WHEN Adams Aliu Oshiomhole burst on to the political arena of Edo State in 2007 a number of people expressed fear that quite a few odds were stacked up against him.

Yes, he had just retired then as the ferocious fighting lion and President of the Nigeria Labor Congress, NLC, after a hugely successful albeit fiery tenure. It was also true that he had huge name recognition and was immensely popular throughout the country. Besides, he had innumerable victories from fights on behalf of workers and the masses tucked away under his belt. So why was there trepidation?

For one thing, for years the man organised several successful marches on the streets of Nigeria fighting the System. He could not have done that without making a few powerful enemies because during the period he stomped hard on a number of toes and rubbed quite some noses in the dust. So the view was held in some quarters that the entrenched vested “interests” in the system were going to tear him down and make mince meat of him! Many people also thought that he was new in politics and did not quite know the ropes. Besides, some felt trade unionism may not necessarily be quite the same thing as politics especially within the Nigerian context. Moreover, the party that was the main opponent was a formidable one because not only was it the party that controlled the federal government and the outgoing government in the state but it was also a master of the ‘art’ of rigging.

The election was conducted. Oshiomhole won resoundingly and convincingly both in the ballot box and in court. He was sworn in as Governor of Edo State on November 12, 2008, after an unsolicited eighteen-month ‘moratorium’ on his mandate. The opponents, still sulking and licking their wounds in defeat, said “Let’s wait and see. The man will not perform!” This was understandably so especially because they were only used to a certain pattern before then. So again some thought he did not have a chance to succeed as governor because labor activism is a different ball game from governance.

But this writer, on both counts, believed in Oshiomhole even before the first whistle ever blew because of what the writer sees as the character of the man. There is an innate overwhelming zeal in the man to achieve. There is this overpowering never-put-me-down dogged spirit in him to stand up and not be oppressed and more importantly to stand up for the oppressed which succinctly epitomizes the saying that it is not the size of the man in the fight but the size of the fight in the man that matters.

Indeed, during his NLC days one used to tell everyone who cared to listen that we virtually had two presidents in Nigeria: The ‘elected’ President and the People’s president. And between the two it was crystal clear who easily commanded more respect and popularity among the generality of Nigerians! Thank God one believed. Behold, three years down the road in office as Governor of Edo State Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole is now a phenomenon.

The word phenomenon describes an occurrence, a fact, an observable fact, an experience, a trend. Indeed, it means a remarkable or an unusual person, thing or appearance; a prodigy. All these will serve for the purpose of this piece.

The positive effects of Oshiomhole the phenomenon completely transverse the entire social- political-economic fabric of Edo State and every aspect of life of all Edolites and residents of the State. But this piece shall only focus on just three areas: Election and the electoral process; ‘godfatherism’; and governance.

Right from the onset of his campaign in Edo State Oshiomhole coined the slogan ‘One Man One Vote’ with which he is now synonymous. One Man One Vote, as a slogan, has created a mindset in the people that has completely revolutionised election, the electoral process and the political landscape not only in Edo State but throughout Nigeria. Indeed, everybody including his opponents – even if it is just to play to the gallery – now chant ‘one man one vote’.

The philosophy of one man one vote has changed the way most political parties now select their candidates for various elective offices. The nomination process is gradually taking a different shape. Political parties generally now try to stay away from imposing candidates on their members. And out there in the field during general election it is now an attitude of ‘shine your eye’ by all voters. Everyone is alert. People vote and sacrifice their time to wait and watch carefully what happens to their votes. They even travel some distance from the voting centres with the electoral officials and the ballot boxes to collating centres to ensure that nothing untoward happens in-between. At least all these were quite evident during the last general elections in April.

One man one vote has introduced more sanity to election and the electoral process. So have we eliminated rigging in election yet? No, not quite. Some vestiges of rigging still exist here and there in the system because it was quite entrenched before. But we have come a long way. It’s no more business as usual. Thanks to Oshiomhole! The awareness is now there. All we need to do now as a people is to sustain the momentum.

It can be said without any fear of contradiction that prior to 2007, one man had craftily succeeded in hijacking the entire system and had a stranglehold on politics in Edo State. He completely controlled the political machinery in the state. He dispensed with political matters whichever way he wished. He singlehandedly decided issues regardless of the ward, local government or senatorial district involved. He made many but destroyed more politically. All political actors feared him. He simply held sway. He was the godfather. And what was most disconcerting about it all was that all this practically happened more or less irrespective of political party configuration in the state. In other words, since the man’s actions negatively impacted the entire political arena, political actors and the people of the state were affected one way or the other no matter their political party.

For a state that is so politically vibrant with scores of educated intelligent sagacious politicians how did we ever get to that pathetic state? The major reason was that for the most part of that period the man they called the godfather was at the top echelon at the national level of the ruling party that controlled the centre and the state. And at that time, there was hardly any viable opposition in the state and even in the country for that matter.

But all that changed with the entrance of the Comrade into politics in Edo State. The moment Oshiomhole conceptualised one man one vote he sounded the death knell of the godfather. Because one man one vote and godfatherism are completely incompatible. Suddenly the suffocating stranglehold by one man on the politics of the state was shattered. The state sprang loose from political bondage. People began to dare to stand up for their rights again. Realisation started to seep in that followers do really matter and leaders need to accept that fact. Throughout the land the populace began to chant a new chorus: Let the people lead, another Oshiomhole slogan by the way.

In the area of governance the Comrade Governor has raised the bar in all its ramifications. Through creative governance and resourcefulness he has taken the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state to an all time high. From its previous level of N250 million per month to a hefty N1.3 billion as at August 2011. And still pushing. Understandably this requires sacrifice by all and sundry. But people are generally willing because they can see what is being done with their money.

Public primary schools have been renovated all over the state. Secondary schools have received ‘extreme makeover’. The Central Hospital in Benin is being completely rebuilt from the ground up and will be entirely re-equipped and modernized after construction. Work is being done in scores of other hospitals in the land. The amount of massive road rehabilitation, reconstruction, construction and drainage works going on virtually makes the entire state one huge construction site. Street lights have been installed along major roads. One hundred units of air-conditioned buses were introduced in one fell swoop for commuters. The city center Oba Ovonramen Square (formerly King’s Square), in the state capital, was given a complete face lift with the introduction of water fountains. It is now a place of beauty to behold as well as a tourist attraction and a relaxation center. Markets have been re-built. The popular Agbado Market along Akpakpava Road is a typical example.

So from schools to roads to hospitals to markets, name it, the governor has succeeded in engineering relative even development throughout the three senatorial districts of the state. He has simply set a very high standard in governance. He has created a new benchmark. This is now the standard to beat. In other words, henceforth whoever wishes to occupy the Office of Governor of Edo State must be able to surpass this or at least match it. What that means to the people of Edo State, most importantly, is that henceforth it should be difficult for any charlatan without the capacity to deliver to present himself for governorship. Or any elective office for that matter.

This November Adams Oshiomhole celebrates three years in office as Governor of Edo State. What does this mean? Beyond the popping champagne bottles, clinking wine glasses, sumptuous food and merriment – which is all well deserved – to me the third year anniversary symbolizes the ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE REVOLUTION and its seriousness. That it is not just a fluke. It is not just a flash in the pan. It is God ordained. In three years he has succeeded largely in turning the state around. He has given the state the ‘escape velocity’ to become a reference point. And he is not done yet. One believes the best is yet to come.

There are some detractors who may wish to split hair and get into the ‘chicken-or-the-egg-which-came-first’ argument. They may propose that Adams Oshiomhole was just being smart and tried to do some things to hoodwink the populace so that he will get re-elected. That is trite argument. But even if that were so then that is good enough anyway because things are getting done and development has come.

But I think not. The man’s character speaks volumes. It is innate in his character to perform, to achieve. He has translated governance simply to this: Providing the greatest quantity of good to the highest number of people in the shortest amount of time possible while laying the framework for increasing and sustaining these benefits for future generations.

What he has done in governance is simply profound, almost indescribable. Let’s look at it this way to grasp a better understanding. Because he has had to rectify the accumulated massive mess from before he has actually done the work of the past. Ordinarily that would have been enough to utterly consume the average person. But thank God he was able to display sufficient dexterity and astuteness in handling the affairs of state to avoid getting caught in the roller coaster that could have easily become. But besides doing the work of the past, more importantly, he is also doing the work of the present to take care of the future. The man is on a mission. He works like there is no tomorrow.

So we find that the true position is actually the other way around from the insipid argument of detractors above. Namely, without particularly thinking of doing things to bamboozle people in order to be re-elected the man simply proved himself, achieved and performed awesomely. And because the evidences of this huge excellent performance is there for all to see the people will vote massively for the man and re-elect him. That, folks, is the effect of the Adams Aliu Oshiomhole phenomenon.

PRINCE EFOSA AKENZUA a commentator on national  issues, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.