Politics
Humpty Dumpty: Godwin Obaseki’s Loud Fall and Adams Oshiomhole’s Unyielding Flame in Edo Polity
Published
7 months agoon

Humpty Dumpty: Godwin Obaseki’s Loud Fall and Adams Oshiomhole’s Unyielding Flame in Edo Polity
By Bolaji Israel
The phrase “Humpty Dumpty” brings to mind fond memories from early school years, referencing a beloved nursery rhyme about a tragi-comic character who fell and shattered beyond repair.
The tale dates back to the late 18th century, featuring an egg-shaped figure who fell off a wall, broke apart, and could never be pieced back together. In contemporary terms, it symbolises a person or entity that, once overthrown, cannot be restored.
The political landscape of Edo State has recently been rocked by the dramatic downfall of outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, a situation that has unfolded like a meticulously crafted drama. The decisive triumph of Monday Okpebholo over PDP’s Asue Ighodalo marks not the beginning, but the climax of the unfolding drama.
This saga, marked by betrayal, ambition, and fierce rivalry, saw Obaseki face off against his former political godfather, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who has emerged victorious in this bitter contest.
Once celebrated as a protégé, Obaseki’s trajectory was propelled by Oshiomhole, who played a pivotal role in his ascent to the governorship.
However, the relationship soured, leading to a public fallout that captivated the attention of political observers. What began as a partnership soon devolved into a fierce rivalry, with accusations of overreach and betrayal flying between the two men.
So intense was the battle that Governor Obaseki had to seek shelter far away from his party, APC, which gave him the platform for his first term in office, to a rival political party, the PDP, to realise his second term ambition.
Though the move afforded the embattled governor who was then in the intensive care unit politically the golden opportunity to complete his eight years administration but the battle never stopped between the gladiators.
Obaseki himself has said one key issue his administration had with the former governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, was that he (Obaseki) organised a state burial for the Peoples Democratic Party leader, Chief Tony Anenih due to Anenih’s overwhelming contributions to the state.
He explained: “When Chief Tony Anenih died, I gave him a state burial as an APC member and this is one of the thing that caused problem between Oshiomhole and I. He (Oshiomhole) said since he (Anenih) was not an elected official, why would I give him a state burial? I said the man had done more than many governors. So, he deserved it.”
Those sympathetic to Obaseki also insisted that Oshiomhole was one political figure who had consistently condemned political godfatherism and whittled down the political influence of leaders before him including Lucky Igbinedion who had ruled the state between 1999 and 2007. For them, Oshiomhole was wrong to have exerted much influence and pressure on Obaseki as his godfather.
Those who disagreed however didn’t make things easy for Obaseki. They labelled him a betrayal. They hold the view that during the re-election saga, Obaseki cornered and used his then fellow governors even from APC, including Kayode Fayemi etal and also Wike to achieve his aims but later insulted him.
They insist that Obaseki has proven to be a serial betrayal and an ungrateful person who doesn’t respect even the highly reverred Oba of Benin.
As the battle rages, news filtered that Obaseki also initiated several projects but abandoned them midway. The episode of the 18 lawmakers that he refused the state legislators to swear in has also remained a reference.
So, going into the recent gubernatorial elections, the stakes were high. Oshiomhole threw his weight behind Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Obaseki aligned himself with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo. The election became not just a contest of candidates, but a battle of wills between the two former allies, and ultimately, a test of their political mettle.
As the dust settled, the results were a resounding affirmation of Oshiomhole’s enduring influence in Edo State politics. Okpebholo emerged victorious, securing 291,667 votes against Ighodalo’s 247,274, while Obaseki’s failure was underscored by the fact that he lost in his own local government area, Oredo.
The defeat has been described as nothing short of humiliating for a sitting governor, raising questions about his political acumen and strategic prowess.
Oshiomhole takes no prisoners. So his verdict after the PDP’s loss was swift and brutal – Obaseki is politically dead!
He went further. “They now understand if a man can speak like the King of England, but can’t build classrooms and their children are sitting on the floor, where is the value of the English?
“If you have signed millions of MoUs, brought all manner of consultants, even though you are one of the consultants anyways. The hospital that was built by Governor Oshiomhole you converted it to a private hospital. You ran it by consultants and only the rich can go there. The poor have been forbidden from going there. You demolished the other side of the hospital and replaced it with a museum. You think the poor are stupid?” Oshiomhole queried.
The fallout from this political debacle has not only affected Obaseki but has also ensnared other key players, notably his deputy, Philip Shaibu. Once a loyal ally,
Shaibu found himself sidelined during Obaseki’s administration, with his office relocated and his aides dismissed. The dynamics of their relationship shifted dramatically, leading to speculation about Shaibu’s future in Edo politics.
In a twist of fate, Shaibu has emerged from the shadows, mocking Obaseki’s electoral defeat. His comments during a recent interview highlighted his belief in his own political strength, contrasting it with Obaseki’s lack of electoral success.
Shaibu stated, “I feel vindicated; even the governor couldn’t win his local government. I won my unit, ward, and local government.” His assertion that he had been instrumental in Obaseki’s previous victories adds another layer to this complex political narrative.
The election results have opened the door for a reevaluation of loyalties and alliances in Edo State. Oshiomhole’s triumphant return to power has not only reinstated him as a significant political force but has also left Obaseki grappling with the reality of his diminished influence.
The political tide has turned, and the former governor is now faced with the task of rebuilding his reputation and reconciling with a constituency that has seemingly rejected him.
As the political landscape shifts, one thing is clear: the battle between godfather and protégé serves as a cautionary tale about loyalty, ambition, and the volatile nature of political alliances.
With Oshiomhole basking in his victory and Shaibu relishing his vindication, Obaseki must now navigate the choppy waters of post-governorship life, where the echoes of his political fall continue to resonate throughout Edo State.
Bolaji is a writer, public affairs analyst, poet and public relations strategist.
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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

Politics
Hurricane Tinubu Wrecks PDP: Emergency Meeting Called as Party Bleeds Out!
Published
6 hours agoon
April 28, 2025
Hurricane Tinubu Wrecks PDP: Emergency Meeting Called as Party Bleeds Out!
Red alert at Wadata Plaza! The once-mighty People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is teetering on the edge as defections slam the party like a hurricane — a political Category 5 now branded “Hurricane Tinubu.”
In a frantic bid to stop the bleeding, PDP’s battered National Working Committee has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday, desperate to patch up a ship that’s sinking fast.
The latest blow?
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, ex-VP candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, and every key player in Delta’s PDP machinery dumped the party overnight, crossing over to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after a secret meeting in Asaba.
Delta — once a PDP fortress — is now enemy territory.
“We are being wiped out!” cried a top PDP insider who spoke in a panic.
Since the 2023 elections, the PDP has been in a freefall:
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Over 300 members jumped ship to the APC in just one year!
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Zonal and state party structures lie in tatters.
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The National Working Committee is a battlefield, with two rival Secretaries fighting for the party’s soul.
Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum is under fire for steering the party into the storm, while bitter leadership squabbles and expired BoT terms have left the PDP rudderless.
And the defections aren’t slowing down.
Even Oluwole Oke, a five-time Reps member from Osun State, just said “Adiós!” to the PDP — the latest in a wave of desertions that insiders warn could spell total collapse before the 2027 elections.
Tuesday’s emergency meeting will be a fight for survival, where party leaders are expected to debate frantic rescue plans:
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Emergency Congresses,
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A shaky NEC meeting,
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And a make-or-break National Elective Convention.
But will it be too little, too late?
“Most defectors are gone for good,” admitted a senior NWC member. “You can’t stop people running from a burning house!”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu’s APC watches the chaos gleefully, tightening its grip on Nigeria’s political landscape as rivals self-destruct.
As PDP leaders brace for Tuesday’s showdown, one thing is crystal clear:
If the PDP can’t stop the storm, Hurricane Tinubu will finish the job — and leave Nigeria a one-party state.
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Politics
Democracy Hijacked: Nigeria Under Tinubu and APC’s Reign of Suppression
Published
7 hours agoon
April 28, 2025
Democracy Hijacked: Nigeria Under Tinubu and APC’s Reign of Suppression
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Once hailed as Africa’s beacon of hope, Nigeria’s democracy is now a battered relic under the suffocating grip of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). What the world is witnessing is not the nurturing of democratic ideals, but the systematic strangulation of freedom, rights and popular will. Nigerians no longer possess true political rights. Elections are now caricatures. The judiciary dances to executive tunes. The legislature is a rubber stamp. And the masses? They are muted by fear, poverty and intimidation.
International bodies, supposedly guardians of global democracy, remain mostly silent or issue toothless statements while the giant of Africa bleeds internally.
A Nation in Chains
Since Tinubu’s contested swearing-in on May 29 2023, following what The Guardian (UK) described as a “deeply flawed and poorly conducted election,” Nigeria has descended further into autocracy. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) promised technological transparency with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) only for these mechanisms to be crippled on election day, allowing widespread manipulation.
Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of Nigeria’s Human Rights Commission, summed it up perfectly:
“You cannot rig a people’s will and claim legitimacy. Tinubu’s government was born in fraud, and fraud cannot father democracy.”
The very essence of democracy, the right to choose one’s leaders freely and fairly; was brazenly hijacked. When protests erupted, they were crushed with brutal force. The media, once vibrant, now operates under threats of shutdowns, fines and arrests. Activists are labeled “terrorists” or “threats to national security.”
Journalist David Hundeyin, an outspoken critic, captured the fear gripping Nigeria:
“We live in a country where telling the truth has become an act of rebellion.”
Poverty, Insecurity, and Silence
While political rights evaporate, Nigerians are suffocated by poverty. Inflation under Tinubu soared to 33.2% by April 2025 (National Bureau of Statistics), the highest in two decades. Food inflation hit 40%, sending millions into deeper hunger. The removal of fuel subsidies without meaningful cushioning plunged transport costs up by 200%, pushing the minimum wage farther below subsistence levels.
Amid these hardships, dissent is criminalized. When labor unions threatened strikes, the regime secured court orders declaring them “illegal.” Protesters are met with police batons and live bullets, just like during the #EndSARS protests in 2020 under Buhari, whose playbook Tinubu is now perfecting.
Even comedians have become unlikely prophets of doom.
Comedian Basketmouth lamented:
“In Nigeria, you now need visa to visit your own human rights. That’s how bad it is.”
International Bodies: Where Are They?
What have international organizations like the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, or even the Commonwealth done? Very little.
The United Nations issued general statements calling for “inclusive governance” without naming the perpetrators.
ECOWAS, often quick to act elsewhere (e.g., coups in Mali, Burkina Faso), has been conspicuously muted about Nigeria, perhaps because Tinubu played a leading role in ECOWAS’s structure.
The African Union has focused more on Sudan and the Sahel, leaving Nigeria to burn quietly.
The United States, after initial noise about “concerns” during the 2023 elections, quickly congratulated Tinubu and moved on, prioritizing oil deals and counterterrorism interests.
This hypocritical diplomacy sends a dangerous signal:
As long as Nigeria supplies oil and keeps Western interests safe, the trampling of human rights will be tolerated.
Democracy or Democrazy?
Late Chinua Achebe, in The Trouble with Nigeria (1983), warned:
“The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”
Tinubu’s reign proves that leadership failure is no longer just a problem; it is now state policy.
Under APC, Nigeria’s democracy is democracy only in name. Elections are rituals devoid of meaning. Courts rubber-stamp electoral thefts, often dismissing glaring irregularities on “technicalities.” Just in 2023, over 75% of election petitions were struck out on “lack of merit,” despite overwhelming evidence of malpractice (according to data compiled by SBM Intelligence).
Social media, once a tool for accountability, is under siege. In February 2025, the National Assembly passed the draconian “Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill,” widely dubbed the “Social Media Gag Law,” criminalizing “insulting public officials” with jail terms up to three years.
As comedian I Go Dye famously quipped:
“In Nigeria, even silence has been accused of hate speech”
The Broader Collapse
Under Tinubu, Nigeria’s global reputation nosedived. According to the 2025 Freedom House report, Nigeria was downgraded from “Partly Free” to “Not Free” for the first time in 20 years.
Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perception Index ranked Nigeria 149th out of 180 countries, worse than war-torn Afghanistan.
The Economist Intelligence Unit predicted that unless political repression ends, Nigeria faces “an inevitable descent into full dictatorship by 2027.”
Already, Nigeria’s youth, once energetic are fleeing en masse. The JAPA syndrome (mass emigration) has become an exodus. According to the UK Home Office, over 100,000 Nigerian professionals emigrated in 2024 alone, the highest African migration recorded.
When the best minds flee, when dissent is crushed, when elections are jokes, what remains of a nation?
What Should Be Done?
International bodies must stop hiding behind diplomatic niceties. Sanctions must target corrupt politicians and human rights abusers, not just coup plotters in smaller African countries.
Targeted Visa Bans: Bar corrupt APC politicians and election riggers from traveling abroad.
Asset Freezes: Block the looted wealth sitting in London, Dubai, and New York.
Global Advocacy: Push for independent media protections and human rights watchdog missions into Nigeria.
If the West and multilateral bodies continue their selective outrage, they will be complicit in Nigeria’s descent into full-blown tyranny.
Inside Nigeria, civil society must regroup. Labor unions, students, market women, comedians, musicians, journalists all must reclaim their role as the conscience of the nation. Democracy is not given by dictators; it is seized by the people.
As the late Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti warned:
“My people are scared of the air around them, they always have an excuse not to fight for freedom. We must rise.”
A Clarion Call
Nigeria stands today at the edge of a terrifying abyss. Tinubu and the APC have hijacked democracy, and the world watches as freedom withers. But history teaches us that no tyranny is permanent. From South Africa’s apartheid regime to military juntas across Africa, oppressive regimes eventually fall.
The choice is stark: either Nigerians fight back for their rights now, or resign themselves to decades of sophisticated enslavement.
The international community must act. Nigerians must resist. History must not record that in the hour of greatest need, those who should have fought stayed silent.
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Politics
PRIMATE AYODELE SHOCKER!! Not Atiku, Not Obi, only Tinubu Can Make Nigeria Great Again!
Published
3 days agoon
April 25, 2025
PRIMATE AYODELE SHOCKER!! Not Atiku, Not Obi, only Tinubu Can Make Nigeria Great Again!
-Warns President To Do 3 Things To Win 2027 Elections
If there is one prophet presently in Nigeria that has established himself clearly as an oracle, one that foretells accurately what the future holds for different prominent individuals and the country at large, that prophet is no other than Primate Ayodele Elijah, the founder and leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual church. Over the years, he has distinguished himself as different from the rest of the crowd. He is a different breed of prophet. What stands him out distinctly is his ability to hear from the Lord and make prophecies long before they happen.
For instance, in 2022, one of the most popular videos from any prophet back then, was the viral video of Primate Ayodele warning Nigerians not to vote for President Tinubu because, according to him, the country would be plunged into severe economic hardship if he is voted into office. And that’s exactly what happened. But today, Primate Ayodele has another fresh prophecy that changes everything, something many Nigerians will be delighted to hear about. Below is his response when he spoke to City People Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) recently.
What is his position on the gale of defections by many PDP members, including governors and ex-governors to the ruling party, APC, he was asked?
“I have said this before, go and look through our previous prophecies. Maybe a lot of Nigerians are surprised, but I am not the least surprised about this. I specifically mentioned the PDP governors that will defect to the APC and it is all coming to light now. This was what the Lord told me would happen since last year.”
“Now, there is something I want to tell you Nigerians and it is very, very critical and it is important that they listen to me very attentively. I am sure many Nigerians will remember that, in 2022, I was the prophet who warned that they should not vote for President Tinubu and that if they do, the country will be doomed and things will go from bad to worse, right? And it turned out as I foretold. Now, I am the same person coming out strongly to tell Nigerians that, it is that same man, Tinubu, that will take us to the Promised land, and they have to take it or leave it. I said it that the economy will be in shambles if he becomes president, I said the prices of petroleum product will be at an all time high and there will be hardship everywhere. I am now telling you that the same man, come 2027, is the best person for the job. He is the one God will use to turn things around and Nigerians will be happy again.”
“As for Atiku, if he becomes the next president of Nigeria, Nigerians will be in perpetual shock at the outcome of how terrible things will become in the country! If it’s Peter Obi, I am telling you Nigeria will no longer be on the map of the world! If it’s Aminu Tambuwal, Nigeria will crash in only a matter of months. If it’s El-Rufai, Nigeria will be buried for life!”
“I am sure a lot of Nigerians are wondering, what is this man saying? I am saying exactly what I know, exactly what God has told me. When I said the last time that Nigerians would not vote for the best candidate at the time, people said I collected money from Atiku, now that I have declared that the best man for the job is President Tinubu, let them come and tell me I have collected money from Tinubu as well. They say all of these because they do not understand who a prophet is. A prophet is dynamic. A prophet must not be one sided, he must listen to the word of God. Tinubu is the man that will make Nigeria better. And the coming 2027 elections will be largely influenced by ethnicity. And Tinubu’s vote will seriously divide the north.”
Meanwhile, there are three people that must not come out to contest, if they do, Tinubu is in trouble! His re-election for a second term will be in crisis. I will not mention the names now, if I must do that, I will speak to only the appropriate person and that’s the president. I want to speak with the president himself and if he likes, let him listen to me because there are three things the president must do to guarantee his re-election for a second term. If he does not do those three things, he will lose the election, I can guarantee him that. He needs to do these very critical things, three of them, before he can be guaranteed of victory in 2027.”
“As for the President’s wife, she must be careful and guide against being poisoned. She must change her cook.”
Primate was asked to comment on the moves by prominent politicians and the opposition to form what they consider a powerful coalition against the President and his government.
“All these coalitions they are forming all over the place is not new to me, people leaving one party for another party has never been an issue with me. I knew all this would happen and we said so. So, its not new,” Primate Ayodele stated.
The highly revered prophet launched into other areas of governance and politics.
“Adebayo Adelabu cannot become governor of Oyo state. If APC gives him their ticket it is going to be nothing but a wasted vote. If they give it to him, the APC will lose disgracefully.”
“In Anambra state, Uwachukwu Nicholas cannot unseat Soludo as governor. Let him run to anywhere he wants, he cannot succeed unless he does some very significant and needful things that will enhance his chances. But limiting his chances to his own capacity and ideas alone, he should forget it, he will not win the Anambra election.
In Osun state, PDP will still retain power. If APC brings back Oyetola, they will lose the election so disgracefully that the APC in Osun state will go into oblivion. Nobody will remember APC again in Osun state.
Outside of politics, I see Eleganza being set ablaze and shoprite. In addition, I am seeing that hundreds of herdsmen will be killed and they will be chased out of the country. I also see the end of militants fighting themselves.
Eggs will become scarce. We must pay attention to our international airports to ensure that no shooting targetted against a VIP takes place.
IGP Egbetokun will go. Then, I must not forget to reveal that Nyesom Wike, the Attorney General of the federation and Ribadu will be engulfed in a very serious fight.
I warned Fubara that he must not go against the FG, he must use the government for government. He has listened to my warnings now, I had released the warning since October 2024. If he follows my advice to him, I am telling you, Fubara will come back, he will go for a second term and he will win.”
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