Standing For Nigeria, When I Had Nothing to Gain

How I engineered the removal of the sign: “Travelling to Nigeria and Haiti is Dangerous. Travelers, Beware,” posted at the boarding point at all the Airports in the United States of America in the late nineties. 

Introduction:

She is a Patent Attorney, a Caucasian and a dear friend. At that time she could confidently write the story of my life, my dreams as well as my aspirations. Through her Dad, she became close to this retired African American Professor who happened to know another African American Professor who is the Husband of a prominent African American Lady to be honored by the Nigerian Consulate General in New York City, New York. This Lady - the Special Guest of Honor - was one of the distinguished African American personalities at the Festival of Art and Culture, popularly known as FESTAC, held in Nigeria decades ago.

My friend knew of the event just when it was happening the next day. And she told her Dad's friend "this is an event Alex would have loved to attend." And she was told to call me. She did call later asking, if I would like to go to New York (describing the event), and I told her yes, provided I have my invitation letter before leaving for New York - I didn't want to expose myself to any form of humiliation at the gate in the hands of the Nigerian diplomatic staff over invitation card or the lack of it. She then contacted her Professor friend who in turn contacted his contact in New York. The following morning, my invitation card arrived via an overnight express mail. The retired Professor and I drove from Boston to New York City in my friend’s brand new car she provided for us to make the journey comfortable for me. 

An Encounter with Dr. Ozichi Alimole, the Minister Counselor in charge of Information at the Nigerian Consulate in New York City, New York.

At the party, I dressed up in a complete vintage Hausa chain-embroidered half-length kaftan made of white Guinea Brocade fabric, tailored in Nigeria. The Professor was also regally dressed in Yoruba three-piece Agbada, Buba, and Sokoto that I provided for him for the occasion.  Though the Professor and I were dressed up in Nigerian attire, we sat among the American guests on the left-hand side, facing the Podium. While the Nigerians guests and the staff of the Mission occupied the right-hand side, visible and beautifully dressed up in our rich traditional attire, too.

As we waited for the party to start, somehow, I was ambushed, completely sandwiched by some African American guests in the audience who were admiring me and my attire. A tall and elderly looking African American – a retired Deputy Police Commissioner - and his family members treated me as if I was some kind of an object of attraction. Not only did they admire me and my traditional dress – just two-piece kaftan - they were touching me and feeling my attire right there at the center of the reception hall. The retired DPC later gave me his business card and pleaded with me to supply him and his friends exactly what I was wearing, and at whatever cost.

Right there, he gave me the measurement of his waist, neck, leg, and sleeve, and I scribbled them down on the back of his business card – which I still have with me as I type this piece. Initially, I was a little bit embarrassed, but later I felt cool. After all, it was a cultural event; I am well-groomed in the art of Kingship, this time, I am very willing to project my country rich cultural heritage to the African American guests. After all, there are other Nigerians around and richly dressed up, too. These family just came over to me, without solicitation, while don't I enjoy the moment. And I did - standing tall majestically as a true Mandigo, relishing every bit of the moment. 

After about an hour of waiting, the party started, and a gentleman by the name, Dr. Ozichi J. Alimole, Minister-Counselor, Consul for Commerce & Information, was introduced. And he went on to introduce the Head of the Mission. He was visibly in charge of the event. During the pre-dinner cocktail, and while people were making friends and discussing business, I came face to face with Dr. Alimole. We greeted and shook hands. I actually initiated the contact, knowing that I have a question to ask him. Without much ado, I took caution and social ethics to the wind, and I asked him if he has traveled of late out of New York City through LaGuardia or JFK Airport. And he replied yes.

(At the time of the event in 1999 I was working part-time on weekends, at Logan Airport in Boston Massachusetts, while studying for my MCSE Certification. Then, at the departure point inside of the airport, there was a sign – boldly written and conspicuously placed – stating: Travelling to Nigerian and Haiti is Dangerous. On inquiry, I was told that they have the same sign at all the Airports in the US. As one who unrepentantly wears the Nigerian toga all over me, the sign was disgusting and repellent).

So, meeting a top Nigerian diplomat and challenging him to action, I said to myself, is the best way to start the party. I asked my new friend if he has seen the sign I described above. He said yes. And what efforts have you made or contemplating to have it removed? I asked, staring at his face. The man did not say a word. To say that he was stunned beyond comprehension was an understatement. Nevertheless, he was unruffled; I must give it to him. He didn't offer me a further response. He simply excused me and moved on to chat with other guests. And I went back to my seat to relish my drink, satisfied that the journey is not wasted after all.  But Dr. Alimole was not done with me yet.

Few Minutes later, as soon as he completed his introductory speech, he pointed his hand at my direction, right there at the podium, signaling that I should come over. I looked back, thinking that he was talking to someone else. My Professor friend sitting beside me tapped me and said, Alex, he is pointing at you. I stood up and we walked towards each other. At that point, the MC invited the Head of the Mission to the podium for his speech.

As Dr. Alimole and I walk towards each other, I made up my mind to apologize to him for my hostile questioning. As he approached me, he brought out his wallet, removed his elegantly embroidered official business card and handed it over to me. Getting closer, he said, my friend, I don’t know who you are, but guys like you are the ones I want to be seeing in this place anytime we have events or social functions. As I tried to apologize, he cut me off, saying, you don't have to. I need Nigerians like you here. (By the way, I still have his business card and that of the Deputy Police Commissioner, with me).

I told him that being a student, and the fact that I live in Boston would make attendance financially and logistically problematic, if not impossible.  He was seemingly disappointed that I should turn down such an open, and of course, rare invitation. That was our last meeting. As I walk to my seat, my Professor friend was beaming with a smile. When I sat down, he tapped me on the back and said: "That was a smart move, young man; I can see why your girlfriend is so fond of you and insisted we send your invitation card overnight."

When the retired Professor told the Special Guest (name withheld) and her husband at their New York residence (where both of us spent the night) about the discussion I had with Dr. Alimole, they were very ecstatic. She said I can see you working at the consulate soon. I reminded them that it doesn't work that way; diplomatic appointments are most often handled at the home front, and most often, on whom you know.

Memo to Dr. Alimole and the "one-page memo is the best" as per advice that I received from Dr. Jegede of the Nigerian Law School in Lagos, Nigeria some years ago.

When I got back to Boston, I decided to collaborate with Dr. Alimole to remove that sign at the US Airports, by sending him a note. He treated me with respect, and I have to assist him to find solutions to the problem I identified. I drafted a three-page-memo, which I later edited to one page, following the advice I received from Professor Jegede, the former Secretary of the Nigerian Law School in Lagos when I was a student at the institution.

Then, at the Nigerian Law School in Lagos, faced with accommodation problems, I decided to do the impossible by petitioning Professor Jege on why he should give me a bed space. There were about 350 of us from Edo State at the time at the Law School that academic year. So, due to the acute shortage of accommodation, the Law School could only provide for Edo State Students about 19 beds, which we had to ballot for. I took part in the ballot and did not win. Then, news came about some vacancies at the old hostel at Igbosere. Eligibility at the Igbosere hostel was a little bit different. To be granted a bed space, you would have to draft a letter and had it stamped or signed or approved by an important family member - father, mother, uncle,  aunt or cousin - with a good or recognized standing or status in the society. I did not meet any of the above requirements. 

So, I decided to be my own Oga in the society - I spent a whole night drafting the letter, which I later condensed from six pages to three pages. The following morning, I matched to the office of the Secretary, Professor Jegede with the petition in my hand and handed it over to his Secretary. To my greatest surprise, he invited me over into his room and told me, congratulation. I have never seen anything like this in the history of this Law School. Your petition is approved. But next time, make it a one-page-memo, especially when you're in a situation where you have to convince a superior to do your bidding, he counseled me. 

So, remembering that counsel, I reduced my handwritten memo to Dr. Alimole to one page.  Leadership is about engagement. It is not hard to rule the World if you know what to do. In a chronological order, I itemized the actions he has to take to ensure the removal. Using the address in the business card which also corresponds with the address on my invitation card to the event, I mailed the letter directly to Dr. Alimole at the Consulate General of Nigerian by registered mail. 

In the US, it is generally taken as a profound truth that once a letter is properly addressed and stamped, it is taken as delivered. I did not hear from Dr. Alimole. The meeting at the Consulate was my first and last meeting with him.

However, in about a month of our meeting and the postage of the letter, the unexpected happened. The sign was gone from all the Airports in the United States of America. Since that chance encounter at the Nigerian House in New York with Dr. Alimole - about fifteen years ago - I have not seen him or spoken to him again.

Conclusion

Raw sense, common sense, intellectualism; it doesn't matter, as long as the system is made to work. I was not happy with the sign and I wanted it removed the first day I saw it. I am not the type that would resort to some phony assent to portray myself as non-Nigerian at the airport. As a Nigerian, and with due regards to wisdom and understanding of our rich culture and lifestyle at home, I felt we were unfairly labeled. Granted, we have some overzealous characters at the Customs and Immigration sections at our International Airport, it doesn't translate to a blanket blacklisting of the entire race as dangerous. And I made up my mind that the sign must go. 

The problem was, I wasn't in any position to initiate removal or in a position to counsel or pressure any Nigerian to execute the removal. Simply put, I was not in a position to act - I do not work in any government agency directly or remotely connected with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So, meeting Dr. Alimole and confronting him was the best I could do in the circumstance. I was not willing to keep quiet and dissipate the rare opportunity. Even, if it requires embarrassing a distinguished diplomat to accomplish my goal, it is a risk worth taking. I am glad he came back to me after his speech. I would not have written that letter if he had not taken the pain to approach me once again to appreciate my confrontation.

The bigger lesson here is that Nigeria has men and women with a big ego and big dreams. Yes, we have the men and the women innately blessed with the crafts and visions to reinvent Nigeria and position it to be self-supporting and where no President will take to globetrotting in search of handouts or ideas 

So, it is my fervent belief that until selfless, creative, intelligent and patriotic Nigerians are placed in positions calling for refined minds and informed judgment, and at the same time, given free hands to operate, our best as a country will continue to elude us, and the calls for disintegration, restructuring or true federalism will not know end. By the way, the solutions I suggested before the honorable counselor in my memo cost us nothing.

I initiated a process, which Dr. Alimole, in his official capacity, patriotically executed, without questioning my age, educational background, or experience in government or diplomacy. In the end, we restored the image and dignity of our beloved country of birth, even when no one was watching us. It is about engagement. And that, once again, is my definition of leadership - vision, creativity, and audacity. Where ever Dr. Alimole is today, I wish him the very best in life and in his career at the Foreign Office. 

Mr. Alex Aidaghese LL.M., MCSE.
January 10, 2013

Why Hilary Must Give the VP Slot to Tim Kaine

Mr. Kaine is a First Class gentleman, very articulate, Ivy League educated, impeccable public service records, Obama's staunch supporter, amiable, an intellectual and GOOD FAMILY MAN to boot. The truth is he doesn't spit fire and brimstone like Elizabeth Warren, but he is devastatingly blunt and knows how to hit below the belt when push comes to shove. I like him as a person, not just as a politician. He is someone you can unreservedly trust with your vote to help bring out the best in President Mrs. Hilary Clinton. So, as you can see, I have many reasons to pick him as Mrs. Clinton's Running-mate. In addition, Mrs. Clinton, as a woman, is a minority; therefore, she cannot objectively speaking, pick another woman who is invariably a minority in this context. In other words, being a woman, unfortunately, is a disqualification for the irrepressible Senator from Boston, Elizabeth Warren. In a similar vein, that is also an automatic disqualification for the all-around progressive, up and coming, vivacious, Ivy League educated Julian Castro who is Spanish - another minority group. Whether you like it or not, you must not dispense or undermine the influence and financial power of the so-called angry White men. They are in charge, whether you like to accept it or not. Wall St Influence aside, Hilary needs their support. So, I am giving it to Mr. Tim Kaine - a true Democrat, Progressive, God fearing and a quality debater from a swing state - as VP of choice to Mrs. Hilary Clinton for the 2016 US Presidential Election. 

Edo State 2016 Gubernatorial Race and the Marginalization of Esan Tribe: A Historical Travesty

By now, you must have known that the two most prominent figures, in fact, the anointed duo, in the gubernatorial race in Edo State are not of Esan extraction. They are Pastor Ize Iyamu of the PDP and Mr. Godwin Obaseki of APC. And they have formidable backings in the persons of Comrade Adam Oshiomhole and Mr. Lucky Igbinedion who, without any doubt, feel no scruples undermining the interests and concerns of those of us from Edo Central Senatorial Zone in the evolving gubernatorial saga. Truth is undermining our interests as these gentlemen are wont to do in the coming primaries is tantamount to courting anarchy in the electoral process. Populating the APC and PDP Gubernatorial primaries with "Non-Esan faces" is despicable, vile, and an affront to the collective intelligence of the honorable people of the Great Esan Tribal region. And we will not sleep until those who want to ride on their proximity to power, money, and influence to pervert the age-old mutual understanding that benefited candidates from Edo South and Edo North handsomely in the past take the course of reason and show support for candidates of Esan extraction unconditionally. That is not too much of a demand to make. Or we will take our protest to the polling units.

Disturbing Facts

Chief Lucky Igbinedion, a Benin native from Edo South was the Governor of Edo State for Eight years. His Deputy for those eight years was a gentleman of Afemai native from Edo North. For those eight years, Edo Central, consisting of Esan communities, was left in the cooler. At the moment, Comrade Adam Oshiomhole, an Afemai native from Edo North, has been holding forth at Osadebe Avenue for the past eight years, and his Deputy, Mr. Odubu, is a Benin native from Edo South. Again, Edo Central of the Esan tribes was left out of the power game. In the last eighteen years, an Esan native from Edo Central, in the person of Professor Osunbor, was the Governor of the State for about two years. So, for the past Sixteen years, the men and women of Esan land have been nothing, but mere spectators in the activities of Edo State. And we persevered, confident that our time will come in 2016.

A few months ago, Chief Lucky Igbinedion was alleged to have boasted that his goal is to anoint a Benin native as the next Governor of the State. In a similar vein, confronted with the accusation of scheming to impose Mr. Godwin Obaseki on his party, Comrade Adam Oshiomhole fired back, insisting he has every right to support any candidate of his choice at the primaries. Well said, Comrade. I want to counsel the two gentlemen that though Edo Central may lack the numerical strength to surmount Edo South and the Edo North at the poll, we have the right to embark on self-disfranchisement and the gravitas, the organizing skills, and the brain power to render the gubernatorial race a nullity. If a whole Senatorial Zone is forced by circumstances beyond its control to ostracize itself electorally, then, those who perpetuate the distortion in the electoral process that culminates in the disfranchisement must be ready to bear responsibility for the eventual impasse. No one should take our meekness for weakness.

That said, the question worth asking at this juncture is what exemplary traits or attributes did Mr. Obaseki and Pastor Ize Iyamu display in the course of their stewardship in Edo State to justify dispensing with Esan candidates as Mr. Igbinedion and Comrade Oshiomhole are hell-bent on doing momentarily? Or is the treatment of Esan a reflection of the paucity of credible and electable candidates of Esan extraction within the respective political circles of Mr. Igbinedion and Comrade Oshiomhole? We will address those questions later in the essay; meanwhile, take these.

Is Industrialization Stupid in Edo State?

Hitherto, the three major States’ owned employers of labor in Edo State, besides the State Civil Service, were Bendel Brewery, Ewu Flour Mill, and Okpella Cement Factory. Today, they are no more. Mr. Ize Iyamu was the Chief of Staff and later, Secretary to the State Government for the eight years that Mr. Lucky Igbinedion was the Governor of Edo State. In a similar vein, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has been the Head of the Economic Team under Governor Oshiomhole since his first term in office as Governor of Edo State. And for the purpose of record, it is under these two administrations that Ewu Flour Mills, Okpella Cement Factory, and Bendel Brewery, amongst other numerous state-owned businesses, went out of business.

Let it also be on record that Edo State boasts of some of the finest professionals available in any field of human endeavor, locally and internationally. Yet, the administrations under which the two gentlemen served at a prominent level were unable to develop a robust economic package capable of facilitating the recruitment of competent and qualified candidates to run our companies for profit.

If the Administrations that Chief Ize Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki plus Mr. Odubu, the present Deputy Governor, served as key voices for sixteen years cumulatively couldn’t develop market-friendly mechanisms with a view to revamping the three major companies in Edo State, and put Edo State citizens back to work, why must we trust them with a new mandate? That is the crux of the matter.

Analysis

Granted, Governor Oshiomhole and former Governor Lucky Igbinedion have every constitutional right to support and stand for any candidate they like at any given election, be that as it may, the reality on the ground today in the Governorship race in Edo State does not support candidates from any other tribes in the state other than those from Esan Tribe.

Besides, the two candidates, names recognition aside, seemingly lacked depth in serious questions of reinventing government and management re-engineering in light of the unpardonable stagnation scale of new ventures in Edo State.

The term Technocrat is nothing, but an abstraction; it becomes meaningful only to the extent that those so labeled manifest audacity, ingenuity, rare charisma, and pragmatic touch in the course of the execution of their mandates. These gentlemen are celebrated, not for the grace they displayed as public servants, but celebrated due to pervading work ethics in Nigerian civil service defined as a culture of low expectation. 

The comatose state of Ewu Flour Mill, Bendel Brewery, and Okpella Cement Factory and the fact that these two gentlemen occupied highly strategic positions in two of the last three administrations under which the listed State companies went out of business is a disqualification. It is worth restating that Mr. Ize Iyamu was the Chief of Staff and later Secretary to Government under Governor Lucky Igbinedion for the eight years Mr. Igbinedion was Governor of Edo State. In a similar vein, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has been the Head of the Economic Team under Governor Oshiomhole since his first term in office as Governor of Edo State.

Granted, the buck stops at the Governor’s desk; nevertheless, as Head of the Economic Team to Governor Oshiomhole for many years, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has some explaining to do on how the listed state companies went out of business.  In a similar vein, as Secretary and Chief of Staff to Governor Lucky Igbinedion for many years, Edo voters would want to know where Pastor Ize Iyamu was when the three state companies were plagued with mismanagement. Both gentlemen hold all the aces in the administration where they served and still serving - revenue generation, hiring, and investments, among others.

In addition, what innate visions or rare peculiarities did they exhibit during their stewardship in the government house to justify their vaulted status that Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Comrade Adam Oshiomhole considered lacking in Esan men and women?

Wherein lies the economist or the geniuses in Mr. Obaseki that he so diligently displayed in the present administration that, but for the orchestration of those geniuses, Edo State wouldn’t have surmounted its unindustrialized status? Assuming, of course, Edo State has succeeded in overcoming its industrialization deficits, which, in fact, it has not. In other words, Godwin Obaseki did not display any form of economic wizardry or pragmatic fervor to merit the vaulted fame.

As Head of the Economic Team, what hiring process did Mr. Obaseki initiate in the Oshiomhole administration to ensure that round pegs were placed in round holes towards reviving the three companies? Would Mr. Obaseki have hired a candidate like the author of this piece with no political affiliation?

Let it be on record that most of the ongoing erosion projects in the state are World Bank funded. Those that are not within that category are financed with funds from federal sources to federal agencies in the state. They are not projects funded by internally generated revenue. So, where are the products of Mr. Obaseki's mandates in this administration as Head of the Economic Team? Where is that ennobling policy framework bearing his stamp?  Or was it just about borrowing and spending and concocting some convoluted Property Tax Laws?

Barr Ize Iyamu was the Chief of Staff to Governor Igbinedion for eight years as Governor of Edo State. For those eight years, Benin City had a look of an abandoned City. In fact, the entire state was like a ghost town. And Ize Iyamu, a Pastor and a celebrated philanthropist was there for those eight inglorious and uneventful years as the eyes and ears of everything that Chief Lucky Igbinedion represents. In other words, Chief Ize Iyamu was part and parcel of the profligacy that characterized Governor Igbinedion’s eight years in office. Under that administration, the squandering of Edo State’s riches was unprecedented in the history of the creation of our beloved state.

Reality Check

Ask any of the two gentlemen to give you a breakdown of their policy packages or blueprint on strengthening revenue drive in Edo State in light of the dwindling revenue accruing from crude oil, and the ready answer: is industrialization. Well Said.

While Chief Dangote is building Cement factories all over the African world and at our own Okpella Kingdom, raking in millions of dollars in profit annually, the administrations that these two gentlemen served at the top-level couldn’t manage or run our own cement factory located at the same Okpella Kingdom.

What about Ewu Flour Mill? The market for flour is more robust now than it has ever been. The pounding of yam to Ema via the age-old traditional method (o’kor) is getting out of vogue. Today, Ema comes in the form of powder in sachets just like Amala. In addition, the consumption of Semo and Oat Meal is on the rise. Yet, the administration in which the two gentlemen served couldn’t think outside of the box and go about recruiting smart and independent-minded Edo men and women to breathe life into the management cadre of Ewu Flour Mills and turn it around for good.

Talk about Bendel Brewery! The Brewery business has never been that lucrative in Nigeria. When I was growing up, you could count the number of beers available in the Nigerian market – Harp, Gulder, Star Lager, Stout, and Crystal. Today, Beer comes in styles and shapes too numerous to count. And as always, the struggling Nigerian guy still relishes the age-old habit of drinking his sorrow away with equanimity. Yes, there is still a huge market for booze out there; sadly, not for our beloved Crystal. While Nigerian Brewery and Guinness are flooding the market with uncountable brands, our state-run Bendel Brewery couldn’t sustain the only brand it has.

There is a pattern to all these stories.

The setbacks that bedeviled the three mentioned companies in this essay are not market-related or the lack of it. It has everything to do with the hiring process, nepotism, and political patronage. Embezzlement of public funds is a collateral matter. It thrives because political leaders like those mentioned in this essay cannot overcome the culture of patronage, populating top management positions with opportunists, stooges, and candidates whose major goal hinges not on profit margin, but on how to get rich fast and pay homage to bosses and sponsors.

The two gentlemen are notable figures in the decision-making process within the administrations that couldn’t run state companies. And they are notable figures that didn’t see any reason to resign, assuming of course, the decisions of the two Governors in managing the three companies, were at odds with their economic philosophy and at the same time inconsistent with global and modern best practices.

This essay is not about me. Nevertheless, I want to state categorically that given the opportunity; I can revive any of the listed three companies within a year. In addition, there are capable nonpolitical Edolites at home and abroad I can vouch for who could have revived these companies within one year, transforming them into the best of their kind anywhere in the world. But the greediness and insecurity in all these over-hyped technocrats won’t allow them to take a step of faith out of their comfort zone and go about recruiting a stellar workforce to breathe life into the state-owned companies; boost revenue for the State Government and expand job opportunities for the jobless.

Vouching for Esan Men and Women

If the argument for the vaulted fame of Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Ize Iyamu in the gubernatorial race hinges on the inability of Governor Oshiomhole and Mr. Lucky Igbinedion to find credible, capable, and electable candidates of Esan extraction, to groom and sponsor to Governorship status after eight years of their respective stewardship in Edo State, then, to a considerable degree, it explains the nature of the individuals and personalities of Esan extraction that the two gentlemen surrounded themselves with, and were comfortable working with during their respective terms in office.

If on the other hand, the integrity of the Esan men and women that Comrade Adam Oshiomhole and Mr. Lucky Igbinedion surrounded themselves with over the years is not in question, then, once again, to a discerning mind, the apparent disconnect between the twosome and the interests and concerns of the Esan people in the emerging saga is a travesty of history and blatant betrayal of a people who showered them with love and support unconditionally over the years. 

Again, if the credibility of the Esan men and women known to Mr. Lucky Igbinedion and Comrade Oshiomhole is not an issue, but the ability of these Esan men and women to command support and win at the polls, then, once again, it tells on the quality or capacity of the individuals of Esan extraction that Comrade and Mr. Igbinedion had access to over the years. Be that as it may, the fact that Comrade couldn’t find gentlemen or women of Esan Extraction worthy of his while for Governorship support, he should have taken a step of faith and stepped outside of his comfort zone to start the search for men and women of Esan extraction that would comport with his benchmarks long ago. But he didn't. (Please reread this paragraph).

I can name four individuals of impeccable character and stellar academic credentials who have what it takes to stand before Kings and Queens and the Commons and do what is right for the people. They are Mr. Odia Ofeimun, presently running under Labor. The Next is Mr. Sonala Olumhense, a first-class public affairs analyst. The next is Mr. Austin Okolo, a devoted husband, a true Christian, and a first-class Economist, followed by Mr. Benjamin Omole, a selfless public administrator and the former Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Council.

Mr. Odia Ofeimun, a Political Science graduate of the University of Ibadan, and former Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors was at a time the Chairman of the Guardian Newspaper Editorial Board, and notably, the Simon Peter of Awoism - the first known Personal Secretary to the late sage, Papa Awo, the best President Nigeria never had. That Mr. Ofeimun is a true disciple of Papa Awo is not in doubt. His present manifesto under the Labor Party platform showcases his awesome grasp of the ills of our state and the required actions to overcome them. 

On his part, Mr. Olumhense is also a Political Science graduate of the Nigerian premier University, the University of Ibadan, with a Master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. Sonala was a founding member of the prestigious Guardian Newspaper and he was for many years the Editorial Page Editor before he left for the US following the crackdown on Press Freedom by the Military dictator, General Sani Abacha. He has been working at the UN for decades. Why he was not made the Chief of Staff to President Buhari still troubles me to this very moment. He is an enigma - a public policy Phenom.

Mr. Austin Okolo is a US-based financially successful Certified Public Accountant. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Benin and an MBA from the University of Lagos. He is also a Chartered Accountant in Nigeria. He worked at Lever Brothers for many years at the Managerial level before relocating to the US. He is a man of impeccable Character and a quintessential Community Organizer. His Accounting and management skills are second to none. And he is an exemplar of nobility.

Last but not the least, is Mr. Benjamin Omole, a British-trained Public Administrator with a Master's Degree in Public Management and a former Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Area before he was kicked out of office along with civilian Governors and fellow council members by the Abacha coup. Benjamin is a man of stellar work ethic, with unblemished public records - a very distinguished gentleman, the type who can hold his own high anywhere anytime. He remains an underexplored and underutilized national treasure like thousands of other Nigerian out there.

The Test of Comrade Oshiomhole’s Performance in Edo State

It takes enlightenment to know the enlightened. And given the enlightened man that Comrade Adam Oshiomhole is, feigning ignorance of the existence of these gentlemen and what they represent feeds into the narrative that he has for a long while been predisposed to superimposing a non-Esan candidate on the electorates in Edo State. If Comrade Oshiomhole was really keen on an Esan candidate he would have started the search long ago.

If on the other hand, the obsession with the Benin candidate is a result of the alleged monstrosity of the electoral strength of Edo South, one is inclined to wonder what has become of the APC brand. Comrade Oshiomhole’s popularity and his performance in Edo South in the past eight years are at stake. Or are we saying that the native Benins are so race-biased that they will vote against a non-Benin candidate at the poll, forgetting all that Governor Oshiomhole and APC administration did for Benin City and its environs in the past eight years? Or is Comrade Oshiomhole undermining and underestimating his relevance and popularity in Edo State. Or he is simply unwilling to stake them for an Esan candidate? These are questions that Mr. Governor should answer with dispatch.

Statistically and population-wise, Oredo Local Government Area, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, and Egor Local Government Area are highly cosmopolitan. In other words, the possibility of the PDP garnering 80% of the vote counts if they field a Benin candidate is very unlikely. On the other hand, voters of Orhiomhon Local Government Area will most likely vote against the APC candidate in light of the open animosity between Governor Oshiomhole and his Deputy, Mr. Odubu. In a similar vein, the Ovia council will rally around their own son, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion, and cast all their votes for a PDP candidate. But you cannot say the same for Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, and Egor Local Government Areas. An Esan candidate with strong APC/Oshiomhole backing can split the vote counts in these local governments by half against the PDP candidate.

Mathematically, if Edo North can rally around their worthy son, Mr. Oshiomhole, and give APC candidate 85% of their vote counts, and Edo Central, with four local government councils, voting in a similar pattern, the chances of APC fielding an Esan candidate wining a landslide victory is very real if they are able to split Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, and Egor 45/55 with PDP.

So, whether by personality factor or population consideration, it is not a doom day story for Esan candidates under the APC. But is Mr. Oshiomhole interested? From all indications, he is neither interested in mathematical projections nor willing to stake his performance and put his popularity to the test on behalf of an Esan candidate. Simply put, he feels no scruples undermining our interests and concerns. Indeed, Pastor Ize Iyamu and Mr. Godwin Obaseki have every right to run for any office in the land, but the truth is, they are perverting age-old amicable understanding that has sustained peaceful coexistence and benefited Edo South and Edo North handsomely over the years at the expense of Edo Central.  They want to take advantage of their proximity to power, influence, money, and name recognition to hijack what belongs to the people of Esan land. And we will not stay silent. This is our time. And fight we will fight, if need be, to secure our rights.

Mr. Alex Aidaaghese

Sugar Land, TX

June 10, 2016

Edo State 2016 Gubernatorial Race and the Marginalization of Esan Tribe: A Historical Travesty

By now, you must have known that the two most prominent figures, in fact, the anointed duo, in the gubernatorial race in Edo State are not of Esan extraction. They are Pastor Ize Iyamu of the PDP and Mr. Godwin Obaseki of APC. And they have formidable backings in the persons of Comrade Adam Oshiomhole and Mr. Lucky Igbinedion who, without any doubt, feel no scruples undermining the interests and concerns of those of us from Edo Central Senatorial Zone in the evolving gubernatorial saga. The truth is undermining our interests as these gentlemen are wont to do in the coming primaries is tantamount to courting anarchy in the electoral process. Populating the APC and PDP Gubernatorial primaries with "Non-Esan faces" is despicable, vile and an affront to the collective intelligence of the honorable people of the Great Esan Tribal region. And we will not sleep until those who want to ride on their proximity to power, money, and influence to pervert the age-old mutual understanding that benefited candidates from Edo South and Edo North handsomely in the past take the course of reason and show support for candidates of Esan extraction unconditionally. That is not too much of a demand to make. Or we will take our protest to the polling units.

Disturbing Facts

Chief Lucky Igbinedion, a Benin native from Edo South was the Governor of Edo State for eight years. His Deputy for those eight years was a gentleman of Afemai native from Edo North. For those eight years, Edo Central, consisting of Esan communities, was left in the cooler. At the moment, Comrade Adam Oshiomhole, an Afemai native from Edo North, has been holding forth at Osadebe Avenue for the past eight years, and his Deputy, Mr. Odubu, is a Benin native from Edo South. Again, Edo Central of the Esan tribes was left out of the power game. In the last eighteen years, an Esan native from Edo Central, in the person of Professor Osunbor, was the Governor of the State for about two years. So, for the past Sixteen years, the men and women of Esan land have been nothing, but mere spectators in the activities of Edo State. And we persevered, confident that our time will come in 2016.

A few months ago, Chief Lucky Igbinedion was alleged to have boasted that his goal is to anoint a Benin native as the next Governor of the State. In a similar vein, confronted with the accusation of scheming to impose Mr. Godwin Obaseki on his party, Comrade Adam Oshiomhole fired back, insisting he has every right to support any candidate of his choice at the primaries. Well said, Comrade. I want to counsel the two gentlemen that though Edo Central may lack the numerical strength to surmount Edo South and the Edo North at the poll, we have the right to embark on self-disfranchisement and the gravitas, the organizing skills, and the brainpower to render the gubernatorial race a nullity. If a whole Senatorial Zone is forced by circumstances beyond its control to ostracize itself electorally, then, those who perpetuate the distortion in the electoral process that culminates in the disfranchisement must be ready to bear responsibility for the eventual impasse. No one should take our meekness for weakness.

That said, the question worth asking at this juncture is what exemplary traits or attributes did Mr. Obaseki and Pastor Ize Iyamu display in the course of their stewardship in Edo State to justify dispensing with Esan candidates as Mr. Igbinedion and Comrade Oshiomhole are hell-bent on doing momentarily? Or is the treatment of Esan a reflection of the paucity of credible and electable candidates of Esan extraction within the respective political circles of Mr. Igbinedion and Comrade Oshiomhole? We will address those questions later in the essay; meanwhile, take these.

Is Industrialization Stupid in Edo State?

Hitherto, the three major States’ owned employers of labor in Edo State, besides the State Civil Service, were Bendel Brewery, Ewu Flour Mill, and Okpella Cement Factory. Today, they are no more. Mr. Ize Iyamu was the Chief of Staff and later, Secretary to the State Government for the eight years that Mr. Lucky Igbinedion was the Governor of Edo State. In a similar vein, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has been the Head of the Economic Team under Governor Oshiomhole since his first term in office as Governor of Edo State. And for the purpose of the record, it is under these two administrations that Ewu Flour Mills, Okpella Cement Factory and Bendel Brewery went out of business.

Let it also be on record that Edo State boasts of some of the finest professionals available in any field of human endeavor, locally and internationally. Yet, the administrations under which the two gentlemen served at a prominent level were unable to develop a robust economic package capable of facilitating the recruitment of competent and quality candidates to run our companies for profit.

If the Administrations that Chief Ize Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki plus Mr. Odubu, the present Deputy Governor, served as key voices for sixteen years cumulatively couldn’t develop a market-friendly mechanism with a view to revamping the three major companies in Edo State, and put Edo State citizens back to work, why must we trust them with a new mandate? That is the crux of the matter.

Analysis

Granted, Governor Oshiomhole and former Governor Lucky Igbinedion have every constitutional right to support and stand for any candidate they like at any given election, be that as it may, the reality on the ground today in the Governorship race in Edo State does not support candidates from any other tribes in the state other than those from Esan Tribe.

The term Technocrat is nothing, but an abstraction; it becomes meaningful only to the extent that those so labeled manifest audacity, ingenuity, rare charisma, and pragmatic touch in the course of the execution of their mandates. These gentlemen are celebrated, not for the grace they displayed as public servants, but celebrated due to pervading work ethics in Nigerian civil service defined as a culture of low expectation. 

The comatose state of Ewu Flour Mill, Bendel Brewery, Bendel Insurance, and Okpella Cement Factory and the fact that these two gentlemen occupied highly strategic positions in two of the last three administrations under which the listed State companies went out of business is a disqualification. It is worth restating that Mr. Ize Iyamu was the Chief of Staff and later Secretary to Government under Governor Lucky Igbinedion for the eight years Mr. Igbinedion was Governor in Edo State. In a similar vein, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has been the Head of the Economic Team under Governor Oshiomhole since his first term in office as Governor of Edo State.

Granted, the buck stops at the Governor’s desk; nevertheless, as Head of the Economic Team to Governor Oshiomhole for many years, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has some explaining to do on how the listed state companies went out of business.  In a similar vein, as Secretary and Chief of Staff to Governor Lucky Igbinedion for many years, Edo voters would want to know where Pastor Ize Iyamu was when the three state companies were plagued with mismanagement. Both gentlemen hold all the aces in the administration where they served and still serving - revenue generation, hiring, and investments, among others.

What is it exactly that Ize Iyamu did or brought to bear under Lucky Administration that another individual couldn’t have done better given the same opportunity?

As Head of the Economic Team, what hiring process did Mr. Obaseki initiate in the Oshiomhole administration to ensure that round pegs were placed in round holes towards reviving the three companies? Would Mr. Obaseki have hired a candidate like me with no political affiliation?

Let it be on record that most of the ongoing erosion projects in the state are World Bank funded. Those that are not within that category are financed with funds from federal sources to federal agencies in the state. They are not projects funded by internally generated revenue. So, where are the products of Mr. Obaseki mandates in this administration as Head of the Economic Team? Where is that ennobling policy framework bearing his stamp?  Or was it just about borrowing and spending and concocting some convoluted Property Tax Laws?

Barr Ize Iyamu was the Chief of Staff to Governor Igbinedion for eight years as Governor of Edo State. For those eight years, Benin City had a look of an abandoned City. In fact, the entire state was like a ghost town. And Ize Iyamu, a Pastor, and a celebrated philanthropist was there for those eight inglorious and uneventful years as the eyes and ears of everything that Chief Lucky Igbinedion represents. In other words, Chief Ize Iyamu was part and parcel of the profligacy that characterized Governor Igbinedion’s eight years in office. Under that administration, the squandering of Edo State’s riches was unprecedented in the history of the creation of our beloved state.

Reality Check

Ask any of the two gentlemen to give you a breakdown of their policy package or blueprint on strengthening revenue drive in Edo State in light of the dwindling revenue accruing from crude oil, and the ready answer: industrialization. Well Said.

While Chief Dangote is building Cement factories all over the African world and at our own Okpella Kingdom, raking in millions of dollars in profit annually, the administrations that these two gentlemen served at top-level couldn’t manage or run our own cement factory located at the same Okpella Kingdom.

What about Ewu Flour Mill? The market for flour is more robust now than it has ever been. Pounding of yam to Ema via the age-old traditional method (o’kor) is getting out of vogue. Today, Ema comes in the form of powder in sachets just like Amala. In addition, the consumption of Semo and Oat Meal is on the rise. Yet, the administration in which the two gentlemen served couldn’t think outside of the box and go about recruiting smart and independent-minded Edo men and women to breathe life into the management cadre of Ewu Flour Mills and turn it around for good.

Talk about Bendel Brewery! The Brewery business has never been that lucrative in Nigeria. When I was growing up, you could count the number of beer available in the Nigerian market – Harp, Gulder, Star Lager, Stout, and Crystal. Today, Beer comes in style and shapes too numerous to count. And as always, the struggling Nigerian guy still relishes the age-old habit of drinking his sorrow away with equanimity. Yes, there is still a huge market for booze out there; sadly, not for our beloved Crystal. While Nigerian Brewery and Guinness are flooding the market with uncountable brands, our state-run Bendel Brewery couldn’t sustain the only brand it has.

There is a pattern to all these stories.

The setbacks that bedeviled the three mentioned companies in this essay are not market-related or the lack of it. It has everything to do with the hiring process, nepotism, and political patronage. Embezzlement of public funds is a collateral matter. It thrives because political leaders like those mentioned in this essay cannot overcome the culture of patronage, populating top management positions with opportunists, stooges, and candidates whose major goal hinges not on profit margin, but on how to get rich fast and pay homage to bosses and sponsors.

Barrister Ize Iyamu, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Deputy Governor Odubu are individually and collectively embodiment of that culture. They are notable figures in the decision-making process within the administrations that couldn’t run state companies. And they are notable figures that didn’t see any reason to resign, assuming, of course, the decisions of the two Governors in managing the three companies, were at odds with their economic philosophy and at the same time inconsistent with global and modern best practices.

This essay is not about me. Nevertheless, I want to state categorically that given the opportunity, I can revive any of the listed three companies within a year. And turn them around to money-making entities. In addition, there are capable non-political Edolites at home and abroad I can vouch for who could have revived these companies within one year, transforming them to the best of its kind anywhere in the world. But the greediness and insecurity in all these over-hyped technocrats won’t allow them to take a step of faith out of their comfort zone and go about recruiting a stellar workforce to breathe life into the state-owned companies; boost revenue for the State Government and expand job opportunities for the jobless.

Vouching for Esan Men and Women

If the argument for the vaulted fame of Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Ize Iyamu in the gubernatorial race hinges on the inability of Governor Oshiomhole and Mr. Lucky Igbinedion to find credible, capable, and electable candidates of Esan extraction, to groom and to sponsor to Governorship status after eight years of their respective stewardship in Edo State, then, to a considerable degree, it explains the nature of the individuals and personalities of Esan extraction that the two gentlemen surrounded themselves with, and were comfortable working with during their respective terms in office.

If on the other hand the integrity of the Esan men and women that Comrade Adam Oshiomhole and Mr. Lucky Igbinedion surrounded themselves with over the years is not in question, then, once again, to a discerning mind, the apparent disconnect between the twosome and the interests and concerns of the Esan people in the emerging saga is a travesty of history and blatant betrayal of a people who showered them with love and support unconditionally over the years. 

Again, if the credibility of the Esan men and women known to Mr. Lucky Igbinedion and Comrade Oshiomhole is not an issue, but the ability of these Esan men and women to command support and win at the polls, then, once again, it tells on the individuals of Esan Extraction that the Comrade and his friend had access to over the years. Be that is it may, the fact that Comrade couldn’t find gentlemen or women of Esan Extraction worthy of his while for Governorship support, he should have taken a step of faith and step outside of his comfort zone to start the search for men and women of Esan Extraction that would comport with his benchmark long ago. Please re-read this paragraph.

I can name four individuals of impeachable character and stellar academic credentials who have what it takes to stand before Kings and Queens and the Commons and do what is right for the people. They are Mr. Odia Ofeimun, presently running under Labor. The Next is Mr. Sonala Olumhense, a first-class public affairs analyst, who, when nobody thought realistic, endorsed candidate Buhari over and over again in the past Presidential contests. The next is Mr. Austin Okolo, a devoted husband, a true Christian and a first-class Economist, followed by Mr. Benjamin Omole, a selfless public administrator and the former Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Council.

Mr. Odia Ofeimun, a Political Science graduate of the University of Ibadan, former Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, was at a time the Chairman of the Guardian Newspaper Editorial Board, and notably, the Simon Peter of Awoism - being the first known Personal Secretary to the late sage, Papa Awo, the best President Nigeria never had. That Mr. Ofeimun is a true disciple of Papa Awo is not in doubt. His present manifesto under the Labor Party platform showcases his awesome grasp of the ills of our state and the required actions to overcome them. 

On his part, Mr. Olumhense is also a Political Science graduate of the Nigerian premier University, the University of Ibadan, with a Master degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. Sonala was a founding member of the prestigious Guardian Newspaper and he was for many years the Editorial Page Editor before he left for the US following the crackdown on Press Freedom by the Military dictator, General Sani Abacha. He has been working at the UN since then. Why he was not made the Chief of Staff to President Buhari still troubles me till this very moment. He is an enigma - a public policy Phenom.

Mr. Austin Okolo is a US-based financially successful Certified Public Accountant. He has a Bachelor Degree in Economics from the University of Benin and an MBA from the University of Lagos. He is also a Chartered Accountant in Nigerian. He worked at Lever Brothers for many years at a Managerial level before relocating to the US. He is a man of impeachable Character and a quintessential Community Organizer. His Accounting and management skills are second to none. And he is an exemplar of nobility.

The last but not the least, is Mr. Benjamin Omole, a British trained public Administrator with a Master Degree in Public Management and a former Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Area before he was kicked out of office along with civilian Governors and fellow council members by the Abacha coup. Benjamin is a man of stellar work ethics, with unblemished public records - a very distinguished gentleman, the type who can hold his own high anywhere anytime. He remains an underexplored and underutilized national treasure like thousands other Nigerian out there.

The Test of Comrade Oshiomhole’s Performance in Edo State

It takes enlightenment to know the enlightened. And given the enlightened man that Comrade Adam Oshiomhole is, feigning ignorance of the existence of these gentlemen and what they represent feed into the narrative that he has for a long while been predisposed to superimposing a non-Esan candidate on the electorates in Edo State. If Comrade Oshiomhole was really keen on Esan candidate he would have started the search long ago.

If on the other hand, the obsession with Benin candidate is as a result of the alleged monstrosity of the electoral strength of Edo South, one is inclined to wonder what has become of the APC brand. Comrade Oshiomhole’s popularity and his performance in Edo South in the past eight years are at stake. Or are we saying that Benin natives are so race-biased that they will vote against a non-Benin candidate at the poll, forgotten all that Governor Oshiomhole and APC administration did for Benin City and its environs in the past eight years? Or is Comrade Oshiomhole undermining and underestimating his relevance and popularity in Edo State? Or he is simply unwilling to stake them for an Esan candidate? These are questions that Mr. Governor should answer with dispatch.

Statistically and population-wise, Oredo Local Government Area, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, and Egor Local Government Area are highly cosmopolitan. In other words, the possibility of PDP garnering 80% of the vote counts if they field a Benin candidate is very unlikely. On the other hand, voters of Orhiomhon Local Government Area will most likely vote against APC candidate in light of the open animosity between Governor Oshiomhole and his Deputy, Mr. Odubu. In a similar vein, Ovia Council will rally round their own son, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion and cast all their votes for a PDP candidate. But you cannot say the same for Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, and Egor Local Government Areas. An Esan candidate with strong APC/Oshiomhole’s backing can split the vote counts in these local governments by half against the PDP candidate.

Mathematically, if Edo North can rally round their worthy son, Mr. Oshiomhole, and give APC candidate 85% of their vote counts, and Edo Central, voting in similar pattern, the chances of APC fielding an Esan candidate winning a landslide victory is very real, if they are able to split Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, and Egor 50/50 with PDP.

So, whether by personality factor or population consideration, it is not a doom day story for Esan candidate under the APC. But is Mr. Oshiomhole interested? From all indication, he is neither interested in mathematical projections nor willing to stake his performance and putting his popularity to the test on behalf of an Esan candidate. Simply put, he feels no scruples undermining our interests and concerns. Indeed, Pastor Ize Iyamu and Mr. Godwin Obaseki have every right to run for any office in the land, but truth be told, they are perverting age-old amicable understanding that has sustained peaceful coexistence and benefited Edo South and Edo North handsomely over the years at the expense of Edo Central.  They want to take advantage of their proximity to power, influence, money and name recognition to hijack what belongs to the people of Esan land. It is not fair. And we will not stay silent. This is our time. And fight we will fight, if the need is, to secure our rights.