By Omonijo Abiodun, 22nd October, 2024
Following the conclusion of Edo state gubernatorial election, and the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the governor elect of Edo state, next is the inauguration of the governor elect and his Deputy, an event that is scheduled to hold on the 12th of November, 2024.
After the inauguration of the governor elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo must immediately hit the ground running by appointing the Secretary to the State Government, SSG. The one and only man that comes to mind, is Barrister Anselm Ojezua.
The first question that many like me, that have the interest of Edo state at heart, will ask, is: WHY ANSELM OJEZUA?
In any case, I am not supporting Barr. Ojezua for the position of the Secretary to Edo state Government, for any reason, other than the fact that, his wealth of experience in the lawns and corridors of power in Edo state and Nigeria, and his experience working with those in the saddle of power, dated as far back as 1982. Again, he is from the same Senatorial District as the governor elect.
As far back as 1982, he was co opted to serve on the Gubernatorial Nomination Committee that was set up by the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, for the Rivers state chapter of the party. He was also a Special Assistant to the National Secretary of the Party.
Anselm Ojezua was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He worked with Chief Lucky Igbinedion, a one time governor of Edo state, for his reelection.
Barr. Ojezua’s wealth of experience in governance, can be a plus to Okpebholo’s incoming administration. For example, Between 2003 and 2012, he served in the Edo State Government in various capacities including but not limited to; Deputy Chief of Staff (2003-2005), Commissioner for Youth and Sport (2005-2007), Chairman of Post Primary Education Board (2009–2010), Commissioner for Information & Orientation 2010–2011, Commissioner of Lands, Survey and Housing (2011–2012).
Barr. Anselm Ojezua also supervised the Ministries of Works and Education concurrently at some point during the period.
In May 2014 he was elected State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State for a term of 4 years.
He was re-elected for an unprecedented second term in 2018. His tenure as State Chairman, ushered in an administration characterized by mass mobilization, occasioned by efficiency and consensus building until the Party imploded due to top leadership failure.
He returned to PDP in 2020, and he was, and still is, a respected leader of the Party, even though he left the party, apparently as a result of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s insistence on imposing Asuelimen Ighodalo on the party as his preference choice for the just concluded Edo state gubernatorial election, which he, Barr. Anselm Ojezua, also contested in, as an aspirant.
From the above, Senator Monday Okpebholo will need in his government, Barr. Ojezua’s wealth of experience in governance, for him to be able to steer the ship of his administration to safety.
Dr. Goddy Osa Igbaekemen, a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, was A Member of the APC 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, and was the Director, Intelligence Gathering, Akpakomiza Support Group.
