Democracy is, arguably, on holiday in Edo State, South-South region of Nigeria, where the lingering face-off between the executive and legislative arms of government has polarized the legislature into two main camps, creating a vacuum in legislative functions in the state.
While one camp is loyal to Godwin Obaseki, the state governor, the other has pitched tent with Adams Oshomhole, a former government of the state and the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Since after the declaration and subsequent inauguration of a faction of the state’s legislature by the governor in June this year, Edo has been on edge.
This situation has been made worse by the intervention of the National Assembly which seems not to be neutral either in its action or utterance, especially in its 7-day ultimatum to the state governor to re-issue his declaration for the inauguration of the entire House of Assembly members-elect.
Events as they unfold in Edo State call for serious concern. Whose interest does this stand-off between the executive and the legislature serve? If democracy is all about the people, where democracy seizes to exist as it seems in Edo, it means the people are not only deprived, but also marooned in what is, apparently, a troubled and famished political landscape.
We believe that Edo State and its people are much larger than just two individuals who may be fighting for personal interests, unknown and unseen interests, or are settling personal scores at the expense of the larger interests which the state and its people represent.
Whatever is the case, we share the view of most Nigerians that the interest of Edo people should be put in the front burner, making it imperative for the main actors in this case to sheathe their swords and embrace peace for the sake of democracy which holds out dividends for the people.
Governance needs a peaceful environment to be impactful. So does economy. It may be early days to assess the performance of the present government in the state which has done well by continuing from where the previous governments in the state left off, but the economy is well on positive trajectory.
As the situation is in Edo at the moment, no meaningful political or economic activities are taking place in the state, making stakeholders, particularly private sector operators, worry and fear that it could snowball and degenerate to something worse.
We agree with the President of Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BENCCIMA), Atekha Odemwingie, who reasons that the face-off could have negative impact on the state’s economy. We advise that whatever could be done to disperse or diffuse the gathering storm should be done now.
Investors who have put their money into the economy of the state, through joint venture arrangements with the government, shouldn’t be put into undue pressure by an unfavourable political climate arising from lack of clarity or certainty in government’s economic policies. These investors need assurance that at the end, they will get returns on their investment.
The threat by the National Assembly to take over the state’s House of Assembly, if the governor failed to do its bidding, in our view, will only help to aggravate the already tense situation. Similarly, the decision by Francis Okiye, the Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly to take the National Assembly to the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, asking to stop it from taking over the state Assembly, will only help to prolong the face-off.
It is not lost on any keen follower of Edo politics that Governor Obaseki and Comrade Oshiomhole worked together for eight years. And both mean well for Edo State and its people. They should sink their differences, whatever they are, and save the state from where it is headed: implosion.
