Ahead of the local government congresses to elect officers of the ruling party at the grassroots in Nigeria, scheduled for September 4, 2021 across the country, the clouds are gathering, and threatening to rain and very heavily too, in some LGAs like in Edo state.
The expectation is that the doctrine of consensus which came into play at the ward congresses will be up again this time around. Notwithstanding there are signs that there will be contestations in some local governments like Akoko-Edo, where the incumbent Chairman of the caretaker committee, Hon Benjamin Olajina is facing a stiff opposition.
Olajina, was a legislator and went on to serve as Executive Director of the Edo Transport Company or Edo Line before it became defunct. He was was also an Executive Director of the Edo state Inland Revenue Service before he became the Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matters to the State governor. Recently he assumed the position of Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the APC in his Local government.
And if performance, using the 2020 state governorship election is a criteria to decide who chairs the party in this local government, Olajina ought to have a smooth sail. But not so. He has a challenger and a very solid one too.
The APC won the local government due to what some say was Olajina’s coordinating efforts along with others in the party. Yet he is criticized for being too rigid sometimes and not allowing himself to be swayed when he has taken a stand. This independent-mindedness seen as hoslility of sorts will be the former lawmaker’s albatross as the countdown begins to September 4, 2021.
It is recognition of this fact perhaps that stakeholders in the APC in Akoko Edo are rooting for his replacement in Ebenezer Oladele. Support for Oladele is said to be growing by the day across the local government as the thinking is that what the LGA needs for the journey ahead is fresh ideas and vibrant blood.
Interestingly, Ebenezer Oladele and Olajina are both from the same ward 4, Ibillo, in the local government. He is also younger and more popular with the youths than the former legislator. They see him as the future hope of their generation and have been flocking to him in solidarity.
Many say Oladele is eminently qualified because he has all it takes to wear Olajina’s shoes, after serving as a personal assistant to him when he was the member of the State legislature representing Akoko Edo constituency 1, from 1999 to 2003.
Although that trip was cut very short because Oladele was dismissed from the services of the State Legislature over Certificate forgery, the young man’s spirit was never dampened. His growing popularity among party faithfuls is a pointer to this fact.
Akoko Edo folks have argued that the fate which befell Oladele can even be blamed on Olajina. And although this incident took place a long time ago, the thinking is that it is now that the former PA wants and deserves to take a pound of flesh from his former boss. And what better way than to challenge him and takeover the mantle, as the LGA chairman of the APC in Akoko Edo.
The clock is ticking fast as the days leading up to the Congress is fast approaching. The APC in the local government must get it right by shunning primitive primordial sentiments and do that which will favour Akoko Edo: pick a local government party chairman they can trust. Such must be one they will not regret choosing.