where there may be no viable opposition as witnessed during the tenure of Chief Lucky Igbinedion as governor of the state.

Be that as it may, the emerging political scenario in the state will be felt in the coming elections. The forthcoming Etsako Central Constituency House of Assembly election as declared by the Appeal Court will be a test case for the political equation in the state, as the emerging political permutations revealed that this is a season of harvest for the Action Congress.

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