I laugh hysterically each time I see the funny nomenclature of Chief Dan Orbih, Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, constantly exhibiting his unpopular political gimmicks and sentiments on television, I am neither a politician nor a stooge of any political actor, but a true and concerned Edo indigene who believes in the development and overall upliftment of our great state.
In as much as we all have our individual rights to speak on issues of public concern as it were, we must learn not to abuse such rights either individually or collectively by misinforming and misleading the populace just to earn some cheap and ridiculous political points; because posterity will always have a way of paying us back. Being in the opposition in a state or country does not automatically make parties and individuals oppressors and hindrances to development all because they do not share similar ideologies with the government and political party in power. In advanced climes, grievances and political differences are put aside immediately after elections, and cohesion is thereafter ensured to bring all parties together with the sole aim of uplifting their economy.
Sadly, it is a different ball game in this part of the world where backbiting and continuous pulling down is the day’s order, Opposition back here believes they cannot remain relevant in the society if they do not do everything necessary to distract the government in power with their unfounded criticism and bias. In Edo State, the situation is precarious. I have overtime watched the continuous show of shame put up by Chief Dan Orbih and some selected embryos of the PDP publicly displaying their ignorance and political ineptitude as a way of getting back to the executive governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for unprecedentedly disorganizing their ranks in the state five years ago.
Often times, I can’t but ask my self why these crops of selfish elements still want to be relevant in our society when they unpardonably collapsed the economic structures of the state in their ten years of holding on to power with nothing but rapid diminution as their achievement for the long stay in government. If we must have people that will fight our course as Edo People, it certainly cannot be Chief Orbih and his cronies in the PDP who are the chief initiators of the rot and decay that Oshiomhole is trying so hard to clean up. The recent interview granted to Chief Orbih concerning the planned sale of Edo House in Lagos is not only laughable but also downgrading of a man of his caliber watched disgustingly on one of the indigenous television stations some days back how Chief Orbih childishly carried a placard and chanting a song of solidarity that he ordinarily could not recite properly, to protest the proposed move of the government.
Even though we appreciate the existence of a deteriorating magnificent structure in Lagos as our inheritance from the defunct Bendel State, the Ironic question is: How many Edo indigenes are directly or indirectly benefiting from such a building especially when it has since outlived its purpose of being built so many years ago? As an Edo indigene and stakeholder of the state, I see no reason why we must keep holding on to such a gigantic structure which will continue to drain the state’s scarce resources in the midst of daunting economic challenges. If a section of the public is mesmerized by the enormous look of the structure on television and pages of news papers, I believe it will be more productive when such an edifice is built back here which every Edo Son and daughter will be proud to see with their two eyes and not some television recording of a ghost structure. I am of the strong opinion that economic issues must not be politicized if we must see the change that we constantly yearn for. Does it make any economic sense to hold on to a property that costs the government a whopping sum of N60 Million taxpayers’ money to continually service its existence when the government does not even get up to that as turnover from the so-called State Property”?
The state government in its wisdom has also thought it wise to dispose off the building owing to the fact that the capital of Nigeria has since been moved from Lagos to Abuja where a better and more Sophisticated Edo House has been erected for diplomatic purposes. What Edo people should be concerned about is whether the proceeds from the sales will be deployed to productive channels to uplift the economy of the state and not to be swayed by the opinions of some retrogressive politicians who are still in shock over their unbelievable defeat at the polls. The Comrade Governor has proven to be an accountable office holder which is the reason why there are visible developments on ground, unlike the dark and unproductive years of the PDP in the state. I suggest we rally round the present administration in the state because of its commitment and determination in tackling the numerous challenges that abound.
God bless Edo State.
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