Oshiomhole's Legitimate Stealing: Why is the Presidency Silent?

    It was shocking and embarrassing few days ago when Edo state legislative puppets hurriedly passed a squalid bill which spells that past Governors and Deputy Governors would henceforth be entitled to some juicy benefits from the state’s already drained purse. These entitlements include, for past Governors each: A five-star mansion worth a whooping sum of 200million naira in any location within the country; three cars which certainly would worth about 200million naira – these cars, as we were educated by the heinous bill, would be changed once in every five years; three drivers, three cooks and a secretary starting from level 12; free medical care for all the members of the governors. For the Deputy Governors each: 100million naira mansion, three cars to be changed once in every five years, cooks, driver, as well as secretary to be paid by our ‘poor’ government. This is not to overlook the free medical treatment for them and their immediate family.

At present, four past Governors would benefit from this callous gesture – Adams Oshiomhole, Lucky Igbinedion, Professor Osunbor and Samuel Ogbemudia. Thus, this bill if signed into law by the present State Governor (which is most likely) would warrant the state government to immediately pull out approximately two billion naira: an amount that if utilized without bias would be enough to create a medium-size company (like shoe-making factory) which could absorb many unemployed youths and in turn increase the state’s IGR.

Since this crazy bill which mocks the downtrodden was passed in the ludicrous State House of Assembly, the immediate past Governor of the state – a self-righteous man in his own right – has continued to trade the path of silence.  This unhealthy silence from the self-acclaimed People’s Governor is not only disturbing, it is ignominious and sad, and it further lends credence to the fact that certainly Oshiomhole had planned his own juicy entitlements while in power; that may have been the reason why he was so emotional about enthroning Obaseki as his successor either by hook or crook.

Like other politicians who have trodden the corridor of power in Nigeria, Oshiomhole and his cohorts are callous, greedy and to a large extent, have committed a great disservice to humanity – to the civil servants the state has owned heavily in pretense of a recessive economy – to the pensioners (old people with wobbling frames) who queue up to collect their meagre pensions and sometimes die in the process – to the students deprived of scholarships and quality Education – to the motorists denied of accessible roads despite the taxes imposed on them – to those who roll their stomachs against their mats to quell the ravaging hunger.

But what I am completely mesmerized by now is why the ‘saintly’ presidency which has publicly showed its detest for corruption and oppression has grown a deaf ear to the wailing of the ordinary Edo, crying inside the bramble Oshiomhole has set ablaze? Is it because Oshiomhole belongs to the Presidency’s camp of the political divide? Let posterity answer these questions for us as we behold without complaints, those whose banners carry ‘CHANGE’ lead us into dire economic atmosphere.