AUSTIN OYIBODE
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the erstwhile national chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC has gone into silence after the Edo state governorship election. Prior to the election, Oshiomhole was very optimistic he would win the election for his anointed candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
But the election went far against his dream candidate. His candidate lost very badly. He himself was roundly defeated. He only won few areas including his local government of Etsako west local government area of Edo North. He was humiliated by the lost of his candidate and the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Since his defeat till date, Oshiomhole has never been heard making statement as he was used to doing when he was national chairman of the ruling party. He has since gone into oblivion. Obaseki had warned him to maintain himself and he should not be lawless. Obaseki added that if he should create problem for his government, he would not take it lightly with him.
Since then till now the Oshiomhole we know has remained mute. What may have had happened to him? What about his followers and supporters? Where are they? Everybody has gone to their tents O Israel. The politics of Oshiomhole is over. The period of noise is over. It’s now time to reflect on all he has done and how he fared.
Oshiomhole was a very good man. Yes, that was when he was president of the Nigeris Labour Congress (NLC) and his first term as governor of Edo state. He did quite well. People were comfortable with him. His troubles started when he began attacking his South South fellow governors, especially Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state and the former president Good luck Jonathan.
When he became APC national chairman, he became heavily power drunk, insulting theall leaders of PDP and claiming to have power to wrestle governorship office from sitting PDP governors. But he lost all of them. He was actually feared especially in Delta state. But all his threat of claiming the state for his party all failed.
Today, Oshiomhole is no longer relevant in Nigeria politics as when he held sway as national chairman of APC. Then he was the almighty Oshiomhole. He was feared by all. He treaded places not meant for his office as party chairman. He offended many people, both members of his party and those of the PDP. But all those have gone into history.
His is a lesson for all. People should not abuse office. They should use it for the betterment of all people around them and make them happy so that when they leave power, they will be remembered for good.