Having mobilized resources to facilitate several infrastructure projects in a state that was before his advent termed forsaken, Governor Adams Oshiomhole should have been considered invisible in next year’s gubernatorial elections. The former ruling party under the guide of its aging leadership is, however, reinventing itself for a strike at the Comrade Governor’s weak point.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

The forthcoming congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State could enthrone a new and younger generation of leaders for the party in the State. The generational shift would move party grandees who have until now been the face of the party in the state from the visibility that they have until now enjoyed arguably to the party’s disadvantage.

The congresses which will hold from the 8th to 24th September, 2011 follows the new unity and renewal of life in the former ruling party.

The party had in the past one month embarked on reconciliation and the exercise according to sources is yielding fruits following the decision of several party members to abandon earlier plans of decamping.

According to the congress guidelines, incumbents who have served at the ward, local Government and state Executive levels for eight years would be ineligible to contest during the forthcoming congresses. In a way to open up the party, party leaders are now urging members unhappy with officials at any level to vote them out.

It would be recalled that some executive members had recently been flayed for either losing their booths during the recent elections or withholding funds meant for the elections. Some members of the party, who are at war with these categories of leaders, had called for their sack from their positions.

The former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, had recently given hint of the intention to infuse the party leadership with fresh blood, perhaps for the purpose of engaging the equally vibrant youthful leadership of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

At the last stakeholders meeting of the party in Benin City last month, Anenih who is universally addressed by friends and foes as the leader had emphasized the need to allow younger members of the party, with energy and enthusiasm to handle the affairs of the party.

“In my view, I will wish people of my age to give chance to the younger ones to take over the leadership of the party,” Anenih said during the stakeholders meeting. Anenih was to further emphasise the need for the party to elect competent people into positions rather than focusing on zoning. His call for members of his generation to retire from party positions was remarkably welcomed by the majority of stakeholders present who described the meeting as one of the best they have had with the national leader in the past few years.

Information available to Vanguard indicates that the state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who is from Edo North Senatorial district will be returned unopposed while Barr. Paschal Ugbome, may bag the position of the state organizing secretary. So far, no candidate is challenging Orbih, whom Vanguard learnt majority of the members are pleased with given his performance so far. Orbih brought back life to the PDP in the state after the Court of Appeal sacked the Prof. Oserehienmen Osunbor led government in the state.

However, the party it seems would not be going the whole length in its acclaimed bid to open up the party. Vanguard has learnt that positions in the Central senatorial district would be conceded to Chief Anenih who is expected to pick the leaders.

As at press time the inclinations of the Samuel Ogbemudia led faction of the party in Edo South remained unknown. The group has in the recent past tackled the Anenih/Orbih led mainstream of the party and in several instances supported the ACN against the PDP in the political arena.

Given that Edo South is the largest senatorial district, Vanguard learnt that the party leadership has resolved to adhere strictly to the rules of the party in electing a new executive for the area with a view to positioning the party on proper footing before the challenge against Oshiomhole next year. The party it was learnt is determined to avoid what happened in the past when members waged war against the party following controversial congresses.

According to the PDP Director of Publicity, Ekharedia Ihimekpen, “it is after the congresses that we will unveil our plans for the 2012 governorship election. We will unveil the new PDP to the people of the state. And this new PDP will smoke Oshiomhole and his ACN out of Government House. We are also aware that they are plotting but it is going to be the political fight of the century which will be tagged the scramble for the soul of Edo State. You are going to see the return of the prodigals and they will show Oshiomhole the exit way”.

On the zoning of the 2012 gubernatorial ticket, the party spokesman said:

“Though the National leader, Chief Anenih and the state chairman of the party, Chief Orbih, have said that there is no zoning in order to get the best candidate. But from the present situation, you could see that the Ministerial slot was taken to the Central and two Ambassadorial positions will be taken to North and South. And you know the Chairman of the party is from the North. So it is politically self explanatory that the governorship will come from the South”.

So far two aspirants are strongly in the race for Osadebey Avenue, as the seat of government in Edo State is known. They are former Commander Corps, Army Finance and Accounts, Maj-Gen. Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (rtd) and Barr. Ken Imasuagbon an educationist, who failed in his gubernatorial bid in 2007 in the ACN before embracing the PDP. Former presidential aide Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and the former Minister of State for Works, Dr Chris Ogienwonyi had also indicated interest in the race, but it was learnt that Ihonvbere may have opted out following disclosures that the party leaders were inclined towards zoning the office to Edo South.

However, the entry of Gen. Airhiavbere into the race is having a stabilizing effort on the party in the state. It was learnt that he has successfully spread his tentacles to both the ACN and PDP members in the state. Vanguard learnt that the retired General who is from a royal home in the Edo South district has been able to stop several aggrieved members of the PDP from defecting to the ACN.

Airhiavbere is furthering his speculated political ambition through the Corporative Assistance Community Outreach, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO.

A party chieftain speaking of the effect Airhiavbere has had on the party since his retirement said:
“His style of politics is so unique that a lot of people have come to love him. He does not really believe in the PDP or the ACN but Edo people. He decided to distance himself from the forthcoming congresses because he does not want to be seen as imposing or sponsoring candidates. His military discipline is still there. He has already become a rallying point for all of us. So it will be difficult to get a candidate that will stop him from emerging because his efforts in so short a time in reviving the party have been excellent.”

One of Chief Anenih’s leverages over the party has been his willingness to finance the party in the state an instrument with which he has been able to wield control.

However, given Airhiavbere’s deep pockets and his capacity to finance his own campaign it is suggested that as predicted by the leader himself that the old generation led by him would indeed be going on retirement.