By Paulinus Nsirim<\/p>\n
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, went to the ancient city of Benin, saw and
\nfaced\u00a0 the agents of a siege , conquered the godfather. But he was also
\nquick to give credit to all those who joined him in the battle to
\naccomplish the sweet victory and reclaim Edo State for the Peoples
\nDemocratic Party (PDP)and bring all the States in the Region under the
\nprotection of the Umbrella.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the post-election victory press conference, in his capacity
\nas the Chairman, PDP National Campaign Council for the Edo State
\nGovernorship polls, Governor Wike said: “I want to particularly thank my
\ncolleagues, the Governors of Delta State, Oyo State and all other
\npersons who served in the National Campaign Council. We succeeded
\nworking as a team.<\/p>\n
“Let me also thank the Governor of Edo State. He gave us the necessary
\nsupport that has led to this victory. Also, we thank all those who
\nworked in the campaign train in Edo State. We also appreciate the Media
\nfor the positive coverage of the election”.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it is no longer in contention, that Governor\u00a0 Wike has
\ntransformed into an iconic political phenomenon, so much so that the
\nebullient Dino Melaye has already dubbed him “the National Governor”; a
\ntitle which is sure to gain traction and national appeal in the coming
\nweeks and months.<\/p>\n
For many discerning political watchers and Nigerians, the Edo State
\nGovernorship election was without doubt, Governor Wike’s election. From
\nthe very onset, he midwifed the peace and reconciliation process that
\nled to admission of Governor Obaseki into the PDP family and his
\neventual emergence as the party’s flag bearer in the just concluded Edo
\nState Governorship election.<\/p>\n
First, as a national leader who understands the dignity of the office of
\na duly elected Governor\u00a0 of every State, he chastised the Nigeria
\nGovernors Forum for failing to speak up and protect a fellow Governor,
\nGodwin Obaseki, though belonging to the Opposition Party.<\/p>\n
In fact,\u00a0 some leaders of his own party demeaned his office, embarrassed
\nand humiliated him, as he ran from pillar to post, seeking allies and
\nsupport in his battle to retain his Party’s Governorship ticket for the
\nEdo guber polls, against a godfather who wanted him out at all cost.<\/p>\n
Then, as a true patriot and Party man, whose overriding objective has
\nalways been to achieve and\u00a0 restore the PDP to its pride of place as the
\nnumber one Party in the country, Governor Wike,\u00a0 recognized the
\nbountiful dividends of embracing Governor Obaseki into the family.<\/p>\n
He also became the matrix and torch bearer in the reconciliation and
\nharmonization of all conflicting and contentious interests in the
\nresolution of the party’s Guber ticket candidate. He brokered peace,
\naddressed disputes and concerns satisfactorily and ensured that all
\ninterests were\u00a0 accommodated.<\/p>\n
The overwhelming success of his intervention was displayed, when all the
\nPDP Guber aspirants not only withdrew their intentions, but admirably
\nlined up behind Governor Obaseki on the podium, as he received his flag
\nof nomination from the Party, to contest the Governorship election, as
\nthe PDP candidate.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0 singular achievement\u00a0 left the Opposition completely speechless,
\nbroke the first leg of their politically unstable table and eventually
\nled to the ignoble sacking of their national chairman and erstwhile
\ngodfather of Edo politics.<\/p>\n
Against the backdrop of this resounding political accomplishment, the
\nappointment of Governor Wike as the PDP National Campaign Council
\nChairman for the Edo election, became inevitable. The magnitude of the
\nchallenge was enormous, given the extraordinary circumstances and the
\nlingering affiliations that still defined Governor Obaseki’s membership
\nand emergence in the PDP.<\/p>\n
This, coupled with the fearsome prospect of ‘Federal might’ which the
\nOpposition was poised to deploy in the election, would have cowed a
\nlesser, lily livered man, but Governor\u00a0 Wike was the man for the job and
\nembraced the challenge with open arms.<\/p>\n
Needless to say that from the moment he was announced as the PDP
\nNational Campaign Council Chairman for the Edo State Election, a vicious
\ncampaign to discredit him, by those who knew the overwhelming influence
\nand authority his involvement in such a critical position would have on
\nthe overall election and especially on the good people of Edo state,
\ncommenced with the aid of some gullible media outlets, who would sooner
\nlearn to their chagrin, that the Rivers State Governor was not a man to
\ntrifle with.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike also systematically\u00a0 embarked on a robust, well structured
\nmedia charm offensive himself, highlighted by a series of selected prime
\ntime television interviews, where he quite adeptly deployed the platform
\nto succinctly and unequivocally set the tone and mindset that would
\neventually shape and determine the outcome of the Edo Guber elections.<\/p>\n
As the chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council, his appearances at
\nthe Party’s state-wide rallies were usually electrifying as he
\ngalvanized the teeming crowd with his unique, charismatic, dynamic and
\ndexterous style.<\/p>\n
His message resonated powerfully with the people’s expectations and
\ndesires. His admonitions telling them what to do on election day were on
\npoint. He presented himself as an example and as a leader who will lead
\nfrom the front. His presence inspired hope, enthusiasm, optimism,
\ncourage and conviction in the belief that the will of the people would
\nalways triumph over every obstacle and intimidation.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike arrived Benin, just like the other leaders of the
\nOpposition Campaign Council, but with his own touchdown the whole
\natmosphere became abuzz with excitement and a collective sense of
\nidentity, existential purpose and historical essence for the Edo people.<\/p>\n
Members of the opposition, including those who had earlier arrived Edo
\nfor the same assignment as he, were even heard complaining loudly and
\nbitterly that they don’t know what he is doing in the state. They were
\nin panic.<\/p>\n
A siege with over 300 armed policemen, complemented with armoured tank
\nand other arsenal was hurriedly placed on his hotel accommodation
\npremises to prevent him from stepping out and when the Inspector General
\nof Police called and told him to leave Edo State that his presence was
\nlikely to cause unrest amongst the people, Governor Wike’s response was
\nclassic, typical and well reported.<\/p>\n
He then followed up his nonplussed stance with the Police IG by holding
\na World Press Conference at the Hi-Tech PDP Situation Room where he
\nalerted the nation and the International Community of what was going on.<\/p>\n
He completely wrong footed the Opposition, as usual and he was always
\none step ahead. But the most impressive aspect of the strategy was that
\nhe appeared with both Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Chairman
\nof the South South Governor’s Forum,\u00a0 Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State
\nwho is also chairing the Southwest PDP Campaign Council, as well as
\nother Party leaders.<\/p>\n
It was not a one man show but a collective effort of the Party, embodied
\nby a man and leader, who has grown to become the unifier and champion of
\nthe South South Region’s political identity.<\/p>\n
By virtue of the progressive thinking and pragmatic sacrifices of
\nGovernor Wike, the South South Region Governors can now speak loudly and
\nwithout fear or intimidation, with one united voice.<\/p>\n
The objective of bringing all the South South States under one political
\nleadership umbrella has been achieved with this overwhelming success in
\nEdo State.<\/p>\n
Over the years, Governor Wike has proved his enduring mettle, as a
\npolitical tactician beyond doubt.\u00a0 In the PDP, as well as on the
\npolitical landscape,\u00a0 he has emerged as the referential face of the
\nParty Brand, not only by virtue of his widely reported sterling
\ndevelopmental achievements and legacy infrastructural and other
\nprojects, but also for his robust advocacy, articulation, constructive
\ncritical observations and uncensored maturity and honesty.<\/p>\n
He enjoys a very cordial relationship with his brother governors which
\nhas attracted tremendous goodwill to him especially in the national
\npolitical space, where he has achieved an impressive pedigree and
\ncomprehensive acceptance across board.<\/p>\n
There is a saying that all politics is local and Governor Wike is a
\nleading disciple of the localization of politics, which not only
\ncelebrates the adage that charity begins at home but also promotes the
\nagenda of Rivers first, which goes a long way to explain why he is
\npassionate about the protection of Rivers lives, property and indeed
\neverything Rivers.<\/p>\n
No wonder he was welcomed back home in Rivers State, after his exertions
\nin Edo state, by a large, jubilant crowd of Rivers sons and daughters,
\nwho had kept vigil and prayed for him, when news filtered in that the
\npolice had laid a seige on his hotel.<\/p>\n
Rivers people and indeed many who followed the Edo state Governorship
\nelections, heaved a huge sigh of relief to see their darling Governor
\nWike back home, hale and hearty, to continue his good works in the
\nstate.<\/p>\n
At a time, when Nigeria is in dire need of patriotic and responsible
\nCitizens and leaders, as our political life evolves, Governor Wike
\nstands tall as one who epitomises the true characteristics of what it
\ntakes to be a great leader for his people.<\/p>\n
Nsirim is the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Rivers
\nState<\/p>\n
By Paulinus Nsirim Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, went to the ancient city of Benin, saw and faced\u00a0 the agents of a siege , conquered the godfather. But he was also…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n