ACCORDING to late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the man who was believed to have won the June 12 election of 1993 “The day people are told that they are destined to be perpetual drawers of water and heavers of wood, good for permanent enslavement and domination, that is the day the journey to their freedom begins.

The road might be long, rough and tough. But freedom,, justice and equality are too previous to surrender. This is the meaning of June 12. This is why June 12, will remain significant for now and for tomorrow”.

April 14th, 2007 is important in the political history of Edo State in the sense that on that faithful day, the people of Edo State came out en masse to vote for comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. It was the day the people of Edo performed their civic duties by deciding who should be their governor between Prof. Osariemhe Osunbor (PDP) and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (AC).

After the election the result was delayed by INEC. According to media report, the delay was a strategy by the ruling party to rig because it was clear that Action Congress win the election and as such the power that be in the state manipulated and the looser, Prof. Osunbor was declared the winner of the election.

Following the declaration of Prof. Osunbor of PDP as the dully elected governor of the state. The citizens of the state protested against the result because they were not happy, as such, this resulted Adams Oshiomhole challenging the victory of Prof. Osunbor at the election petition tribunal.

Justice Peter Umeadi, the chairman of the state election petition tribunal nulified the election and declared Comrade Adams Oshiomhole winner of April 14 gubernatorial election nulification on 20th March 2008. but Prof. Osunbor file an appeal against the judgment and continue to hold on to power.

On 11th of November, 2008, the appeal court judgment upheld nulification of the election of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor by the lower court as the state governor and ordered the certificate of return to be issued to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Action Congress (AC) as the governor of Edo State. with this pronouncement there was celebration in all nook and crannies of Edo State. report had it that the celebration extended to states like Lagos, Ondo Oyo, Ekiti, Kaduna and beyond.

April 14 election has re-echoed regional and political stability and upholding the people’s mandate. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from a minority political party and from one of the minority senatorial districts in the state defeating Prof. Osunbor from the acclaimed largest political party (PDP) in Africa. Despite all the political guns and godfathers behind the party.

The April 14 governorship election has proved that indeed, Edolites yearn for a new dawn in political landscape of Edo State. this is after all, exemplified by the fact that Esan land (Edo Central senatorial District) were Osunbor originate from and have represented twice in the House of Representative voted massively for Adams Oshiomhole. The election, thus, threw aside hitherto North – Central-South (Senatorial) dichotomy.

As a matter of fact, Oshiomhole is now the Governor of Edo State. what Oshiomhole needs to do now is to map out plans on how to face the challenges before him squarely in the state.

The 20,000-capacity Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in the heart of Benin City, the Edo State capital were Adams Oshiomhole was eventually sworn-in as the elected governor of Edo State on 12th November 2008 was filled to the brim. Everybody, both young, old, men, able, disable, rich and the poor, from all walks of life parked themselves into the stadium. the event itself was momentums, something never witnessed or experienced in recent history of the state.
In fact, it was the day Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had his road cleared of all political whips, turns obstacle, hurdles and debris so as to have a smooth said to the exhausted seat at Government House in Osadebe Avenue, G.R.A, Benin City after a battle of 19 months.

Talking about the symbol (broom) of the action Congress (AD) during the momentous inauguration, Adams Oshiomhole declared “The brown which is usually kept at a corner of the kitchen, looks ordinary and harmless as a household tool, but has become the most potent weapon for the chasing away the agents of darkness from Edo State”.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole told the people of the state. “today is your day. Many days for the thief, one day for the owner. Today is your day”.

He recall with sadness, the terrible and bad situation that most of the electorate had to pass through to exercise their civic right to vote. For the candidate of their choice. The intimidation, brutality and savagery to which we were all subjected to by those who held our state hostage for several years were unprecedented. In the process a lot of people were dehumanized while some others lost their lives”.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole again said “Today, together, we have chased away the forces of darkness and light is here”, pointing out that with him as the governor of the state “Nobody will kill and go free”. “Those who kill must account. They will know no peace as long as I am governor of this state”. He also declared that Edo State will immortalize the names of three young men who were cut down in their prime on April 14, 2007 at the Oba Akenzua Primary School.

Humbly he said he should not be addressed as “Excellency” but the People’s Governor. The people’s governor added, that he was assuming leadership fully conscious of the urgent need to reconstruct the state and restore her past glory with a view to regaining her enviable status as the reference state in Nigeria. He (the People’s Governor) also said “We will proceed without delay to install a leadership and administration that will guarantee to every citizen under a healthy enduring and secure environment were all individual and collective aspirations can flourish and be actualized.

In his starting point of combating employment he promised to create between 5,000 and 10,000 jobs. He also promised to provide free and compulsory education, revamp and restore health institutions, tackle crime and insecurity and promote sports, manage resources prudently, tackle corruption, as well as accelerate the installation of infrastructure which would support rapid industrialization of our state and provide massive employment of our state and provide massive employment opportunities.

To the poor, he said no oppression and extortion of the poor, adding that all manner of extortion and levies, other than the legitimate and legal government taxes and levies must stop immediately. “All individuals, and kingpins who have in the past perpetrated these extortionist levies our fellow citizens whether in the market, in the transportation sector in the schools or any other sector of livelihood are called upon at once. Taxes and levies will henceforth be collected only by governments on the basis of other legislation and the proceed will be transparently accounted for and employed for the good of all”.

Like Jesus Christ who prayed even for his persecutors, Oshiomhole declared that there was no time for vengeance as there was no space for hate in his administration. He said “the court has restored our stolen mandate, there is no need for us to hate. I ask you to forgive and forget. I will not victimize anybody. Go and make friends. Hate and vengeance can only suffocate and impede clarity of thought and purpose. The Battle has been fought and won. It is now time for unity and reconciliation”.

Though he expressed that opposition was necessary in a democracy and that he would encourage opposition, saying “we do not see opposition as enemies to be crushed. At best, they will be defeated on the basis of superior deals”.

Looking at the motto of the party, Action Congress, justice, peace and progress, we should earnestly pray for our Action Governor.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, so that the right men and women should be carefully and divinely selected to occupy position of leadership in the state so that the motto of this party (AC) will be transformed in every phase of its administration in Edo State.