Recently at a kindred meeting in Afagbedo, Olele, Iyuku-Uzairue, Edo State, the aspiration of one of the governorship  contenders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Obaseki, crept into the conversation. The conversation, which was made more serious by questions by members of the kindred residing outside Edo  as to the experience of Obaseki as a politician motivated this writer to the point of doing this piece. The professional politician belongs to the school of thought which holds the view that politics is a dirty game. He does not necessarily need  formal training in any field to achieve this status. He relies on his recognition within the party hierarchy, and  flows therefrom for survival. His instrument of trade include but not limited to gossips, propaganda, thuggery, election rigging and inordinate scramble  for patronage. To this professional politician, welfare of the citizenry’ infrastructural development, human capacity building and empowerment; service delivery to the people, general good governance are at the bottom of his agenda.

Must the status quo remain? Lord Denning, a world renown legal luminary of blessed memory, said,”If we fail to do what has not been done before, we won’t get anywhere” Let it be said towards the end of the first tenure of Obaseki as governor, that the people of  Edo blazed the trail by electing this expert in financial  matters and were able to steer the change mantra towards productivity, accountability and development. Beyond political marketing which involves selling the aspirant and his manifesto to party leaders and various interest groups before the primary and shoring up support towards winning the opponent at the polls  thereafter, the job of a governor is not politics in the practical sense of the word. This task of governance is essentially the efficient and effective utilisation of scarce resources. It is the minimisation of losses and the maximisation of profits which is the overriding goal of an organisation. The job of a  governor is the job of someone of the pedigree of Obaseki who has brought a verifiable proofs of steering several corporate organisations towards profitability and industrial harmony. (Please visit www.godwinobaseki.org). Flowing from this premise, it is tenable to come away with the conclusion that this  technocrat will help Edo manage her lean resources judiciously and optimally as governor.

Commenting on the suitability of the aspirant during an interaction with this writer, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, an Etsako  leader said, “Godwin Obaseki is a perfect man for the job and we should call on all well meaning leaders, women, youths to support him to be our next governor. We should consider ourselves lucky and be grateful to Governor Adams Oshiomhole for creating an enabling environment that is not heated up by the those who sharing the money always, I mean an environment that encouraged Obaseki to want to serve and continue from where  Oshiomhole will stop”.

So as Edo decides this 2016, we should eschew thuggery, violence and support Obaseki as our next governor.

• Balarabe Oshiafi is resident in Iyuku-Uzairue, Edo State.