Godwin Obaseki (2016-2024): Why Nigerians Should Ignore His Plea Not To Be Remembered For Fights
Artist Impression
Editorial Board
Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the outgoing Governor of Edo State recently pleaded with Nigerians that he would not want to be remembered as a serial “fighter.”
His plea came last week, amidst questions from newsmen who covered the commissioning of the newly constructed Airport Road Park and Garden in Benin City.
Obaseki’s melodramatic appeal started when one smart reporter asked him how he would want to be remembered. To the consternation of onlookers, the rebellious and highly divisive governor replied – “I don’t want to be remembered for my fights.”
Obaseki will leave office after eight years as a governor that engaged in the highest numbers of needless fights with friends, politicians, traditional institution, judiciary, doctors, university students and their teachers, and several others.
Soon after riding on the back of his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Obaseki assumed office without bothering about the cumbersome process that landed him in Dennis Osadebey Avenue.
Strangely, Obaseki picked his first fight very early in his first tenure, which extended to the end of his tenure.
One of his ferocious milestones then, was his battle to prevent 14 elected members of Edo State House of Assembly from taking their oath. This fight attracted the attention of the Attorney General of Federation and the National Assembly. Obaseki managed to triumph.
However, the fight took a better part of him and he was summarily disqualified from getting re-election ticket from the All Progressives Congress, due to his doubtful academic records at the University of Ibadan.
Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party committed the greatest political error when they scored an ‘own goal’ by giving their 2020 governorship ticket to Obaseki at a time the party had almost concluded the process of picking their flag bearer.
Shortly after his victory with the PDP, Obaseki turned his gun nozzles to the leaders and members of his new party. He quickly resumed another war of attrition in PDP and fought from top to bottom.
Like a man in a hurry, Obaseki set off series of self-destruct mechanisms that will later explode and disintegrate him automatically, having been preset to do so.
Along the line, Obaseki designed a scheme to act his own screen play of ‘Game of Thrones’. His main features this time, was shrouded in sponsored conflicts, alliances, and betrayals within the traditional institutions in Edo State.
He found alliances among some renegade Enegies or Dukes who he propped up to damand for a parallel Local Government Traditional Council in Edo South.
Despite the uproar and objection from the Benin palace and well meaning subjects of the Benin monarch, Obaseki through the Attorney General of Edo State, approved the very unpopular decision.
When some of the delinquent Enegies were later suspended by the Benin Palace, Obaseki again, promoted the cultural feud when two Enigies dragged the Oba of Benin before a Benin High Court, presided over by Justice P. A. Akhihiero, over their suspension.
In suit No. B/290OS/2023 filed by their Counsel, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, the claimants, Prof. Gregory Akenzua and Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen, Enogie of Evbo-Obanosa and Egbaen respectively, challenged the monarch’s authority under Obaseki’s orchestrated ‘law’ to suspend them as the Enogie (Duke) of their respective communities.
This development eventually positioned Obaseki who at this point, lost control of his desire for power and hurriedly became the enemy of the people – especially the people of Edo South.
Obaseki will be remembered in history as a governor that had the greatest knack to take over landed property from individuals and communities. In this regard, he will be remembered for the various protest that marched against his forceful conversion of community lands in the state.
Governor Obaseki deservedly will also be remembered for his ignoble fight with his Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu over his desire to succeed him as governor of the state. Shaibu was subsequently impeached on trumped-up charges by Edo State House of Assembly, but was later restored by the Federal High Court.
Obaseki who will hand over to the Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo on November 12, 2024, has fought many political battles from the blast of whistle in 2016, to the end of his second term in 2024.
For aa man who prides himself as the strongest man in Edo politics, and who was acclaimed by his political disciples as ‘Ematon’ (Iron), his present paperweight category is irreconcilable with his past infamous King Kong conquests.
A search for ‘Obaseki’ on the World Wide Web will prioritize ‘Godwin’ the governor of Edo State and many stories of his illogical fights that he is begging Nigerians to now overlook.
Political observers are of the opinion that Obaseki’s penchant for fight with members of the public and political class led to his downfall and his inability to produce Mr Asue Ighodalo as a successor.
