AGBAZILO and Okpebho are two components of Esan People in Edo Central Senatorial Zone of Edo State. The late Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Ali and Professor Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor belong to the Okpebho extraction, while the great statesman, the late Anthony Enahoro and the living legend of Nigerian politics, Chief Anthony Anenih, are of the Agbazilo extraction.

The fractured relationship between these people came to fore recently when the last primaries held recently. We now see the primaries  as a  covertly designed avenue for an Agbazilo son to emerge in 2016 making  the  Binis to lick their wounds after they must have lost the July 14 guber polls in the state.

But unknown to the promoters of the Agbazilo agenda, the coup so hatched is doomed to boomerang as both the Agbazilos and Okpebhos may never reconcile their political differences until a credible leader emerges.

February 25, 2012 guber primaries held in Benin signaled the end of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the “Heartbeat of the Nation” due to this grand design to put an Agbazilo son in Government House, not another professor from the Okpebho extraction.

Delegates smiled home after allegedly being well ‘rewarded’ in naira generously  doled out by appreciative party chieftains. Some delegates perceived to be loyalists of the erstwhile Governor of the state, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor were said to have been given extra money at the gate of Ogbemudia Stadium to make sure they do not vote for Osunbor.

This carrot and stick approach worked its desired magic as the message was clear: Do not vote for Osunbor or you will be severely punished.

Delegates from the three senatorial districts were given just one instruction from a national leader which was: ‘do not vote for Osunbor’. Former factional Chairman of the party during the reign of Osunbor, Edward Sadoh, was screened out of the list of delegates because of his loyalty to Osunbor.

This was perceived as the handiwork of Mr. Fix-It who has a record that dates back to 1983 when he supported the then Governor of the old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia to beat his kinsman, Professor Ambrose Ali and eventually fought with same Ogbemudia. In 1992, after helping John Odigie Oyegun to emerge Governor, the leader tore agreement again and for the short period of that administration he fought Oyegun.

In 1999, the man worked for Lucky Igbinedion and ensured his victory at the polls, but what happened next? As usual, the leader fought Lucky to a standstill and efforts to de-register him from PDP  led to sharp division in the party till date.

Lucky could not face the onerous task of governance as the leader’s overbearing presence forced him to make unpardonable mistakes. He had good intentions but was frustrated by the forces of our great leader.

This led to the formation of the Grace Group whose motto, ‘No man is god’, later transformed into the Action Congress of Nigeria, A CN, the party in power in Edo State today.

General Charles Airhiavbere(rtd) should ponder over the fate of all the above governors with respect to what awaits him in the days ahead.

The General should remember that the leopard does not change its spot and you do not teach an  old dog new tricks; no pun intended.

The man has spent a fortune.   It is no longer a rumour in Edo that he adequately mobilised party leaders to ensure he was returned unopposed. Well, too bad because his chances are too slim to even win his ward come July 14, 2012.

Back to the Uromi warlord. In 2007 another of his kinsmen emerged in the person of Osunbor.

Barely three months in office, the fireworks started in a manner that if Osunbor had survived the attacks, maybe he would have paid the supreme price to remain in office.

Nothing was spared to chase the Senator from office, both politically and diabolically, just because he was not the anointed one.

Impeachment moves were made but they failed through the House. But then the court was finally used to remove him.

The last guber primary has further confirmed the pathological hatred that Mr Fix-It has for Osunbor as delegates were handsomely rewarded to humble him at Ogbe Stadium.

For Osunbor to have scored 22 votes was a miracle because the plan was to make sure he scored only a single vote, but some die-hard loyalists still went ahead to vote for him.

It is sad as Edo PDP rubbished the much orchestrated internal democracy in the party preached by President Goodluck Jonathan in Benin.

Mr Fix-It and his fellow cohorts carefully nailed the coffin of PDP in the state and buried it at Ogbe Stadium on February 25.

It is the end for Edo PDP in the Heart beat of the Nation that was once seen as the only party that could move mountains and relocate them to Uromi. The state woman leader, organising secretary and about eight members of the state executive have already decamped to AC N and more will follow

The eventual winner of the predetermined primary, Gen Airhiavbere should watch his back very well because his emergence is to ensure he loses and this will create room for a national leader’s anointed son from Agbazilo, part of Edo Central, to emerge governor in 2016. By then the Binis would lick their wounds as Mr. Fix-It would impose him without apologies.

Sadly, July 14, 2012 will mark the demise of PDP in Edo State. Perhaps after that the national leadership of  the party will see the need to rescue Edo State PDP from the death-grip of the leader.

Mr. OGBEBOR OSAZUWA, a public  affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.