By Ike Willie-Nwobu
The two states, Edo and Ondo share a rich history that interweaves in many ways. Both are oil-producing states who count some of the most illustrious Nigerians among their citizens. These include globally renowned professionals in different fields, technocrats, politicians and athletes. For all their famous ambassadors, both states have been turned into fierce battlegrounds in Nigeria’s recent political history.
Recently, Edo State witnessed the swearing-in of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who won the governorship election of 21st September 2024. He replaced Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who was governor for eight years.
For the good people of Ondo State, the sunshine state, the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was reelected on November 16, 2024. In 2023, as Rotimi Akeredolu, then governor of Ondo State, lay dying, the contention was that a cabal content to exploit his failing health was preventing him from handing over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The irrepressible hands of time and fate finally forced their hands even before his death in December 2023. The crisis generated by the episode rocked the state to no end.
Edo State too has known its fair share of trouble over the years. The shocking despoliation of the Lucky Igbinedion years gave way to the faltering promise of the Adams Oshiomole years, which finally fizzled out during the Godwin Obaseki years.
The state has been the site of some bitter bickering by politicians with many things that are by political gladiators in their unprintable language in the name of politics.
It has been 25 years since the military was forced out of power in Nigeria, and sent back to the barracks. In these 25 years, Nigeria’s democracy has shown resilience and rootedness. However, frustration has mounted that a country which held such great promise at independence in 1960 has not made appreciable progress.
Bad leadership has been blamed for this sour state of things. A lot of the blame for Nigeria’s stagnation has been placed at the feet of the federal government, with the state governments largely escaping scrutiny.
However, evidence and experience has shown that Nigeria’s woes often begin from the state and move in a centripetal pattern to the centre. For these, state governors are to blame.
With many state governors acting like tin-pot dictators within their states and arbitrarily determining what lives or dies, development has faltered in their states with disastrous consequences. With many of them turning state resources to their pocket money and converting state agencies to rewards for their cronies, holistic development remains a pipe dream.
While it is in the nature of losers to be sore, cry wolf, and bite into sour grapes, elections in Nigeria remain far from satisfactory. Too much money still goes into purchasing nomination forms, party tickets, bribing party chieftains, vote buying and buying electoral officers and judges. Many times, the money sunk into such extraordinarily illicit enterprises are proceeds of illegal mining, terrorism, oil theft or the mindless plunder of public funds.
The chaos that convulsed the elections in Edo and Ondo states showed that the electoral system is yet to recover from the nightmare of the 2023 general elections.
Democracy is a journey rather than a destination. But 25 years is enough time for citizens who desire lasting democracy to adjust to the sacrifices it requires.
A major sacrifice is in keeping individuals of questionable character out of public office. To achieve this, their fraudulent largesse must be rejected in the many deceptive forms it comes.
• Willie-Nwobu writes from [email protected]