EDHA: The Implications of Obaseki's 24 New Disciples

EDHA: The Implications of Obaseki's 24 New Disciples

By Eben Enasco Kingsley

The election of March 9, 2019 may have Produced 24 legislative disciples that will from time to time decide the fate of the common man for the next four years in Edo State.

The victory in this symbolic feat sounds like the real deal in a new paradigm shift of Democratic permutations.

Because it is the first of its kind since the inception of the nascent Democratic dispensation to have all legislative seats to a party.

Although the driver in this monopolistic race presumably would have thought at least 20 to 4 elective members

No one would believe that in a state where the number of political parties that contested was over fifty yet no party got even a seat.

They could not even sold a virus to any of the opposition parties hence they bag all.

The results polled and declared by electoral umpire shows the ruling All Progressive Congress defeated all other parties

For Governor Godwin Obaseki, it is Healy healthy for his party to have the legislative arm in his pocket to help fortify his developmental parlance.

Recall that in his electioneering campaign, Obaseki solicited support from the electorates to vote all candidates representing his party to have a robust government.

He wasn't though disappointed as he had all seats to himself.

In the 2015 election, the APC won three out of the five Assembly seats in Edo Central.

But this has since changed with the stronghold of the main opposition party, PDP succumbed to intense pressure of the ruling party APC.

Flowing from the impressive outing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the Edo State House of Assembly election, some have ascribed the landslide victory during the election to Governor Godwin Obaseki's style of governance resonating well with the people.

Opinions had also revealed that with the demise of Chief Tony Anenih who until death was a pillar to the PDP in Edo Central pave way for such defeat.

In some quarters, some argued that the defeat was a sell out by leaders in the land perhaps to seek relevance in the tripeptide political framework in the state.

With Edo state established on three senatorial carriage, Edo central seems to have been relegated since the last part of Adams Oshiomhole's Administration till date with his successor holding grip of the linage.

This may have reminded them of the need to collapse the bridge to allow APC infiltrate the established political landmark with a view to retaining the speakership position for fair share.

However, the whole idea to have all may sound nice but unarguably, it is endemic to Democratic permutations.

The implication is that in Edo State, we now have a one party system which may tell had on the people in times to come.

The legislative arm is a major attribute of Democratic governance and if effective could ensure good governance and provide a forum for grassroots representation.

It is a unique institution in Democratic setting composed of elected representative of the people who occupies a prominent position in modern democracies.

In all standard this gives citizen feelings of inclusiveness. Thus, with their exclusive powers to oversee the activities of the executive in safeguarding public finances as well as provides avenue for readdressing public grievances.

However, providing oversight function through resolutions, checks and balances to improve the performance of the other arms of government with empathy of same party with some decisions rejected, then the people will have no voice.

The state may probably head for a parliamentarians manipulation by the executive with it's hallmarks as the disperser of governmental Powers.

This may encourage symbolic endorsement of decisions wrong or right of the leaders . This is common in Democratic settings where for number of reasons the executive arm succeeds in influencing the legislature because there are no stiff oppositions.

It certainly encourages autocratic governance resonating around the people looking at it from another dimension.

Going by the believe of the Obaseki's administration to have the house in its locker, and the willingness to perform as well, the permutations may prove a bargain if internal party interference is completely avoided.