THE article by Sufuyan Ojeifo on “Edo Central polls: Between Oshiomhole and Hedonism” makes a very interesting reading because of the many allegations and innuendoes contained therein.

I have known Sufuyan for more than 12 years, he being a friend, colleague and indeed, a brother, coming from my part of Edo State, however, that is where it all ends. Sufuyan and I differ on professional ethics.

Sufuyan and I worked with a national media organisation, he based in Abuja, and I in Lagos.

From there, he relocated to another national newspaper. However, this is not all about the messenger, but his message.

It is gratifying to note that even Sufuyan grudgingly  acknowledged that Oshiomhole’s media machinery is working, even if he referred to it as propaganda, however, he tried, in vain, to defend the localised godfather of Esan politics, Chief Anthony Anenih.

I have a measure of respect for Chief Anenih as an Edo elder, but on this occasion, I only have pity for him because people like Sufuyan are merely exposing him to more ridicule.

Yes, Comrade Oshiomhole waged a battle against the godfather who held firmly to the jugular of the state, and he has consistently defeated him in all free and fair polls held in the state, starting with the re-run House of Assembly election in Akoko Edo 1, closely followed by Etsako Central and the court-ordered fresh election in Akoko Edo 11.

The last general elections was another opportunity for the faded godfather to prove to his hangers-on that he was indeed still in control of the political machinery in the state by delivering his candidates in all the senatorial districts of the state, but alas, the man was busy fighting for his political life and indeed his political relevance and he abandoned his disciples and his party’s candidates to their fate.

Governor Oshiomhole not only trounced the once-feared National leader of the PDP in Edo North, but also rubbished him in Edo State, as all his PDP candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly in both Edo North and Edo South lost to the Action Congress of Nigeria candidates. He was thus reduced from a national leader of the PDP to the Esan leader of a dying party.

What a shame. The handwriting was on the wall after the losses in the first three elections. A wise man, like we all assume the godfather to be, would not only have agreed that Oshiomhole is the master of the political game, but would also have retired from active politics after the embarrassing defeats he and his party suffered in the House of Assembly elections.

Sufuyan is an Edo man in diaspora, far removed from realities on ground at home, otherwise he would have known that a combination of unprintable factors, including sabotage contributed to the loss of the ACN in Edo Central. He would also have known that Oshiomhole’s battle against godfatherism is a fight to liberate the state and indeed her people from the vicious grasp of the cabal that kept the state prostrate for a long time.

Indeed, it is not only Oshiomhole that kicked against the godfather, the people of the state also did with their votes in the last election.

A lot has been said and written about the sack of some political appointees from Edo Central, but all political appointees were aware from the onset that losing their wards or constituencies meant their people did not want them, and to put the records straight, of the five Commissioners from Edo Central, only two: Anselm Ojezua, (Information)  and Lucas Okojie (Transport) were removed, leaving Didi Adodo (Water and Public Utilities), Calistus Ojeabu (Land, Housing and Survey) and John Inegbedion (Finance).

The Commissioners were effectively sacked by their people who voted against them.

Chief Anenih should rather see the handwriting on the wall and reflect on his dwindling fortunes in the nation’s political space now and take the wise decision to ‘step aside’ or resign from politics instead of employing hatchet writers to launder his faded image.

His ordeal reminds me of Winston Churchill who said “politics is more dangerous than war, for in war you are only killed once”, but in politics, you start losing relevance slowly as is the case with our former ‘national leader’ who has been effectively reduced to a District leader and if he does not resign now will be further reduced to a ward, then unit leader, before he becomes completely politically irrelevant.

As the last elections have proved, and just like the biblical, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin” Chief Anenih has been weighed on the political scale and found wanting.

Mr. SAMUEL EGUAIKHIDE ,  a varsity lecturer, wrote from Ekpoma, Edo State.