How the gods of Benin Kingdom stood for Oshiomhole

Benin Kingdom stood for Oshiomhole
SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City
Jonathan’s visit to Edo: How the gods of Benin Kingdom stood for Oshiomhole
AS campaigns for the July 14, 2012 governorship election hots up in Edo state, the top hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by President Goodluck Jonathan, stormed Benin City last Saturday, July 30, 2012, to drum up support for its governorship candidate in the state, Gen. Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere.
National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, National Woman leader, Kema Chikwe, Chief Tony Anenih, Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, Senator Rowland Owie,Prof.Osarhiemen Osunbor, governors of Kogi, Delta, Bayelsa and Cross River were all in attendance.
Prior to the arrival of President Jonathan, there were insinuations that he may shun the state rally due to his relationship with Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole stuck out his neck defending the economic policies of President Jonathan, particularly during the fuel subsidy removal debate. It was learnt however that Chief Anenih mounted serious pressure on the President to show up for the rally in order to save him from the embarrassment and the debacle that it may cause  their governorship campaign in the state.
However, the President arrived the Benin Airport at about 11:45am, proceeded to the palace of the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, with other members in his entourage including the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, Chief Tony Anenih, governorship candidate of the PDP, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere, State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih and others.

Oba Erediauwa, Adams Oshiomhole and President Jonathan

This was the opportunity the state leadership of the PDP has been craving for, at least to tell the President that their candidate enjoys the support of the palace like Governor Adams Oshiomhole has been enjoying. However, the palace visit turned out disastrous particularly for the PDP and its candidate Airhiavbere, when a message came that the revered monarch would not be able to see them after the President had waited for about ten minutes, due to what the emissary described as circumstances beyond his control.
However, a second message came from His Majesty, that President Jonathan should see him in his inner chambers while the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe attended to other members of the PDP delegation.
The President met with the Oba in his inner chambers as instructed and they had a private discussion for about five minutes before the President joined others waiting anxiously at the palace ground.
The situation was a big blow to the PDP particularly when its governorship candidate is a Bini man from the South senatorial district and was expected to enjoy the support of the General Overseer of the great Benin Kingdom.
The PDP leaders and journalists at the palace were visibly shocked because the Oba’s failure to see the PDP leadership and its governorship candidate has sent a signal to the Binis on the mindset of the Oba, ahead the forthcoming election which is less than two weeks.
It will be recalled that the Oba had not hidden his support for Oshiomhole’s second term bid after he on several occasions appreciated his developmental strides in the past three and half years of his administration.
However, while Mr President met with the Oba in private, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, said prayers to the PDP delegation.
In his prayers,Iyase said, “our son, the President came on a courtesy visit and after his visit, he should have a safe journey home”, without any mention of the PDP candidate. However, few hours after the drama at the palace, the PDP leadership came up with a statement, insisting that the monarch did not snub them. While giving an insight as to why the Oba may have snubbed the PDP leaders and their candidate, a top Bini Chief told Saturday Vanguard that “the oracle does not speak twice and you know the oracle has spoken.
“The day Oshiomhole came to the palace, the gods accepted him and he received their blessings and you remember that the Esogban of Benin warned that any one who wants to doubt the oracle should wait for the consequences”. However, the rally which was televised live, proceeded at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with the state Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih firing the first salvo. Orbih narrated that “in the past two weeks, we have been traveling around the three senatorial districts of Edo state.
The people are tired and disenchanted with fake promises. The people are tired of  the embarrassing non implementation of the minimum wage as agreed by the organized labour by the government of Edo state, the embarrassing non-conduct of local government election in Edo state.
They are hypocrites, let them preach what they say. Our people are tired of being orphans in the South South geo political zone and come July 14, we are ready to vote PDP back to power. We thank the President for coming. He has exhibited that he is a true party man.”
The national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who described the rally as a sea of heads, called on Edo state not to be left out in PDP train in the South South as PDP is providing a new agenda in transformation. Tukur presented the PDP governorship candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbare to the rally.
He was also handed over the flag of PDP as the gubernatorial candidate. In his address, while commenting on the earlier rumour that the President may not show up for the rally, Chief Anenih said: “I want to thank God for today, today has put paid to the ugly rumour that has been circulating.
“The Vice-President came here few weeks ago, the rumour was that the President refused to come that was why he sent the Vice-President. But today the President is here live. Our presence here is to demonstrate to the people of Edo state that the PDP is ready and committed to winning the election coming up on the 14 of July 2012. We are fully prepared. Mr President, you remember what PDP government has done for Edo state, it was PDP when I was Minister of Works that did the Benin by-pass. Before then, those going for Christmas to the East or to the North will spend Christmas between here and Ore. I also want to say that it was the PDP government that constructed the dualization of the Benin-Onitsha road, Benin-Warri road.
“It was during my time that we constructed the Federal Secretariat here and right now, the Esan North Water supply Scheme will be commissioned before the end of this year. Your presence here has raised our hope. We want to put in place a government that will be responsive to the yearnings of the people; medical care delivery; a government that will build roads; a government that will abide by the law.
Mr President, your presence here has raised our hope. You have energized us. We need a free and fair election. We want to make sure that on Election Day, all the candidates are given the equal opportunity to vote and go home”.
National Woman Leader of the party , Mrs Kema Chikwe and Governor of Cross River State Liyel Imoke, urged the people of the state to vote for the PDP. On his part, Gen.Airhiavbere told the crowd that he has a three point agenda which he disclosed as security, health care and education. According to him, “when you put me there, the first thing we have to address is security.
“There will be peace in Edo state come July 14.We will declare emergency on security, when you empower our youths, there will be peace. Our women will be empowered and we will ensure free medical care for the elderly people”. Addressing the crowd, President Jonathan assured of the determination of his administration to conduct a free and fair election in the state and promised to ensure tight security during the election. His words: “Let me thank the people of Edo state that my self and the Vice-President Namadi Sambo came here on a campaign and we promised you a lot of things.
You voted for us massively and we are delivering. Let me assure you my good brothers and sisters from Edo state that we will continue to keep faith with our electoral promises.
We have used the first year to plan, to strategize and we are moving on. And when you talk about delivering, it was in Edo state that I first launched my campaign of one man one vote. Before the election, there was a programme held in this state and I sent a speech through the former Governor of Bayelsa state who represented me. And it was the very first time I said that we must change the way we do election in this country. So this time around no stuffing of ballot paper. No thuggery, no thuggery, no thuggery. It must be one man one vote.
I came here to promise the people of Edo state that they should keep faith with that promise, Edo state is going to be one state that will show that example. And I have been hearing so much stories in Edo state. Let me assure you that even this morning before I came, I called the Inspector General of Police, are you ready for Edo state, he said yes. I called the Chief of Defense Staff are you ready for Edo state he said yes.
I guarantee hundred per cent security for your election and there will be no manipulation, election results will be entered at the various units and no body will change figures. PDP is the dominant party, as long as you mobilize and vote PDP will win” he declared