Whither Etsako Central In Afemailand?

I am proud to say that I am a full-blooded Afemai man. But, I am first a true son of Avhianwu. For those who care to know, Avhianwu is made up of FOUR villages which are politically referred to as Zone One in the Etsako Central Local Government of Edo State. Out of the 10 wards in the local government, Avhianwu constitutes five. In the last three weeks, this column has been discussing national issues and our dear Edo State. However, permit me to be selfish this week, after all, charity, they say, begins at home. Hence, I want to discuss my local government and our place in the political calculation of Afemailand, given the fact that the political battles have been fought, lost and won. Most importantly, I must say that in the midst of all the roforofo, Etsako Central Local Government was not in anyway found wanting but for the presidential election. We lost the presidential for some obvious reasons. The  forces we were contending with were legion! It’s no longer secret that Etsako Central is home to heavy weights of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, it holds the highest concentration out of the 18 council’s in the state. The former Chief of Staff to Mr President, Mike Oghiadomhe was battle ready to protect the job of his master. The loquacious chairman of the PDP in Edo State, Dan Orbih was too desperate to keep his job while Richard Lamai, now in APC, was ready to do anything to justify the money he got from his erstwhile party. However, we redeemed our image as the loss was reclaimed in the April 11 polls where the council secured 57.6 per cent for the APC as against the 42.4 per cent of the PDP.
Despite this modest efforts by the party in the council, the new political map of Afemailand may have effectively blotted out Etsako Central in terms of elective positions. Out of the six local government areas that make up Afemailand, Etsako Central is the only one without a representative at the federal level. This may be unbelievable, but that is the reality on ground today! Hence, the question, whither our place in Afemailand? It’s not as if the local government does not have men and women with political/financial capacity who would have thrown their hats in the ring during the party’s primaries. We are also not lacking of political rascals who are capable of playing the spoiler. But in the spirit of one big Afemai family, bounded by one progressive party, the APC, the people delivered even in the face of dounting challenges. Aside the statutory position of the state house of assembly from the local government, other federal elective positions, Senate and House of Representatives are shared by our kindreds in other council areas. There is also information from the grapevine that the ministerial slot for the state may again go to Owan axis of Afemailand. So, I ask again, whither the place of Etsako Central in Afemailand? As far as I know, we are yet to be excised from Afemailand.
This is a wake up call for the leaders in the local government before it’s too late. Because as it is now, there is still room to make amends for the sake of equity, justice and fairness in Afemailand. I know that our leaders, especially the Comrade Governor are people of conscience who believe in political balancing anchored on the spirit of fairness, equity and justice. They should right this wrong by doing the needful now! The era of political naivety are over, our people are sufficiently enlightened to know what is happening without being prompted by anybody.
Yes, I said it’s not too late to make amends because as an APC state, more federal appointments are still being expected in the state. I therefore plead with the Comrade Governor and the party leaders to look the way of our local government for possible consideration. Aside this, everything being equal, the state house of assembly is due for inauguration first week in June and the local government has elected one of its young and brilliant minds, a legal practitioner to represent its interest in the House. I believe it’s yet another opportunity to prick the conscience of our party leaders to right this wrong. Good enough, the APC won all the eight slots in Afemailand for the State House of Assembly in the April 11elections. And only two of these eight are ranking members, those representing Owan East and Akoko Edo constituenty One. Again, only eight out of the 24-member house are returning (ranking) members. This clearly shows that the 16 new members can decide who gets what in the house by way of voting since politics is a game of numbers. But I believe the party leaders will mot allow it to degenerate to that level. However, on behalf of our people, I plead that Etsako Central be considerd for one of the key principal offices in the next legislative assembly. To some extent, that would balance this imbalance. The good people of Etsako Central are eagerly looking forward to a plump office and I believe their expectation will not be sacrificed on the alter of ranking.
Since law is made for man and not man for law, our Afemai brothers should give special consideration to Etsako Central in the sharing of principal positions zoned to Edo North for the sake of fairness and especially, in the spirit of brotherliness, ranking notwithstanding.