Edo Crisis: Oshiomhole And His Judicial Collaborators , By Gabriel Omonhinmin

Prophet Muhammed (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) was once asked by one of his followers, how does one attain salvation? He responded: “Guard your tongue, O mankind. And do not let it bite you, for indeed it is a snake”. How many people are today in their graveyards, who were simply killed by their tongues. The present political crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly which may soon engulf the entire state if not properly managed, would not have gotten this bad, if someone high up in the state, had learnt how to manage his actions and his tongue better.
Now that the people of Edo State are in this cross road, what can we do as concerned people of Edo, to get ourselves out of this mess? This happens to be my main concern in this article.
Since this crisis blew open, I have taken my time to listen to all sides and shades of opinion in this matter. In trying to get the best and workable ways of averting the impending crisis, that threatened the soul of Edo state. I must, however, say that I do not agree with the line of argument of some officials of the Edo state government, which tend to dismiss the seriousness of the crisis, with a wave of hand as a mere irritant to government, and at the same time portraying Oshiomole and the State legislators on his side, as the people on the receiving end instead of being the aggressors. The State Governor and his cronies may continue to be pretending, that there is nothing to worry about, but every discerning mind knows for sure, that there is a lot to worry about. A dancing masquerade in my home town, Ewu, used to say: “It is true, that I do not hear English but when they say, Catch am nobody tells him to take himself off as fast as he could before danger occurs”.
My understanding of the genesis of this crisis shows that there are three major gladiators, they have their various reasons for taking the position, they are holding in this crisis. The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, no matter how much he pretends not to be a party to what is happening, is neck deep in this crisis. His alleged inability to sustain good human relationship and his high-handedness is the crux of this crisis. From labour to Edo State Government House, people who have encountered Oshiomole have very little to say about his ability to maintain good human relationship. History has, however, showed us that there are different types of leaders, most of whom were propelled to notoriety by events and circumstances and were thus categorized by history as leaders. An even rare type of leader is one who uses his astuteness, intelligence and leadership skills to produce events that shape life and consequently, history. Yes! It is a known fact, in politics; we do not have permanent friend or permanent enemy. But it is most uncharitable for Governor Oshiomole not to appreciate the assistance rendered him at the time he needed help most, no matter how little, in his first bid to occupy the Dennis Osadebe Government House in Edo State. Mind you, the appreciation I am talking about is not the handing over, of the state resources or treasury to the people the Governor once alleged wanted him to do so. No matter how much Oshiomole and his political cronies, especially the ceremonial fob, who go by the title Majority Leader in the Edo State House of Assembly, tries to wish away the efforts of the political leaders, who made Oshiomole, a governor in the first instance will not hold waters. It is difficult for any political watcher to believe that, Oshiomole could just vacate office as NLC President, and walk straight into an already made political structure, that he never knew, how it was built to contest the election he later won in court without the assistance of some people.
Truth must be told, Lucky Igbinedion and Osagie Ize-Iyamu no doubt availed him their political structure and all the relevant information with which he approached the court and won. If for no other reasons, Oshiomole needed to be respectful and show gratitude to these people and their political followers. If ingratitude is a norm and acceptable in the Labour Movement where Oshiomole is coming from, it can’t go unpunished in politics. That is why I am particularly, not surprised at the depth of the crisis Edo State is presently enmeshed.
Dan Orbih, the Edo State P.D.P Chairman, on his part, was born into a well-grounded political family, where political struggle is not new. His late father, Chief M.C.K. Orbih, was a man who spent the better part of his active years in the political life of Western and later Mid-Western Nigeria, fighting day and night, on how to obtain a better life for the average Etsako man. I grew up in Auchi to know M.C.K.Orbih as a care giver, a motivator and a factor in the social and political life of the average Etsako man. The P.D.P, no doubt, has its grievances against the A.P.C. and Oshiomole, the main reason, is the Governor’s deliberate refusal to upgrade human resources and the creative skills of the Edo people. It is just not enough, to construct schools and roads, and at the same time sack teachers, he claimed to be unqualified. And there is more to development than this. Dan, as a matter of ego, would fight with the last drop of his blood to wrest back the political power the A.P.C. slashed from the P.D.P. during his tenure as the State P.D.P. Chairman. I therefore, see no, respite for Oshiomole and his A.P.C. party in months to come.
My appeal, however, is specifically directed at Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Shagadi, Frank Erewele and other aggrieved party members, who have now crossed over to P.D.P, to allow room for a peaceful resolution of the on-going crisis, in the over-all interest of the Edo people. A point they all must not forget, is that war does not provide solutions or put an end to problems, but rather the opposite. Whether Governor Oshiomole and his political followers accept it or not, they are now better informed that Edo State is not anybody’s property.
While all these political manoveurings are ongoing, the Edo state judiciary is expected to be neutral and above board. But that seems not to be the case now. I must confess that most of the Edo people at home and abroad are becoming very concerned, with the inexcusable exercise in recklessness ..of the Edo State judiciary. The Edo State Chief Judge and the entire judiciary are expected to be above politics.It is therefore assumed, that whatever they do, will be in accordance with their training as lawyers and in keeping with the higher ideals of justice. I am therefore constrained to draw the attention of the Edo State Chief Judge to the conversation that took place between late Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, the first Military Governor of Western Nigeria and the then Western Nigerian Chief Judge before the crisis that engulfed the entire country in 1966 became unmanageable. That is, if the Edo State Chief Judge was too young then, to know what happened.
Professor Wole Soyinka in a conversation with Colonel Fajuyi asked: “How do you find the Western courts of justice, generally”. Col. Fajuyi replied, “Subverted, no one believes in the courts any more”. Professor Soyinka went further to paint this picture. He stops by a huge Victorian escritoire in a corner, relic of the ponderous tastes of former colonial governors, pulls up the veiled lid and takes out a service revolver. He toys with the gun.
Fajuyi now stressed, “You know, he was here, sitting just where you are, in that very chair. I sent for him. I was very anxious to meet the man, who was responsible for all the chaos in the West”. The Colonel continues, “When people no longer believe that they can obtain justice in the courts then they must take the law in their hands. So, I take the view that the Chief Justice is personally responsible for all the death and destruction which took place here. The day he deliberately adjourned those election petitions then came back to announce that the cases had been over-taken by events, he became responsible for the mass murder, arson, rape, the whole lot… Anyway, I sent for him. When he came, I knew that my simple judgment was right. I said to him, tell me exactly what happened that day in court. I want you to give me your own version. You know, he the Chief Judge began to tremble. He was shaking so much that I thought he was going to fall from the chair. I asked him, what’s the matter? I said, are you afraid of me? I waited and waited, but the man couldn’t speak”. Please see the book entitled “The Man Died” pages 157 and 158. Is this not exactly the drama playing itself out in Edo State 48 years after this first incidence? The only difference today, is the fact, that the Edo State Chief Judge has no governor to question him, over the recklessness the State judiciary is presently involved in.
If I may ask what is in public office, that people cannot just hold their own. So far, the Edo State judiciary is aiding and fuelling the crisis in the State with the order paper and counter orders that the state law makers are all laying claims to, in prolonging this crisis. Whatever happens in Edo state today, history will never be on the side of the state judiciary. Hence, my appeal to the State Judiciary, not only to retrace their steps, but re-examine their present position. A word is enough for the wise.
Mr. Omonhinmin is a Lagos based Media Consultant.