The Federal Government has been told to end the anarchy being perpetuated in Edo state by prosecuting the out-going Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is bent on burning down the state after his party lost election during the last governorship election in the state.
The Centre For Political Orientation and Leadership Training, Professor Mike Otabor, made this known while delivering a paper in a workshop titled, “Governance for 21st Century African Leaders” in Abuja.
Otabor who is also an Executive Director and Resource Person at the Centre questioned the rationale for African politicians reacting so negatively each time they lose election but will not revert otherwise when they win nor appreciate the voting public.
Siting the ongoing situation in Edo state, Professor Otabor condemned Governor Godwin Obaseki for sponsoring violent protests in Benin city just because his party lost the governorship election of 21st September 2024.
He went further to reflect on the past when the governor won two previous governorship elections and a recent local government election where results were being announced even when the voting was still ongoing.
He stated; “I monitored the local government election. One popular young man got so much support from his community in Edo north and was leading with a huge margin when the result was announced.”
“The young man did not burn down his community. If he did, Obaseki would have arrested him for causing mayhem. I think Obaseki is not above the law.”
“The Federal Government should arrest him when he hands over power in November for causing mayhem and for ‘burning down’ the state. That is how to make laws work. Tinubu should use him to set example.”
Professor Otabor also admonished politicians who believed that power must remain with them like Obaseki. He was so high-handed and has even dragged one prominent election observer into the mud.
He went further to criticise Yiaga Africa for allowing politicians to use them in a sensitive election like this.
Even before they could submit their report, they quickly went on air to condemn INEC which was what Obaseki needed to cause mayhem in the state.
The government and INEC should take notice of the election observers like Yiaga as they are not acting for the interest of the people but for their own.
“I used to respect Yiaga Africa. The way they came out to condemn the election, which was highly monitored by many local and international agencies, shows that Yiaga Africa was biased.”
“We had representatives in Edo state throughout the election, and report revealed that on Sunday, a day after the election, Yiaga was with Governor Obaseki in the government house.”
“At the time Yiaga was invited to government house, he already got feelers that he was losing the election, and he quickly recruited Yiaga to do the dirty job of mudslinging a perfect election.”
“Let Yiaga explain to the world what they went to do in Government House, Benin City, when the results of the election were still being compiled. We have records. If they deny we will expose them.”
Prof Otabor also called on INEC to investigate Yiaga and ban them from observing future elections in Nigeria if found culpable in the Edo election report.