AS the campaigns for the Edo State Governorship Election billed for September 21, 2024 (next week Saturday) approach their climax, it is time to nudge the registered voters there. History apart, Edo State is not called “The Heartbeat of the Nation” just for fun.

This is the most famous “junction state” in Nigeria. It connects the East with the West and the creeks with the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), the rest of the North and beyond. It is the only state where the three major ethnocultural influences – Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba; and two main religions, Christianity and Islam – are found. Edo is Nigeria’s most indigenously diversified state. If we have a good governor there as we once did in the person of the late Brigadier Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia as the Military Governor of the once famous Bendel State, the heart of the nation will beat with renewed vigour.

Realistically, there are three main candidates: Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC; and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, LP. I will not be voting in the election, but I can offer my two penny on each of these candidates as food for thought for those who will vote. The choice really belongs to the voter, but remember, whoever you choose, you could live under him for eight years.

The APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, just like his PDP counterpart, Ighodalo, is from the Edo Central Senatorial District. Unlike a state like Benue, where only one ethnic group: the Tiv, has monopolised power since it was created in 1976, the political elite in Edo State appears to have settled for power rotation and sharing. In the past, the majority Edo South had refused to let go.

Okpebholo, who has a track record of philanthropic activities, shot into the limelight when he was elected into the House of Representatives in 2003 on the platform of the PDP. Those were the days when Chief Tony Anenih, alias “Mr Fixer” of the PDP reigned as the “godfather” of Edo politics. Anenih, however, lost everything when former Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Adams Oshiomhole, contested the governorship election of 2007 on Bola Tinubu’s Action Congress, AC (later APC) platform. He lost to Professor Oserheimen Osunbor of the PDP, but Tinubu leveraged his influence and Oshiomhole was sworn in as Governor in November 2008.

Oshiomhole started boasting that he had defeated the godfather of Edo politics (Anenih). Today, Oshiomhole, a senator, is easily the most influential politician in Edo State, more so as his party is the current occupant of Aso Rock. Since completing his eight-year tenure, Oshiomhole has been struggling to embed himself as the new political godfather of Edo State. He initially succeeded in producing the outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki, as his replacement, but Obaseki later pulled out and joined the PDP for his second term.

Okpebholo is Oshiomhole’s second attempt to stamp himself as the “Tinubu” of Edo State. This is something the average Edo voter does not want to hear. “Edo is not Lagos” is a sloganised rejection of Oshiomhole’s strenuous efforts to become Edo’s Jagaban. Oshiomhole has dominated Okpebholo’s campaign as if he (Oshiomhole) is the candidate. He has alienated a lot of decent people with his string of trashy talks. Samplers: “Widow, go and die” (November 28, 2013); “In fact, once you join APC, all your sins are forgiven” (January 15, 2019). He recently said of Obaseki and his wife: “They are childless” (September 1, 2024).

A leader who has demonstrated zero ethics with the way he talks and dances on campaign podiums rather than project dignity, responsibility and leadership can only impact negatively on the candidate he is promoting. Okpebholo himself did not exactly cover himself with the fragrance of roses when he recently gaffed on a live video: “We are going to provide you with insecurity” (Sunday, September 8, 2024), to the consternation of Oshiomhole and others on his soapbox.

Olumide Akpata is a typical new breed trying to leverage the Obidient Movement which is strong in Edo State. The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has a “Gen Z” reflex, but it is left to be seen if he has the financial muscle and strategic supports to grease this base to victory on Election Day and beyond.

While Okpebholo is being trolleyed around by Oshiomhole, Akpata and Ighodalo strike the posture of true independents. Yes, Ighodalo is the choice of Governor Obaseki, but even Obaseki knows that the former is a strong man who will stand on his own weight from Day One. Ighodalo is a top quality pick. He posts a solid track record of boardroom successes as an economist and corporate lawyer of 39-year pedigree.

Obaseki and Ighodalo can make a legitimate case for continuity. Obaseki met the internal revenue of Edo State at N24 billion in 2016 and has almost tripled it to over N65 billion. He was the first Governor to voluntarily pay N70,000 as minimum wage, and the only one so far in the federation. Of the big three, Asue Ighodalo is the only candidate who has shown his capacity to grow wealth as a former Sterling Bank Chairman and investment lawyer.

My advice for Edo voters is to beware of career politicians, especially those being hawked by ravenous and desperate wannabe godfathers. What Governors Alex Otti and even Peter Mbah are doing in Abia and Enugu states respectively show what can happen when independent-minded and seasoned business leaders take charge of a state.

Edolites should avoid another Rivers State scenario in their state. President Bola Tinubu recently boasted he would “give” Edo to the APC “as the Commander-in-Chief”.

People of the Red Lion State, the challenge is yours!