ALL is set for Edo State guber primary of the All Progressive Congress, APC, scheduled to hold on Saturday, June 18, 2016. Ordinarily, it is an internal selection process of its flag bearer. But the rather unsportsmanlike attitude of some contestants and the primitive urge to win at all cost seems to have kicked the ball beyond the court of the party. Desperation has become the lot of those who see the race as their last chance having failed to clinch the diadem in previous attempts.

Yet, in spite of the apparent gang up by most of the frontline aspirants, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, a finance and investment expert whose economic management capacity is widely celebrated remains the man to beat in the coming primaries. And there is no doubt about this. But what is now in doubt, is whether the APC as a party has the capacity to manage the after effect of the tsunami after the primaries.

From the last count, not less than eleven aspirants collected nomination and expression of interest forms from the National Secretariat, Abuja, which was sold to aspirants at N5.5 Million. Even before one ballot is cast in the election, the  primary is largely seen as a referendum on the popularity of the Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole within the party.

The Comrade Governor is said to have rejected overtures from many aspirants with deep pockets who sought his endorsement in favour of Mr.Obaseki, the Chairman of his Economic and Strategy Team in the last seven and half years . His choice of Godwin Obaseki is seen by his close associates as a patriotic and selfless gesture in view of the independent mindedness of the man in question.

It is for all intent and purposes motivated by the need to sustain and improve on the current tempo of development in the State. According to sources close to the Governor, if he needed a yes-man or his side-kick to hand over power, Obaseki would certainly not have come under consideration. The Governor believes that in spite of the economic challenges, Obaseki has the talents and contacts to navigate through and keep Edo State afloat. He is reputed to have stood his ground against the Governor on several issues.

Obaseki possesses some of the rarest qualities that a Nigerian governor needs to weather the turbulent political and economic storms which the average gubernatorial leader often has to contend with in government. They include organisational discipline and adherence to processes and procedures in the administrative machinery of government. One needs to have as a matter of necessity a strict sense of discipline, honesty of purpose and determination to drive a result oriented system.  He has exhibited these qualities in the private sector and some of the most successful boardroom giants in Nigeria including Aliko Dangote, Michael Otedola, Hakeem Bello-Osagie can attest to these facts.

No wonder, the man prides himself as a money bag! Most of the aspirants are political adventurers who lack depth and organisation skills to manage men and resources, particularly now that the  country is facing a recession.

Their inadequacies and intellectual vacuity played out when they resorted to blackmail and primordial issues to hit at Obaseki rather than proffer solutions to the challenges of the time. How does feasting on the inexactitude of the events of more than one hundred years ago solve the problem of unemployment, the challenge of poor productive base of the economy and the issue of insecurity in Edo State? The people saw through the humbuggery of the sponsors of those reconstructed historical accounts with diabolical spin and discountenanced them as irrelevant to the 21st century Edo State and their quest for prosperity.

Secondly, his campaign manifestoes has superseded all others combined. He talks of the state economy, how the state can overcome the surge of unemployment, uplift education, shelter, health and infrastructural development in the face of the gloomy global economy.  He has proved that Edo without Oil will blossom if we embrace agriculture and industrialisation.

The difference between what he says and what other aspirants say is clear; while others generalise their promises in the manner we are used to, he explains to his audiences, where we are and why we are where we are and how it can be corrected going forward. His presentations are persuasive to his  listeners, they leave him better informed and confident that it is possible to improve the quality of education, to provide jobs and to live a more prosperous life!

Edo people are in a hurry for development and will no longer be moved by mere political rhetoric. They have not forgotten the decadence and rot that was their lot  about a decade ago. They are excited with the present achievements of the Comrade Governor and would like the present situation to be improved upon by successive government.

It is natural for them to hope to see a better future and Obaseki has been speaking like one who embodies the vision of their future! A combination of his cumulative experience, intellectual depth and well researched policies and programmes stand him  out!

While we hope that in the days ahead aspirants will improve the content of their campaigns, and also reduce the name calling and who is supporting who, but focus on what they intend to do for the electorate and how to raise funds if elected. Only when this is done can we say we are near a decent electoral contest. Else,given the  situation presently, no one comes close to Obaseki in clinching the party’s ticket.

Mr.  Yankubu Eratokhia, a political analyst, wrote from Benin, Edo State.