GOD-FATHERISM IN EDO STATE AND BENIN LEADERS OF THOUGHT

Here is the full text of the Press Conference addressed by the Benin Leaders of Thought, BLT yesterday 5th January 2016 in Beni City.

GOD-FATHERISM IN EDO STATE

AND BENIN LEADERS OF THOUGHT

Ladies and Gentlemen, we invited you here today to tell Nigerians, through you, the position of the Benin Leaders of Thought vis-à-vis the rumours making the rounds that His Excellency the Governor of the State has endorsed a candidate for the gubernatorial election this year.

Before we comment further, we must say that we do not believe the rumour.

We are happy about the roads, the schools and the hospital the Oshiomhole’s government has built. BLT are happy that his government is able to pay workers salaries and carry out other developmental projects, despite the dwindling revenue from the federation account, while governments in some other states in the country could not do so.

The structural and infra-structural development programmes Oshiomhole’s government has achieved are visible. But the legacy Governor Oshiomhole has bequeathed to Edo people, which will endure for ever, is the raising of the people’s political awareness. The people now know they can ask those they have sent to run government how they have performed. Before Governor Oshiomhole came, those in government were regarded as masters; untourchable sacred cows. Now people know that they send them there to serve so they should be accountable to the people.

Governor Oshiomhole came and wiped out god-fatherism from our clime.

Before he came, the go-father decided, from his residence outside Benin, who represented Benin people in Federal positions. God-father pulled the strings; our people danced like puppets. When Oshiomhole arrived, the god-father disappeared. No longer will he decide who represents our people.

Never again!

Now some people are accusing BLT of collaborating with those who want to re-introduce god-fatherism to Edo politics. We say categorically here that the rumour is not true.

Before we reiterate BLT position on god-fatherism, let us quote what President Muhamadu Buhari once said: “Our change slogan is not a campaign gimmick but a promise that must be kept”.

The fear of the potential return of “God-fatherism”, a phenomenon which dominated the politics of Edo State before the entry of the Comrade Governor and to which he also devoted so much of observers of Edo politics in recent times. Edo People have generally acknowledged God-fatherism as one evil that needed to be addressed before the state could achieve the goal of good governance. As the Comrade Governor observed, as far back as 2009.

“What makes governance difficult is that some leaders are imposed on the people. That situation creates absence of support. And people will become cynical about you.” (See, Vanguard, Thursday November 12, 2009).

It is against the above background that the members of the Benin Leaders of Thought (BLT) were taken aback by the rumour that a particular Governorship aspirant has been endorsed by the Governor as his anointed successor in this year’s gubernatorial race. BLT does not believe this rumour given the Comrade Governor’s position on the issue of God-fatherism.

Nevertheless, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, like other citizens, has the inalienable right to support any aspirant of his choice even though that right would be exercised in a manner that also respects the right of other people to freely choose who will govern them.

While not confirming the rumour, BLT’s position on this issue is as follows:

1. BLT believe that God-fatherism in Edo politics was detrimental to the social, economic and political development of the state. God-fatherism is not acceptable to BLT and the good people of Edo State. It should not be reintroduced under any guise.

2. The people of Edo State should be given free hands to determine their next governor. Popular participation bestows responsibility for governing one’s own conduct, develops ones character, self-reliance, intelligence and moral judgment. In a democracy there is no substitute for popular participation. Even if a benevolent despot could govern in the public interest, he would be rejected by the classic democrat. Man can only know the truth by discovering it himself.

Members of the Benin Leaders of Thought (BLT) believe that aspirants should be properly screened to ascertain if by their antecedents, they can further lift Edo State to the next level. We will continue to collaborate with the state government and other stakeholders to ensure that only gubernatorial aspirants will clean past records, who have made tremendous success in their chosen fields who can consolidate the achievements of our dear Comrade Governor and conceive innovative ideas for the betterment of our people are considered for the position of governor of the state after Governor Oshiomhole.

PRINCE EDUN AKENZUA TOSA U. OVONRAMWEN

Ogieobazuwa Secretary

Chairman