The Good Governance Advocacy Group referred to as Obidients for Ai (Asue Ighodalo) held an enormous symposium in Benin Metropolis on fifteenth June 2024. The theme of the Symposium was Obidients For An Edo That Works For All: The Asue Ighodalo Phenomenon.
The massively profitable symposium has come and gone however its significance and affect will for lengthy be remembered. Simply how properly did it go?
This advocacy group that has introduced its presence and seriousness with unmistakable billboards and big presence in orthodox Press and Social Media added an mental feather to their cap that Saturday. The venue in a serene a part of the traditional metropolis was excellent in itself and the décor alluringly complimented by fantastically branded hanging Obidient mini umbrellas, posters and banners of the best print high quality and color mixture.
Attendance was extremely spectacular because the corridor was crammed to capability and attendance administration professionally dealt with. Each attendee acquired a pack of souvenirs on registration and acquired seated in a corridor with a cool atmosphere. What a high quality viewers! With glorious visitors management, automobile packing administration and safety preparations, the neighbourhood and commuting public was not inconvenienced.
The arrival of the candidate (Dr. Asue Ighodalo) who the Obidients have declared match for goal within the subsequent election to handle Edo State energized the standard viewers. A folks’s man any day with no superiority airs, he hugged, chatted with and took selfies with near fifty cheering visitors from the doorway to the desk reserved for him and the rigorously chosen Professors who had been Audio system on the occasion.
The Deputy Governor, Engr. Godwin Marvelous Omobayo, a bonafide Obidient with a profitable pedigree (whose victory was magomago’ed and manafiki’ed by rigging forces) arrived to what to him was pure habitat. The Director Common of the State PDP Marketing campaign Council arrived with a loaded entourage to place a stamp of authority to the alliance with Obidients who’ve rightfully recognized their candidate worthy of their help. The Commissioner for Tradition and Tourism, the delectable Dr. Uyi Malakai arrived so as to add range to the Excessive Desk.
The presence of Professor Chris Mustapha Chukwudumebi Nwaokobia Jnr. supplied a Nationwide Obidient voice of approval to the proceedings. His sartorial turnout with the unmistakable picture of Queen Idia (FESTAC image) added a cultural sensitivity and imprimatur to the occasion. Professor Matthew Aziegbemhin Izibili of Ambrose Alli College turned out in a black nationwide outfit that matched Asue’s favorite gown color.
Austin Isikhuemen’s welcome tackle defined the group’s imaginative and prescient and mission in addition to the overriding crucial that made Asue Ighodalo of the PDP their selection within the gubernatorial election billed for September 2024. Justice. Equity. Fairness. Then the candidate’s pedigree and observe file of efficiency and integrity. Austin asserted that Asue stands head and shoulders above the pack of different certified runners within the race and acknowledged, as he has been quoted to have mentioned in a number of fora, that Asue is a Presidential Materials operating a gubernatorial race!
Prof. Nwaokobia whose speech practically introduced the roof down, gave sufficient explanation why Edo folks can’t afford to toy with their future by electing the unsuitable candidate. He acquired emotional in his advocacy, and at some stage, stepped down from the rostrum and confronted Asue straight calling on him to take Edo to the exemplary peak that may create peer stress amongst different state governments which may increase the usual of governance nationally.
The Professor has all the time been a wonderful speaker and analyst of nationwide affairs, however his exhortation at this Obidient symposium was in a special class all collectively. He wowed the viewers and touched their souls. He defined that Obidients preached Justice, Fairness and Equity and supported Peter Obi from the South East in 2023. He mentioned they can’t now flip round to help a candidate of Labour Celebration who’s from the identical native authorities and senatorial district to take over from Governor Obaseki. Edo North was within the saddle for eight years earlier than Edo South whose tenure of eight years is coming to an in depth. He jocularly requested “Edo Central come wash plate?”
The deafening intermittent applause indicated the viewers’s settlement with all he mentioned. The LP and Obi’s not too nice encounter on the Royal Palace, taking place on the identical time whereas the Symposium was on, added some cosmic approval to the Obidients’ selection of Asue Ighodalo. That Obi’s reluctant go to to LP was shifted to coincide with our Symposium in order to take out the shine and swallow the occasion, has now develop into a technique that massively backfired. We sympathize with His Excellency Peter Obi. He’s torn between the place his coronary heart is – Asue Ighodalo – and his 2023 marketing campaign platform – Labour Celebration. LP is now unrecognizable with dollarized electioneering processes, infighting and regulation fits in addition to their unwise rejection of Edo’s accepted equity, justice and fairness, a brotherly tripod that issues to the Individuals.
Asue’s response, with unmistakable nationalistic fervour and competence-packed analytical evaluate of Nigeria’s undignified match to growth regression, was a motivating spectacle to behold. He spoke about Lin Quan Yu and his Cambridge College days with Remi Fani-Kayode who grew to become his ‘tutor’ due to the latter’s distinctive brilliance. The Singeporean chief was shocked when he later visited Nigeria and located it in a state of arrested growth. Singapore, Asue mentioned, in a voice laden with remorse, has moved to the primary world whereas Nigeria is outwardly on a backslide. We’ve got had oil revenues sufficient to construct seven Dubai’s however the place did all the cash go? He mentioned selection of unsuitable leaders has been the reason for Nigeria’s growth disaster.
Asue didn’t keep put in complaining and analytical mode. He quickly moved over to possible options. The answer, he mentioned laid within the selection of leaders by the residents particularly the Obidients and the youth. They need to proceed the following part of the peaceable revolution to vary Nigeria for good which they’ve began. He acknowledged that the specified change will probably be a mirage if unsuitable, incompetent and visionless leaders are elected. He promised to maneuver Edo state to a primary world state as soon as elected. Based on him, just a few competently run States can change Abuja for good. He exhorted the youth to not be afraid to do what is correct.
Goodwill messages had been acquired from the Deputy Governor, DG PDP Marketing campaign Council and Commissioner for Arts and Tradition. Professor Izibili’s Visitor lecture on Management and its position achieve the Edo of our dream, was properly acquired. He outlined management and confirmed the connection between purposive management and governance outcomes. He efficiently linked management notion and the search for Edo State of our dream. He highlighted the crucial affect of character on the efficiency of a pacesetter and concluded that management should not be left to likelihood however intentionally chosen with anticipated outcomes in thoughts.
The panel dialogue session was anchored by the delectable Joice Daniels of AsueTV and that introduced the Symposium to an in depth. This was a wonderful outing for the Obidients for Asue Ighodalo and the AiO² ticket. It confirmed who the true Obidients, who stand for Justice, Fairness and Equity in addition to decisions based mostly on Competence, Capability, Compassion, Observe Document, Mind and Integrity, have endorsed and can vote for in September.
Austin Isikhuemen
Co-Convener
Obidients For AI
A Good Governance Advocacy Group.
