When Edo political opponents sheath swords for Clara
By Simon Ebegbulem
THE death and the subsequently burial of the wife of the Edo State Governor, Mrs Clara Oshiomhole, earlier this month brought together people from different political backgrounds, including acclaimed political opponents of the chief mourner, Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Governor Oshiomhole had been at political war with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, particularly after the former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih at a public function some time last year said that the Governor had achieved nothing in his first year in office.
He remarkably said that Oshiomhole’s only achievement was the planting of flowers at Ring Road. That was when the battle line was drawn. After that incident, the state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, embarked on an unrelenting tirade against the Governor. And as expected, Oshiomhole never disappointed in replying their criticisms. He countered that the PDP failed the people of the state in its 10 years reign in the state and therefore lacked any moral ground to criticize his government, which according to him, had brought back life in the state.
However, all the political gymnastics ceased temporarily after the shocking death of the wife of the Governor, Clara. Majority of his aides were surprised to see his political opponents paying condolence visits to the Governor at Government House.
It was learnt that some government officials who handled the protocol were initially scared to inform the Governor that some of the PDP members were visiting when they called on a condolence visit. They were shocked when the Governor told them that everybody who came for condolence should be allowed irrespective of political affiliations.
Consequently, the state chairman of the PDP, Chief Orbih led a powerful delegation, made up of the entire state Exco of the party, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Zakawanu Garuba and nine other PDP members. The Governor received the delegation with joy, saying that “apart from the fact that you are my brother, I know you (Dan Orbih) are also very close to Clara, my wife. I am sure that a lot of people will be surprised to see you people around but I am not surprised because of our relationship. So I am glad that you people came to sympathize with us in this moment of grief”.
He went on to narrate how the incident happened and used the opportunity to invite them for the burial ceremony. On his part, Orbih expressed sadness over the death of Clara whom he disclosed, was too good for anybody who met her.
And after the visit, Vanguard spoke to Orbih to find out how he felt about the sad incident and he narrated: “She was like a mother to all those who have associated with the family. And a sister to those who were close to Oshiomhole. A friend to all those who had anything to do with Adams.
She took Adams friends like Adams. She was caring and accommodating. A very peaceful woman. We met very many years ago while Adams was a labour union activist. I used to travel to Kaduna to attend Adams’ birthday or any social event and she will welcome everybody. She will not be tired of asking you whether you have eaten even when you have eaten. She had time for children.
She used to travel all the way from Kaduna to see her son in Loyola Jesuit College in Abuja on visiting days. Because I also have a child in the school, you will virtually plead with her to leave so that she will not go back to Kaduna at night. That was the kind of love she has for her children and for everybody.
“We were always looking forward to Christmas days when both families will spend time together with my Dad whom she took as her Dad too. Above all, she was a devoted Christian, very prayerful and she was a Catholic, she was always at the church services every Sunday.
Anytime you were home you will not know her movement unless on Sundays because you will see her during the Sunday service. She will be missed not just by her husband and the children but by all those who has the opportunity of interacting with her. She was simple, down to earth with great humane disposition. Her greatest strength was her ability to show concern to other peoples problems. It is sad to be honest to you”.
After the PDP’s delegation visit, Chief Anenih; former Deputy Governor and now Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadohme; former Deputy Governor and now Jonathan/Sambo campaign coordinator in Edo State, Mr Mathew Iduoriyekenwe; Prof Julius Ihonvbere, and most PDP leaders in the state paid their condolence to the Governor.
As it were, they forgot their political differences to condone with the Governor. The sad incident calmed the heightened political tension in the state. Now, the people are wondering what the next political situation in the state would be due to the seeming rapour between Oshiomhole and the PDP leaders.
In an interview with Vanguard few weeks before the death of Mrs Clara, former Deputy Governor of the state, Rev. Peter Obadan, had said “we use to be one in this state before and it is unfortunate that people are using politics to abuse and fight each other. For Instance, even as a PDP member, I will tell you that Oshiomhole is working in the state and we should acknowledge that. That is why I was not happy each time I read Orbih criticizing the Governor unnecessarily. As a people we must learn to appreciate good things whether we are in the same party or not because someday we will all find ourselves back to our homes as brothers”.
Indeed, it was learnt that Chief Anenih assisted immensely when the people of Ewohimi insisted that Clara should be buried in her ancestral home according to tradition. Anenih is from the same Central district where Clara hailed. The tradition of the Esans forbids their daughters to be buried in their husband’s village when they pass on. The same altercation occurred when Stella Obasanjo died. It was said that Chief Anenih saved the situation after he held marathon meetings with his Esan traditional rulers.
And in Oshiomhole’s case, the ‘Leader’ jettisoned his political differences with Oshiomhole and waded in and that was how Clara was finally buried in Iyanomho, Oshiomhole’s village. But will Clara’s death reconcile Oshiomhole with the PDP leaders in the state? Only time will tell because the 2011 general elections are at the corner and the Governor is expected to work for his party irrespective of the goodwill exhibited to him by his political opponents during the wife’s burial.
As it seems, he may not want to start any fresh war with the PDP leaders due to what happened recently but he may also not hesitate to fire back if the PDP resumed their political attack.
This was displayed last Monday, when the Governor laid the foundation for the building of a state of the art hospital at the Central Hospital Benin City, when he reacted to a statement credited to the Minister of State for Works, Dr Chris Ogienwonyi, who declared that the Federal Government had terminated the on-going dualization of the Benin City side of the Benin-Lagos Road, embarked upon by the state government.
Oshiomhole who reacted at the first assignment after the death of his wife, asserted that “there are issues that has to do with public welfare that we must not politicize. That even if we must politicize them we must have in the back of our mind that the essence of politics is the welfare of the citizens. I read Ogienwonyi saying that they have terminated the contract we awarded so as to decongest the traffic on that road and he spoke with such arrogance as if Edo State Government is subordinate to the Federal Ministry of Works.
How can the Federal Government terminate a contract it never awarded in a democracy? Not even the courtesy, if they thought anything was wrong, to invite me as a Governor to ask me why we awarded the contract. Neither verbal nor oral communication. Like a general they just went to announce that they have terminated the contract.
I just want to re-assure the good people of Edo State that even before I became Governor, I know I have a small frame and I am a quiet person, but I can become a lion when you look at my small frame and want to oppress me. I have made up my mind long ago that I will never be oppressed again on this planet. I will fight every oppressor. So let nobody purport to use Federal Might to oppress me as the Governor of this state.
He continued: “I want to say publicly to the Minister that the Federal Government does not have any land in Edo State. Under the constitution, the land is vested on the Governor and if I don’t give them permission they cannot construct road anywhere in Edo State. I don’t need the permission of anybody, under the Land Use Act to use any land in Edo State. I want to invite the Minister to read the constitution, appreciate his limit and stop harassing me just because he has Federal might.
I want to repeat that, that contract is on. Those two lanes will be constructed and they will help to improve the social well being of our people. All I expect the Minister of state to do, is to ensure that all the Federal roads in Benin City are properly maintained.
It is a shame that this state has produced Ministers of Works, yet our roads have remained as an embarrassment not only to us but to the Federal Government. He has the obligation to assure us that, that road along Ugbowo that is bad will be maintained rather than making futile attempt to revoke the contract that is beyond his competence.”
The import of this reaction from the Governor shows that the prevailing peace in the state may be like that of a pregnant woman. And any little attack from both sides may ignite a fresh warfare that may not end until the 2012 governorship election.
