Comrade Adams Oshiomhole rose to national consciousness as the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress between 1999 and 2007 during the Presidency of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
He was the man of the people and voice of the voiceless as he successfully organized strikes and protests for the betterment of the common man and economically battered worker.
Riding on his popularity, he contested for the Governorship of his native Edo State. Initially, he lost to Prof. Oserhimen Osunbor before the Court upturned it and declared him the winner of the hotly disputed election.
He was to discover that governance was starkly different from activism. We recall his infamous brush with Joy Ifije, a widow whose goods were confiscated by some government officials in a traffic violation offence. When she begged him for leniency, he told her to ‘go and die.’ His insensitive statement sparked national outrage before he was forced to apologize. He was later to promise financial assistance for her, automatic employment for her children as well as support for the latter but the incalculable damage had already been done.
As the Senator representing Edo North, he had a famous clash with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio over procedural decisions making his supporters praise him to the High Heavens as one willing to speak truth to power.
The confrontation is believed to be linked to the senate’s recent amendment of its standing rules, which introduced stricter eligibility requirements for leadership positions in the 11th Senate.
Following a closed-door session, the senate amended Orders 4 and 5 of its Standing Rules, tightening eligibility for presiding and principal offices. Under the new provisions, only senators who have served at least two consecutive terms immediately preceding nomination are eligible to contest for presiding offices. Nominations must also follow a ranking order, from former Senate Presidents to second-term senators.
The amendments effectively disqualify Oshiomhole and other first-term senators from contesting for key leadership positions.
Oshiomhole has gone ahead to grant controversial interviews to the media saying that the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was obtained via forged signatures.
Is Oshio Baba as his fans as well as supporters fondly call him really altruistic or is he doing all this merely for the camera? Does he nurse an ambition to succeed Akpabio which is not a crime in itself but is it just to obtain power for its mere sake without any real, measurable impact?
He faced his first litmus test as the Governor of Edo State. What really were his legacies? What did he achieve as the former helmsman of the Dennis Osadebay Avenue? What is he remembered for as the ex-governor? Did he not attempt to become a political godfather which made him fall out with his successor, Godwin Obaseki? Did he not throw his weight behind Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu whom he had earlier dismissed as a crook simply because of politics?
He is now calling for a nationalization of South African assets in Nigeria as a response to the South African xenophobic attacks. He forgets that many Nigerians have shares in their assets and they also employ many Nigerians as well. Such an ill-thought-out policy!
Oshiomhole won the primaries of the APC in Edo North; let us see if he will win the Senate Seat in next year’s general elections. It will be interesting to see if he contests for the nation’s number three seat.
Time will definitely tell!
