Sleeky former labor leader and Governor of Edo State almost completely deceived progressives and politicians, including Professor Wole Soyinka, who made a quick U-turn at the Benin Airport on learning that the seminar Adams Oshiomhole invited them to attend was, in fact, staged to aid the presidential bid of Master manipulator, General Ibrahim Babangida. Deeply disappointed invitees fled, but were shocked by Oshiomhole's deception.
Sahareporters wrote that Professor Soyinka, in the company of Chief Bisi Akande, the chairman of the AC, as well as Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos, Usman Bugaje, Femi Ojudu, Kayode Fayemi, Wale Oshun and Osun State guber candidate Rafiu Aregbesola, had already arrived at the Government House in Benin City when they were informed that contrary to their understanding, the rally was actually being sponsored by Babangida who was already in a hotel in the city, accompanied by the Senate President, David Mark.
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he revelation incensed the activists and they left Benin in anger after they had confronted Oshiomhole, who could not deny the plan. A furious Soyinka reportedly told Oshiomhole that he could not forgive such a high-stakes "419" scam being perpetrated by someone of his caliber.
Adams Oshiomhole is reportedly scheming to become IBB's Vice Presidential candidate in preparation for a full presidential run in 2015.
Saharareporters had exposed Oshiomhole's schemes against Goodluck Jonathan late last year as he connived with members of the Governors's Forum to frustrate all attempts to have Jonathan assume the presidency when the nature of Umaru Yar'Adua’s health came to light.
The two-time Nigeria Labour Congress president has always engaged in dubious political schemes including hosting the likes of James Ibori, as well as appointing IBB's spokespersons into his cabinet.
It remains to be seen how his dalliance with the discredited IBB, now that it has become public knowledge, will affect his political situation in Edo State. It is widely known that he has continued to combat former PDP chieftain Tony Anenih, saying that the reign of political godfathers in the state is over.
In another account, the Nigerian Tribune reports that dignitaries that reportedly turned back from the Benin Airport include National Chairman of the AC, Chief Bisi Akande; Mr Rauf Aregbesola; Dr Kayode Fayemi, and National Publicity Secretary of the AC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
The rally, according to the Edo State deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, was organised by the Edo State government in collaboration with labour and civil society groups to propagate the philosophy of ‘One Man, One Vote,’ a brainchild of Governor Oshiomhole.
General Babangida arrived at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in the Benin metropolis, venue of the rally, in a coaster bus in the company of Governors Oshiomhole, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State, who represented Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
Founding President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and current Secretary-General of Organisation of Africa Trade Union, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, fired the first shot when he appealed to Nigerians to never again allow anybody, irrespective of his status, to annul any free and fair election in the country.
Sunmonu said whoever annulled the June 12, 1993 election was the cause of the problem Nigeria was passing through today.
Lagos-based lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said that it was only one man, one vote that could ensure a corrupt-free government that would deliver on electoral promises and be accountable to the people, adding: “That is why we protest the presence of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who annulled the June 12, 1993 election.”
On her part, President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said that Nigerians needed a public apology for the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election.
“We need to know why we lost the man and the mandate of June 12. We need to know why the freest and fairest election was annulled,” Okei-Odumakin added.
However, Babangida told journalists at the Benin Airport on his way out of the city that persons who spoke were entitled to their rights, and that the beauty of democracy was that people agreed to disagree and disagreed to agree.
General Babangida also said everybody was free to make his choice the way he liked, adding that “this is the beauty of democracy.”
Confirming their turning back at the Benin Airport after learning that Babangida was there and that Senate President Mark was invited as chairman on the occasion, the AC national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said they were duly invited to the occasion by Oshiomhole.
He added that Oshiom-hole, being a governor elected on the ticket of the party, they had come to support him to strengthen democracy in the state.
Mohammed said they left because they did not want to be seen as supporting Babangida’s presidential ambition, just as he expressed surprise that Senator Mark, who allegedly suppressed the recommendations of the Mohammed Uwais- led panel on electoral reform, was made to be chairman on the occasion.
At the Murtala Muha-mmed international Airport, Lagos, Nobel Laureate, Professor Soyinka, who did not leave with the AC members earlier but returned with them, said “I don’t think any rally was aborted. He said this is the last straw (pointing to a newspaper). I saw this and this is the last straw, the guest of honour, David Mark.”
The Senate President was, however, absent at the rally.
In his speech, Acting President Jonathan commended Governor Oshiom-hole for organising the one man, one vote rally, saying it was an important contribution in the ongoing debate by all patriots for credible elections in the country.
Jonathan, who was represented by Governor Sylva of Bayelsa State, expressed the hope that the pre-eminent mission of this generation must be to deliver on the promise of good governance through the process of elections that were free, fair and acceptable.
He said “electoral fraud is the basest form of corruption,” which Nigerians must do everything in their power to bring to an end.
Jonathan urged Nigerians to embrace the democratic ideal of respect for the individual voters, adding that this enabled the people to elect their leaders freely.
Announcing that the process of electoral reforms was going at a good pace, Jonathan noted that for credible elections to take place, Nigerians must insist and cultivate the right attitude and be willing to play by the rules.
The acting president said the government must, at all times, stand by the people and must, at all cost, resist the temptation to pervert the will of the people.
Oshiomhole said the rally was non-partisan, but a forum of Nigerians who appreciated the need to deepen democracy through credible election based on one man, one vote.
Oshiomhole said in democracy, two elements were critical – the people who are kings, and the attitude of the president and Commander-in-Chief, adding that whoever held office did so at the mercy of the electorate.
Governor Oshiomhole commended Acting President Jonathan for demonstrating neutrality during the re-rerun in Etsako Central and Anambra State governorship election, while he urged youths to resist being used as thugs during elections.
Also, governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, raised the alarm that the chances of credible elections in Nigeria were slim, in spite of the recommendations of the Uwais panel.
Musa alleged that it was clear from what was happening at the National Assembly that Nigerians would have electoral reform that the PDP could tolerate.
