Reasons Why Igbinedion Will Make A Great Edo Governor -By Isaac Asabor

It is no more news that Barrister Dele Igbinedion is aspiring to clinch the Labour Party (LP) Gubernatorial ticket ahead of Edo Gubernatorial election that is scheduled to hold next year, 2024. But you know that already, right? I guess you know some of his competitors too.

The question is, are you thinking about why he should get the LP ticket, and why you should vote for him in during the upcoming gubernatorial election? Well, in this piece, this writer who has done an extensive check on his leadership qualities have salient reasons to be optimistic that he will make a great Governor, and that he is the leader not a few Edolites have been yearning for.

There are a number of things that set the legal practitioner, activist, and author apart from the rest. But before we jump into that, let’s look at what qualities will compel someone of his caliber to throw his hat into the ring in the bid to become the governor not a few Edolites have been yearning for.

A great governor of a State like Edo, in my considered opinion, should be a skilled legislator, one who understands how laws are made, especially progressive legislations. In a similar vein, the governor Edolites need, and ready to vote for should be a gifted lobbyist who can move others to have certain things done to the benefit of the people.

Still in a similar nexus, the governor Edo needs come 2024, and therefrom, must be a knowledgeable manager; One who knows how best to prioritize things and manage expectations in order to change lives

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is easy to determine what Edolites have been missing. And, of course how to fix it during the forthcoming election, and in the oncoming political dispensation.

Having made the foregoing submission, it is expedient to look back, and ponder over how badly the ongoing administration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki has been performing since 2016. Having being promoted by his then godfather, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to be a shrewd businessman and an investment guru, not a few Edolites thought he would do wonders at the helm of Edo affairs. But did he? Not in the least. With what Edolites have seen in his performance for close to 8 years, he is yet to master the demanding politics of Edo, and because of that, his plans for the state has failed woefully to get the necessary political goodwill to materialize, particularly as he is undemocratic and anti-people.

With what the eyes of Edolites have seen so far through Obaseki’s undemocratic disposition and clueless governance, it is expedient we settle for Barrister Dele Igbinedion; a politician and a defender of the downtrodden.  However, as the clock ticks to 2024 when the much expected gubernatorial election in the State would be held, we should be deliberate and measured in our decision to choose Igbinedion by virtue of being a politician who has what it takes turn Edo’s economy around. There is no denying the fact that he knows the right buttons to push to fix Edo.

At this juncture, it is expedient to say that over the last few years that Edolites have literarily been wrestling with the need for great Governor for Edo State. But how can a deserved Governor be chosen? What criteria should we used? In this context, it is expedient to outline a number of criteria which the people should look out for in a great leader.

Two of the criteria for selection of a people-oriented Governor in this context is a passion and love for Edo State. Both passions invoke a sense of responsibility under God for stewardship of the earth. The Governor selected must, therefore, have the State’s best interest at heart. To the view of this writer, Barrister Dele Igbinedion unarguably qualifies as the next governor Edo people need as been graphically painted in this piece as he is a leader that will not be focused on what is in it for him, and how he can become rich during his tenure as a Governor. Without any iota of exaggeration, Igbinedion going by his leadership antecedent has a focus on improving the livelihood of the people.

Secondly, he has a track record of success and a proven record in his chosen field, and has consistently through his professional practice as a lawyer been demonstrating the ability to grow and lead an entity successfully.

Thirdly, as a leader he has shown himself to be a person of utmost integrity.  As it is idiomatically said, “You lead out of who you are”, so the values he has been bringing to the table as a leader have remained the basis of judging the decisions he has been making as a leader. To not a few Edolites that know Igbinedion as an activist and a legal practitioner, he does not only talk ‘Integrity’ but has a proven record of living a life of ‘Integrity’.

Above all, Igbinedion as a team leader has no doubt met the criteria which not a few Edolites are looking out for in a Governor, and this writer is optimistic that that with the criteria that he has what it takes to be a change agent as a courageous leader that will believe in the people. Not only that, when voted to become the Governor of Edo State, come 2024, he would no doubt demonstrate the fact that he is  value-driven, lifelong learner and a transformational leader that is also visionary, and has the ability to deal with complexity, ambiguity, and uncertainty.