quick recap of how Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, began to act indecorously towards the former Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, would help to put this piece in the proper context of its title.
Sometimes in 2009, Anenih had, on the occasion of Kenneth Imasuangbon’s movement into the PDP from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at Ewohinmi in Edo State, declared that the ACN was like an air conditioner without a compressor.
Apparently encouraging his numerous party members, as was expected of any political leader, not to despair, Anenih was reported to have said that the ACN government had failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state.
He had advised Oshiomhole, who was president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at a time, to advert his mind to the fact that there was difference between being governor and labour leader; and, that governance was not about making fabulous speeches and getting applause from students but about performance.
But it is understandable Oshiomhole would become aggressively offensive in his reactions to Anenih’s statements and wise counsels: the point of aggravation was the fact that Anenih was not careful in declaring the readiness of the PDP to dislodge the government of Oshiomhole from power in Edo on the grounds of non-performance.
What did he expect from Anenih?
Was he thinking the Iyasele of Esanland had forgotten his leadership of the PDP simply because he (Oshiomhole) pleaded with and/or requested him to nominate two commissioners and a special adviser into his cabinet after the Court of Appeal declared him governor having nullified the election of Oserhiemen Osunbor of the PDP?
Realising that was wishful and knowing full well that Anenih’s political influence in the government was awesome, Oshiomhole had set out to define himself by confronting him.
He deployed all manner of strategies that were contra bonus mores (against public morals) although members of his camp had considered them politically correct.
In fact, it is a matter of public record that Oshiomhole, in response to some words of encouragement by Anenih, had called him (Anenih) his father at a public function in June of 2009 and had said that he would continue to accord him respect as a “leader” irrespective of the fact that they were not in the same political party.
But the comrade governor has since broken his own words and has continued to abuse the Leader in a vulgar manner that offends the sensibilities of true sons and daughters of Edo.
When the comrade governor knocked Anenih at a public function in Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the two commissioners and special advisers nominated by Anenih who were present at the event did not have to be told that the revelry was over.
They got to their offices and threw their letters of resignation at the governor in protest against the public affront.
The godfather is alive and kicking. Hurray! He has become a veritable bugaboo to Oshiomhole’s re-election bid.
If anyone expects the comrade governor to be polite in his reactions to the real political threat around him as typified by Anenih, then he or she may not be fair to Oshiomhole.
Everybody knows that Oshiomhole can talk but should he, even if it is in his character to throw punches at every opponent, commit himself to the regular abuse of Anenih?
However, it is apparent that it is not in the character of Anenih to jump into the public arena to take on an aggressor or offender.
This is the truth. He has always been taciturn, preferring to work and perfect his political strategies behind the scene.
This way, it becomes difficult to misquote him. This is why the lead story of Compass newspaper of Wednesday, February 22, 2012, entitled- “Anenih to Oshiomhole: You are a drowning gov”, where a reply purported to have been made by Anenih to a derogatory statement earlier made by Oshiomhole, was quoted and displayed on the front page, amounted to a sheer misrepresentation of the Anenih persona.
Anenih has never and would not engage in a war of words with anyone, including Oshiomhole.But the peculiar political situation in Edo would not hamstring him in commenting about the institutions of the ACN and the government of the day. Although, a thorough reading of the Compass newspaper story, published on page 8, showed that the reporter actually spoke with the State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, he (the reporter) had purported Orbih was speaking on behalf of Anenih.
I know that Oshiomhole’s attacks on Anenih will not abate whether before or after the July 14, 2012 governorship elections, regardless of the outcome of the poll. What I know and I readily vouch for is that Anenih, in any situation, will not jump into the arena of conflicts or descend into the gutters with Oshiomhole in a bid to join issues with him because it is not in the gene of the Iyasele of Esanland to do so.
Ojeifo, journalist and magazine publisher sent in this piece from Abuja.
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