The recently concluded Edo State Gubernatorial election that saw Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) beating his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) with all the support of the major political godfathers in the state and beyond who wanted their candidate to emerge the winner at all costs, has come and gone, leaving however a trail of surprises in its track.
The outcome of the gruesome election had political pundits missing the track in their forecasts of the exercise, while the truism that injustice does not last for too long came to the fore, as the electorate wielded their electoral power against the oppressive roles of the godfathers who believed in fixing every election in the state and beyond by voting according to their conscience and shoving aside the influences of godfathers.
For once, determination, hard work, focus, unity of purpose and the will of God prevailed against the oppressive roles of godfathers, led by Oshiomhole, Ganduje, Bola Tinubu, Capt. Hosa Okunbor and other desperate godfathers who wanted their candidate to emerge the winner at all costs.
For once, too, the umpire played its mediatory role in a most unbiased ruthlessness, resulting in not only deepening democracy by allowing the people to have their way against godfatherism , arm twisting and electoral manipulations in the country.
In all, the Edo State gubernatorial election has jolted the electorate into believing in their power to elect whoever they want to govern them without unnecessary prompting and intimidations from any godfather, it has shown that godfathers,who most times, are incurably selfish in their decisions, should not be relied upon when deciding who to elect as leaders of the people. It’s time to arise for new political dawn in Edo state.
