Edo Poll: Stakeholders Set Agenda For Obaseki, Ask Him To Reach Out To Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu

…Urge Buhari To Pursue Electoral Reforms

Political stakeholders have called for urgent electoral reforms and good governance in order to deepen the democratic process across the country.

They shared their views in the light of developments around last Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State won by the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki, of the Peoples Democratic Party.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors to set in motion the process for the reforms.

Recall that before the Edo election, the state was deeply divided between the camps of the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole, and the Obaseki…

The candidate of the APC at the poll, Osagie Ize-Iyamu had the backing of Oshiohmole, believed to be his godfather, after the former chairman fell apart with the governor.

A political analyst, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, of the Centre for Liberty, in an interview with THE WHISTLER,  urged Buhari to revisit the process of amending the Electoral Act through the National Assembly.

Atoye noted that the fact of the Edo election meeting minimum standards did not mean that the process was foolproof.

He said: “I feel the fact that there were some compliance with laid down rules and regulations and the fact that the outcome of the Edo governorship election met minimum global standards, is not sufficient for us to go to bed, thinking that it is now  uhuru. This is the time for President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly and all political stakeholders to ensure that we have electoral reforms. They should pass the Electoral Act (Amendment Bill) that is before the National Assembly. We want to have this bill passed this year.

“It was by sheer act of commitment by the people of Edo state and also the good display by INEC and security agencies that we were able to have credible poll in Edo state. We, however, must not lose sight of the fact that if we are able to validate legally, the e-platform provided by INEC, that will make Nigerians to see election results real time without manipulation.

“So, the next agenda is electoral reforms and President Buhari has a responsibility to also call on the National Assembly to expedite action on the bill. That’s our demand.”

On what Obaseki should do to mend fences with political opponents , the analyst said: “Obasaeki should dignify mandate that he had been given by the people of Edo state by ensuring that there is no winner figure. He should govern with his opponents, with openness, transparency and accountability. He should reach out to his major opponent, Ize-Iyamu, and extend a hand of fellowship to him -that, we are brothers, the fight is over, now let us govern, come with your own idea.

“If I have my way I would ask Obaseki to visit Adams Oshiohmole and tell him, that we didn’t fight him. The only thing is that we didn’t want certain things to be entrenched in Edo state, no to godfatherism. I think he should visit him, appreciate him for giving him a good fight and also tell him that we should join hands together for the benefit and prosperity and development of the state.”

On his part, another stakeholder, Ralph Adebayo, commended INEC for the “good work” it did during the election; and the Oba of Benin, for mediating a peace meeting between the political gladiators ahead of the election.

He argued that the visa ban placed on election manipulators in the country by the United States played an important role in the general outcome of the election.

On his agenda for the governor, Adebayo said: “The wise thing for both parties is for them to reconcile. They’re all in the same group, the same political block. They come from the same social strata. They’re all elites. Am sure they will iron it out the way they always do.

To Obaseki, he suggested, “If there is one thing I would say to Obaseki for his renewed mandate, is simply, DON’T MESS IT UP.

“After he was declared winner, you can feel the joy on the streets. It was palpable. You can tell how happy the people felt that their will won. When you have that kind of mandate, the least you want to do is to disappoint the people.

“The least you want to do is to ill-perform. So it is important that this renewed mandate of his, is put to good use. He should bring forward policies that are pro-people, commissions projects that are pro-people, that are sustainable, not these white elephant projects that our politicians are used to doing.”

THE WHISTLER recalls that Obaseki, while receiving his certificate of return on Tuesday, already invited Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu to join him in the task of building Edo state.

He told them the fight was over, since he had won the election, adding that he only disagreed with Oshiomhole on his approach to politics.