CONTRARY to the views expressed by one Mr.  Erasmus Ikhide, in an article titled : “The return of the old order”, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the chairman of the Economic Team of the Edo State Government is one of the few governorship aspirants in Edo State who understands the basics of national configuration as it relates to constitutionally settled matters. Godwin Obaseki has a thorough knowledge of state-craft to enable him cope with the challenges of good governance in a democratic society. This writer does not want to join issues with Mr. Ikhide on the history of the Benin people. However, it should be noted that Mr. Obaseki is an illustrious Benin man with thorough understanding of the history of his people. He possesses a dynamic exposition on the Benin historical facts.

Mr. Ikhide asserted that Edo electorate are waiting patiently for him to come clean on how, when and where  the capitalist system he was born into’. Everybody knows that Nigeria is a capitalist society. Capitalism in this part of the world started even before colonialism. Wikipedia defines capitalism as an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit. Therefore, Mr. Obaseki’s assertion that he was born into a capitalist system is perfectly true. Moreover, Mr. Ikhide displayed inadequate understanding of Obaseki’s economic and national development theory. What Mr. Obaseki expressed is that the governor has laid effective foundation for the execution of transactions, policies and projects that will be built upon by subsequent administration under whatever circumstances or conditions. Mr. Obaseki, over the years, has asserted that Edo people should be certain that schools, hospitals and roads built presently would last for a long time. He intends to continue with the laudable achievements of the governor if he is nominated and elected. Mr. Obaseki, who is the head of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Economic Team, is aware that engineers, doctors and nurses have been employed by the Oshiomhole administration.

This is the point at which Edo people have arrived at the zenith of proper management of resources. This is one of the few times in living memory that would-be successor to the governor’s seat is totally committed to the government in which he serves in his quest to continue with sustainable development in the state. Mr. Obaseki’s electricity agenda is the best the writer has seen from a governorship candidate. Since then, he has set out the details in his manifesto. He understands the vital role electricity plays in the industrialisation process. There is no doubt that he will use his fund raising acumen to generate funds to support what the comrade governor has done.

Afrinvest has been ranked as a major Investment Research firm which is at the forefront of playing instrumental roles in the introduction of new financing products such as Eurobonds and Global Depository Receipts to Nigerian Companies. He is presently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the firm which won the Best Asset Management Firm in Nigeria (2014) Award by the Wealth & Finance International Magazine Finance Awards.

This is not the first time that Mr. Ikhide has unfairly condemned the bulwark of the economic team in Edo State. Writing inopinionnigeria.com on the 16th of January 2016 under the title “Edo 2016: Clowns Now In Search Of Crown”, Mr. Ikhide  stated that “Seven plus years ago, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole became the governor of Edo State as a result of the degenerate and decadent state of affairs. His dynamic personality, the clarity of his mind, the catholicity of his ideas and his remarkable talents as an organiser and former union leader infused a new life and determination into the polity and the people’s hope to dream anew.”

Later in the write-up, he asserted, “Now, a great deal of the electorate are in an irritable mood on the governor’s moves to truncate the ‘One man one vote’ mantra with his rumoured endorsement of Mr. Godwin Obaseki. The belief is that the less well-known Obaseki did not entertain governorship notion until Oshiomhole drafted him into the race, thereby trusting his candidacy down of the APC party leadership and Edo people. There is the need for the governor to clear his own name.” Mr. Obaseki is well-known within and outside Edo State. He does not seek cheap publicity and relevance. He is in the governorship race because it is his constitutional right and he is willing to serve the people of Edo State. Mr. Ikhide should commend the comrade governor for involving Mr. Obaseki in the governance of Edo State. If Mr. Ikhide ever had confidence in the governor, this is the time he needs to use his talents to promote the course of democracy and development in Edo State.

The old order is dead and buried. Oshiomhole is a personification of the new order in Edo State. Whoever he trusts enough to earn his endorsement is a product of the new order.

Mr. Ikhide will be serving the interest of the old and discredited order if he continues with unprovoked attacks against Mr. Obaseki.

The remnants of the old order are waiting to snatch victory from the progressives and whatever Mr. Ikhide uses to condemn Mr. Obaseki today is what the old order will eventually use to campaign against him and other aspirants tomorrow. Those who have interest in continuity and sustenance of the new order must desist from condemning the same order. Mr. Obaseki is tested and trusted. His invaluable experience endeared him to the comrade governor. To the satisfaction of the governor and the people of the state, he has fulfilled his mandate. Mr. Obaseki is and should be seen to be a continuity of the new and progressive order.

The old order which was fought and decimated with the coming of Oshiomhole has remained dead and buried in its grave. The certainties of political emancipation, its heroic possibilities and dynamic optimism for a new order are being re-energised for the future. The Edo voters are being told not to look back to the old order but to continue with the new order that has been established in Edo State.

Mr.   Sunday Edeko, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.