THE ongoing reconciliation exercise of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, came as huge relief to many of us, particularly those of us who believe that just one person has been saddled with governance in our state.

I say so because the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, is not actually in power in the state because they are yet to have the structure. Governor Adams Oshiomhole is the one incharge of the state and that is not funny to many indigenes of the state.

Yes, there are some developmental projects in the state but the amount at which the projects are being executed and details of the contracts are yet to be made known to the people of the state despite the persistent efforts being made by the Governor to exhibit his prudence in the administration of the state.

However, I want to commend all those leaders of the PDP in Edo State who made this present reconciliation effort possible. I say this because Edo State is one of the complex states in the country and it needs a vibrant opposition for it to move forward. Though Governor Oshiomhole has done his best, I strongly believe that his best is not enough for the people of the state. Initially, I thought the problems bedeviling the PDP in Edo State was irreconcilable but I noticed that since the former Director, Army Finance Corps and lecturer at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere, retired from the military to join politics. Before he took the membership of the PDP in Oredo last June, there were several threats from leaders and members of the PDP in the three senatorial districts to dump the party for the ACN.

But even before he joined the PDP, it was learnt that this man held secret talks with the leadership of the party both in Edo State and Abuja, with a view to ensuring that peace returns to the party in the state. It was not surprising that after he joined the PDP, the tensed situation in the party abated.

And it was not surprising the first civilian Deputy Governor of the state, Rev. Peter Obadan, had in a recent interview with Vanguard, identified Gen.Airhiavbere as the only aspirant of the PDP for the 2012 gubernatorial election.

However, the retired General has not made his intension known to the people of Edo State since he decided to join the PDP. But because of his presence in the on-going peace process in the state PDP, most of the aggrieved members who have held discussions with the leadership of the ACN and were on the move to the ACN, decided to retrace their steps.

I am not close to this General, but I have observed him from afar and I have noticed that he is quite different from some of the military men who later joined politics. He relates to people as if he has been a civilian and frankly speaking, it was not difficult for me to know why the on- going peace efforts in the PDP is succeeding.

The General has spent his personal resources to ensure that the peace effort succeeds. We are happy today not because of PDP, but because we need a vibrant opposition in the state. We need people who will be able to reform and make the PDP a vibrant opposition so that the ruling ACN will not become dictatorial to the people.

I am saying this because several miscreants today in the state parading themselves as members of one task force or the other, have been terrorizing our people. Our people are being molested and intimidated in the market places over one form of levy or the other. Today, there is no Minority Leader in the Edo State House of Assembly because the ACN-dominated House had refused to recognise the contribution of the minorities in any organ of government.

We are all aware that even in the National Assembly and some states where the PDP enjoy majority members in the House, they created room for the minority parties. We are also aware that in the state Executive Council, only the views of the Governor are adhered to.

As a matter of fact, many Commissioners have turned to puppets in the state. Consequently, it is obvious that the ACN in the state cannot check the excesses of its executive and that of the legislature. So, the people of Edo State need a vibrant opposition so as to give us the desired dividends of democracy.

I want to commend Gen Airhiavbere for his efforts but I want to ask, what does he want? He has made so much impact in the politics of Edo State in so short a time and people have been asking what is this General up to. However, I want to say that whatever he wants, as long as it has to do with the delivering of dividends of democracy to our people, we will support him.

He is an accomplished General, a diplomat and Chartered Accountant; he is eminently qualified to serve the state and the country in a higher capacity. He is one Edo son who has been tested and trusted. I want to say kudos to the PDP for bouncing back, at least for the good people of Edo State.

Mr PIUS EDOBOR a public affairs analyst, wrote from the Imo State University.