There is hardly a news item, that would match the epithet of ‘Breaking News’, like the sudden one which hit the public some night ago. The catchphrase, ‘Breaking News’, has become a worn-out-usage by the all-comer’s social media. The news, this time around, could’ve passed for ‘Banging News’ instead of ‘Breaking News’.
Watchers of Edo’s turbulent politics, upon receiving the newest news, were instantly galvanised into spasmodic perplexity and mental disequilibrium, when it made the orbit, that a restrained governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, had suspended Samson Osagie and Damian Lawani, from the lofty executive positions, into which they were recently appointed and inducted, with fanfares.
The dust-raising news had informed all that the suspension drew a strength from a public statement issued by Umaru Musa Ikhilor, a lawyer and Secretary to the State Government, on behalf of the governor. The statement posed a jigsaw puzzle that the grounds for the suspension of the duo were ‘’… allegations of grave official and financial infractions” .
In the labyrinth of the suspension news, Tony Aziegbemhi, the state’s chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had issued a press statement, in the interest of his party, which amongst other things, hastily bemoaned that the suspension “highlights deeper issues of corruption and maladministration” in the fledgling government of Okpebholo. Aziegbemhi further insinuated in two other sub-titles that “…Edo State Treasury not in safe hands” and “…Hands Caught in the Cookie Jar”.
To put the information in the groove, Osagie, the elegant PhD holder and practising lawyer, was a long serving representative of his of Uhunmwode local government area (LGA) constituency, in the state’s House of Assembly, before another lawmaking stint in the junior chamber of the National Assembly, which may have primarily influenced his choice for the commissionership he was suspended from. With these, he is envisaged to have mastered the ropes of statecraft.
On the other flank, Damian Lawani couldn’t be a neophyte in governance, as some opponents of the governor vilify him as incompetent and what not. After all, was he not a legal practitioner, a former lawmaker at the state’s legislative assembly and an ex-commissioner for Youth and Sports?
Unlike Lawani, who is known not to have raised even a whimper about his trial, Dr. Osagie issued a public rebuttal, which was widely publicised.
“An animal with excess fats will definitely prove it atop the heat of the fire”, which seems to be what Osagie’s denial and the next action of the governor, expressly implied. Governor Okpebholo apparently did the obligatory by clearing the fog, with his avowal to institute an investigative committee on the matters.
Consciously, the Ikhilor’s statement furthered reasoned that the immediate suspension of the two men, was only to enable unimpeded investigation of the allegations, and that the right things will be done after that. But, when the veracity of a scotum is in dispute, the wraper is yanked off for all to see beneath.
“Let me state unequivocally that I am not and was never involved in any financial dealing with any one nor committed any financial infraction of any kind”; Screamed Osagie, who rued that he was not confronted with the said allegations before his suspension was announced. “I will be prepared to defend myself and prove my innocence in order to clear my name and hard-earned reputation, which I have laboured to build over the years”, he added.
The Azieghemhi’s claims of sleaze and incompetence, against Okpebholo, got countered by Prince Peter Uwadiae Igbinigie, spokesman of the state’s chapter the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Before then, came the speedily comments of John Mayaki, the ubiquitous media influencer and proselyte supporter of Governor Okpebholo, who once served as a Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki, and a backer of the governorship bid of Asue Ighodalo, a candidate of the PDP in the last Edo guber election.
“Since taking the oath of office in November last year, the Governor wasted no time in making his stance on governance very clear – it is no longer business as usual, but more of business unusual … We can now agree that a no-nonsense Sherif is in town, who wouldn’t harbour any sacred cow’’. Asserted Mayaki.
Igbinigie, who had been noticeably missing in the ceaseless media war between his APC party and the PDP, and only have to speak days after the suspension order, insisted that the governor deserves commendations, and not condemnation, for suspending the two executives over the allegations of financial infractions. In a strong worded statement by APC, Igbinigie said that the governor’s actions align with global best practices.
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‘The move demonstrates the governor’s commitment to accountability and transparency’’, with him adding that the good examples by the governor, were absent in the immediate-past administration of the Obaseki’s PDP.
A king, apart from dancing naked to prove his innocence, must also throw-off, for the people to ascertain his last meal”. The PDP may have intended this, with its more upbrage at Okpebholo as having taken a hasty decision of suspending the duo. At the same time, the party chidded the governor for not calling in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for investigation and trial of the officers.
But, will the same PDP not have accused the governor of delayance and attempts to cover up the alleged fraud and his appointees, if it later got to know about the fraud allegations, should the governor have hesitated or didn’t act promptly the way he did?
This writer is not Governor Okpebholo’s mouthpiece, neither is he on his payroll, nor seeks to twist issues to please any one. I belong to no political party and favour none. I play the Omdulsman limitlessly, not minding those whose oxes are gored. I am slavish to no one else, but to a good-conscience and unimpeachable doings. I have been unrepentant critic of Senator Okpebholo – not about his personal deeds, but of those who tended to capitalise on his goodwill and simplicity, to rubbish him.
He is a man, who came from my kind of obscured background. A homeboy, who may have the courage to be different from many others. A man who can decipher the songs of the birds and the resilience of the soldier ants, would navigate the Edo’s slippery political turfs laid by naysayers, so long he keeps a ear to the ground.
Judging from the numerous public comments that heralded the same suspension of the two officers, Governor Okpebholo, obviously, must’ve been seen as one who is resolute and mindless of the sacred cow. I do not know how they came about the ‘sacred cow’ theory. But, of a certainty is that he has, somewhat, proven the bookmakers wrong, that behind his humility and touted ‘naivety’ (his accusers said so), ‘Homeboy Okpebholo’ is capable of having a mind of his own, and following it to the length.
Tony Erha, a journalist and rights activist, lives in Abuja and could be reached at tonyerha@gmail.com
