By: Comrade Sunny Iyamu.
A political Media enthusiast…
_”The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in government than in politics.”_ – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Election season is here and the need for continuous brainstorming on the right choice to make is essential. This is because if we make any mistake on the choice of right leaders, it will take four years of teeth-gnashing regrets before we could make amends. And so,I have offered to lead the conversations in this regard.
One unique characteristics of prophesy is that it often doesn’t sit well with the lust of the people. Of the major prophets in both christian and Islamic religions, most of their messages didn’t sit well with their contemporaries. They were often misconstrued, only to be appreciated years or centuries afterwards. What it means is that by the time their prophecies come to fulfilment, they are long gone.
However, it serves as a pointer to succeeding generations to heed the words and warnings of their own prophets. In order words they are advised to learn from the bitter experience of their preceding generations whose misfortune stemmed from their refusal to accept the verdicts of genuine visionaries.
This leads us to the question, _”who is a prophet?”_
On the surface it can be defined as anyone who predicts the future. But deeper than that, a prophet is one who tells the truth, preaches peace and condemns injustice. One who upholds rule of law and probity of purpose. Someone with compelling and accurate foresight.
Former President Jonathan is adored across the length and breadth of the globe today, because he was a political prophet that many didn’t take his words serious in 2015. He was on marble to have forewarned Nigerians that the choice before them was not a choice between him and Buhari; but a choice to decide whether to move forward or backward. A choice between hardship and economic prosperity. His words were despised only to valued afterwards, when APC-led government threw Nigeria into inconsolable morning.
This upcoming election, is not a choice between PDP’s Barr Asue Ighodalo (fondly called AI) and the poorly marked opponents in other parties who are vying for the state number one seat as some wrongly perceive it. It is a choice between advancing the fortunes of our state or retracting the ugly past in that order.
To be a governor of a state is not just to speak Esan language. It entails being the voice of the people and to control the resources which is meant to provide human capital development, social amenities, and projects, for the people.
*Barr Asue Ighodalo’s* political philosophy is influenced by the wits in Dorman Bridgeman Eaton’s submission that: _”Public office is a public trust, the authority and opportunities of which must be used as absolutely as the public moneys for the public benefit, and not for the purposes of any individual or party.”_
In his expression of interest speech, *Barr Asue Ighodalo* struck a note of didactic lessons. He dwelt on the imperatives of the office and promised that with our collective legitimate mandate, he will deliver on the promise. He made his words a bond with the people.
I wish to thank you all for your massive supports; and urge that you keep it coming till the day of the election. Let it not be told that we belonged to a generation that jettisoned the wise counsels of our prophets, and make a wrong choice in this election. Far be it from us, that we will fail to read in-between the lines to discover the gains of choosing *Barr Asue Ighodalo* at the poll. Our destiny as a state is in our hands to fulfill. For, to Shakespeare, _”It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”_
Let us show character by making the rightful choice of supporting this man of uncommon substance for the September duty for Edo state. In *Barr Asue Ighodalo* we have a quintessential Welfarist. A staunch advocate of equity and fairness. A workaholic leader and a perfectionist of no mean repute. More than a thousand Ewohimi Youths has in one way or the other been beneficiaries of his empowerment policies. Prior to his involvement in politics, he has many out-of-pocket community projects to his name.
As is said in the street, “make we follow who sabi road oooh!”
Vote Barr Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie