By Bob-Manuel Umoru
Our above subject, shortly before Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu became Deputy Governor of Edo State in 2016 was truly and assuredly unknown.
His online media playground “The Bullets of the Harmless Rabbit”(BHR) gained recognition by the benevolence of the office of Deputy Governor of Edo State. Therefore, the recent media attack on the campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Lukman Akamekue, who parades himself as the “harmless rabbit” and a loyalist of the immediate past Secretary to the Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie is nothing short of a nuisance and the ranting of an individual suffering from mistaken identity.
Lukman’s childish reaction to the serious and necessary call by the APC Campaign Council for Ogie to submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies is an insult to the principles of democracy and good governance. Lukman, who is a political errand boy , has been afflicted by what psychologists refer to as “severe delusion of grandeur”. I say so for the following reasons.
First, the primary reason why he is supporting the former Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie, is because of his alleged inordinate ambition for the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella stool. He was a Phillip Shaibu’s errand boy before he jumped ship, at the time when the Governor began his witch-hunt of his Deputy.
Next, his ancestry in Okpella is shrouded in so many tell-tales and his parentage is not defined or known.
Furthermore, those who know his past antecedents are still asking why he escaped from Dubai.
Also, Lukman allegedly has neither a known job nor a forwarding address. .
THE CRUCIAL CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
The APC Campaign Council, through Barr. Andrew Adaze Emwanta made a harmless call of paramount importance to our democracy. This call for Ogie to submit himself for investigation is not just a political statement, but a demand rooted in the principles of public trust and accountability. It is a demand that should be taken seriously by any individual who claims to have served the people with integrity.
Osarodion Ogie has been entrenched in the Edo State government for over 18 years, with nearly eight years as the SSG. The rapid and unexplained accumulation of wealth during this time, from his humble beginnings as a casino manager in Lagos to becoming a multi-billionaire, naturally raises red flags. The people of Edo State have the right to question this incredible transformation and to demand transparency regarding how their commonwealth has been managed.
PDP’s BHR MEDIA MISGUIDED ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT THE MESSAGE
Instead of advising their leader to demonstrate his innocence by cooperating with the EFCC, the Lukman and his paymaster have chosen to attack Emwanta, issuing threats of legal proceedings. This response is not only laughable, but also reveals the desperation of a party that has consistently failed to meet the expectations and aspirations of the Edo people. By attempting to deviate from the core issue of accountability, Lukman is doing a disservice to Ogie he claims is his leader.
It is essential to clarify that Emwanta’s statement was made on behalf of the APC Campaign Council, which adds significant weight to the call for accountability. So, Lukman’s effort to distract the public from this important message, by resorting to cheap threats of legal action is a clear indication that he and his new paymaster is more interested in protecting their own than in upholding the principles of transparency and good governance.
NO ROOM FOR LEADERS WHO BETRAY PUBLIC TRUST
Edo State can ill-afford to have leaders who exploit public office for personal gains. If Barr. Osarodion Ogie is confident that he has not tampered with the commonwealth of the people, as a non-practising lawyer he should have no hesitation in submitting himself to the EFCC for a thorough investigation. As it is often said by lawyers in legal practice, ” he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. This legal maxim is a sine qua non for those seeking elective public office, like Ogie. Public trust must be earned, not demanded, and the best way to earn that trust is through transparency and accountability.
The APC has every right to raise allegations and demand investigation. In a democratic society, this is not just a right but a duty to ensure that those who manage public resources are held accountable. No amount of legal threats or press statements from Lukman and the PDP will silence the call for accountability in this critical period. Our society will only improve if leaders are consistently held to account for their actions.
FINAL ADMONITION
If Osarodion Ogie has nothing to hide, then he should boldly submit himself to the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies, to clear his name, and then consider any legal action he wishes to pursue against Emwanta and others calling for his probe . However, until this is done, the people of Edo State have every right to question how he amassed such wealth during his tenure in government. The time for distractions and deflections is over, as Edo State deserves leaders who are committed to integrity, transparency, and the public good.
It is time for Ogie to step forward and prove that he has served the people with the honesty and integrity that the offices he previously occupied demands. Edo State must move forward with leaders who are genuinely accountable to the people they serve, not those who hide behind legal threats and press statements.
Bob-Manuel Umoru writes from Nigeria’s commercial Capital, Lagos.
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