By John Mayaki

When a child is born, the joy of the family is in every measure complete. You see parents doing everything possible to nurture the child to maturity and making sure it’s survival and success. This is what we have seen in full display recently when leaders and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rallied round their own – Governor Monday Okpebholo.

We saw how these leaders, led by the party chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, consistently showed up and still willing to show up at the venue of the governorship election petition tribunal in Abuja, even after the sitting was moved from Benin city, Edo state. Their presence speaks volumes and tells of loyalty, commitment, and belief in a project that must be nursed to maturity and success after its birth.

But, there is a contrary here – the whining Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, appear to be stranded, and abandoned by their own. We have seen the opposite – his party men, rather than standing by him, decided to distanced themselves with a scorn that is so evident to ignore.

Imagine – one would have thought that despite the precarious state of the PDP’s case, Ighodalo himself, his collation agent Osaigbovo Iyoha, or even their Campaign Director- General, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen would have stepped out to defend their suffering case but unfortunately, none of them dared to endure the witness box.

Besides, not even their party chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi and, most importantly, their godfather, Godwin Obaseki, were available- they were simply nowhere to be found. To worsen the case of this “abandoned child”, his much-hyped “100 witnesses” were mere ghosts – they scorned him to derision too.

This whole thing bears a striking resemblance to the biblical story of the disputed child brought before King Solomon – the woman who had no emotional attachment to the child because she had never endured the pain of childbirth and was willing to see the baby split in two. This is the unfortunate picture of Ighodalo and the PDP: a fractured umbrella, and a divided house, where loyalty is scarce with leaders who enjoy self-preservation.

Conversely, Senator Okpebholo stands as a man who is embraced by his own. His allies, driven by genuine concern and commitment, have remained steadfast, defending their mandate with determination and sacrifice. We all can see that day after day, they rally around their governor at the tribunal, showing unity, strength, and believe in a shared cause.

And so, it is this overwhelming show of support that has left the PDP rattled and you all see them grumbling. They have ridiculed themselves and have been reduced to constant complainants especially with the sight of Deputy Governor Denis Idahosa, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, Rt. Hon. Patrick Aisowieren, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Major General Cecil Esekhaigbe, among several prominent APC figures storming the tribunal in solidarity with their own – this has in no small measure brought the isolation of Ighodalo to the fore.

To worsen Ighodalo’s woes, APC leaders such as the National Women Leader of the party, Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile, Senator Matthew Uroghide, Col. David Imuse, Ernest Afolabi Umakhike, Prince Odi Okojie, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, Osarobo Idahosa, and Omosede Igbinedion showed up in court and cause further complaints from supporters of Ighodalo.

Also in attendance of course, were the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Hon. Chief Billy Osawaru, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Saturday Uwuilekwue among several others.

And so, we all can see how Senator Okpebholo is surrounded by an army of loyalists, Ighodalo on the other side, stands alone – he is abandoned, he is deserted, and he is politically, an orphan – the newborn political orphan.

Like Seven Up – th difference is clear – Okpebholo is a leader with a family that fights for him; the other, Ighodalo, an orphan whose so-called family has left him to his fate.