That our people may not perish for lack of knowledge

BY CECIL ESEKHAIGBE

The quest for Governor of Esan extraction has peaked albeit with undefined strategy. While we acknowledge the fact that fairness and a sense of belonging make it a genuine and altruistic quest, we must however recognise that it would not come on a platter.The Scripture says that “prayers without good works amount to nothing.”

The other Senatorial Districts have come up with the slogan of NO ZONING and that capacity and competence should be the determining factors.Are they saying that there is scarcity of such men and women in Esanland?I laughed this off because Esanland can boast of a million qualified persons with these attributes. They went further to say that the Esan people are not serious because of the high number of Aspirants jostling for the ticket. A school of thought did say that the high number signifies how serious Esan takes the quest for the coveted office.

An undeniable fact is that only one person will pick the ticket and the keys to the Government house. In my party, the APC, we recognise the truism that only one person will get the ticket, so all efforts must be made to work towards the goal.

Recognising the fact that we the Esan people can better sing our song, it became imperative to take our destiny in our hands. We had a leader’s meeting in September 2023 where it was decided that Aspirants should talk with themselves with a bid to stepping down for a few after peer- reviewing their strengths and weaknesses.

In the absence of any progress, the leadership should devise a strategy to achieve the goal of pruning down to a reasonable figure. This prompted an invitation to all the Aspirants to come for a screening exercise. A total of 23 Aspirants honoured the invitation for the screening in Abuja while some deliberately skipped the exercise.

At a dinner for all the Aspirants/panelist, they were asked if they were comfortable with the panelist and if they would abide by the outcome of the exercise ? It was a unanimous affirmation. The questions centred on Electability,Geopolitics, Contribution to party, Financial capacity, knowledge and plan for the development of the State.

Even with the Latin maxim…a volunteer non fit injuria, (anyone who willingly surrenders himself to a game cannot claim injury)we clearly stated that it was an exercise done in good faith and though not legally binding, but was morally binding. The intriguing thing is that a man who made the first 6 was happy and didn’t complain of the exercise and the exercise only became toxic when he didn’t make the first 3. Some also questioned the authority for the screening and deliberately pretended they don’t know the precedence for such an exercise. . I organised a similar exercise for the whole State APC in 2020. If you agree that it is only one person that would get the ticket,then why will everyone continue to fight for it?

I have been called unprintable names with some frivolous allegations of corruption. I couldn’t care less because ” I know who I am.” Some have resorted to frivolous writeups to tarnish the exercise and my reputation but again I am confident of my mission. Even those who are not seized of the matter are casting ignoble aspersions on me.

Let me ask:
1. Why will a man deny he was invited for an exercise which he deliberately skipped?
2. Why will a man who knows his constitutional limitations of tenure continue to deceive himself? Is Esan looking for a one term Governor?
3. Why will a man who came for a shelter in another man’s house want the master bedroom? I am waiting for the miracle of benevolence.
4. Can a man who is still on active service of a corporate organisation come and take precedence over the men who have kept the party for years? Some known political scammers have assured them of the miracle of Daman. “I dey laugh”
5. Can a man who could not win his ward/ LGA win other wards/ LGAs?
Can a man who is already fundraising as an Aspirant fund his primaries?
6. Can a man who cut his nose to spite his face win a beauty contest?
7. Can the attitude of “if it is not me,it cannot be someone else” take us to the finish line?
8. What is your level of acceptance in the other senatorial districts?
9. What do you have to show in terms of the development of Esanland?
10. Can a non Edo citizen no matter how highly placed from APGA or SDP dictate who gets the APC ticket in Edo?

Let us be wise and take a bold decision towards our quest for Esan Governor. No avalanche of insults on me will give you the ticket.I have made my sacrifice, so please make yours. Stop wasting your hard earned money on political jobbers who have no visible means of livelihood. They cannot help you and cannot also help Esan struggle. I dare any politician or Aspirant to come forward with proof of any money he or she has given to me since I joined politics. I may not be rich but God has provided my needs. I am too old to be intimidated or cowed with spurious and puerile writeups.

Some Esan political Leaders are deliberately sowing seeds of discord to the advantage of the other Senatorial Districts. Some are even positioning for Deputy Governorship. If you believe Gen Cecil’s screening and efforts to promote Esan to a comfortable position is evil and self-serving, then come up with your strategies. The day of reckoning is fast approaching.

Let us have a conversation today on our best for the job. Tomorrow may be too late. Those calling me names today would remember this day tomorrow. Take the message and forget the messenger. We need only one man for the job. Edo Central needs the APC ticket, as do other parties in Esanland. I repeat with emphasis that all the Aspirants cannot all get the ticket. Only one Aspirant will get the ticket. God bless APC and the Esan nation.

Esekhaigbe, PhD, is a leader of the APC in Edo State