Edo South’s Political Abdication: A call for reassessment of leadership strategy

Edo South, the largest of the three senatorial districts in Edo State, has long refrained from using its dominant political position to assert power, instead prioritizing fairness and inclusivity through a rotational governorship arrangement. However, this decision has resulted in unintended consequences, according to security expert and a benin indigene from Edo state south Ogbemudia Bassey Osagie.

In a recent statement, Osagie highlighted the paradox facing Edo South, which represents over 60% of Edo State’s population. Despite its numerical advantage, the district has consistently opted to support a policy of rotational governance, promoting the idea of fairness across all three senatorial districts—Edo North, Edo Central, and Edo South. This approach, while intended to ensure equity, has created significant gaps in leadership and political representation at both the state and national levels.

According to Osagie, the district’s voluntary political restraint has led to its exclusion from key federal appointments, with no Benin-speaking person from Edo South currently holding a federal position. This, he argues, reflects a deeper issue of underrepresentation and marginalization, as the majority group in the state has failed to use its power to influence critical decisions, both locally and nationally.

The consequences of this political abdication have also been evident in the quality of leadership emerging from the region. Osagie contends that the district’s candidates are often selected not for their competence or leadership ability but due to a misguided attempt to balance power among the three districts. As a result, he claims that Edo South’s political potential remains largely unrealized, leaving it vulnerable to poor political outcomes and weakening its standing within the state.

Osagie further argues that this situation is not just a local issue but one with broader implications for the region’s position within Nigeria. By surrendering its political privilege, Edo South has allowed minority leaders to dominate the political landscape, both at the state and federal levels. This imbalance, Osagie suggests, has diminished the region’s ability to safeguard its interests and advocate for the people it represents.

The key message from Osagie’s analysis is that while the rotational system of governance may be morally appealing, it comes at a high cost when the majority fails to assert its rightful influence. Leadership, he believes, should be about leveraging the district’s significant numbers to secure better representation and effective governance for the people of Edo State.

Osagie calls on the leaders of Edo South to reconsider their approach, suggesting that fairness should not come at the expense of political strength and strategic leadership. He stresses that the district has the opportunity to reclaim its position of influence and elevate Edo State’s governance. By finding leaders who can balance moral principles with the political will to lead, Osagie argues that Edo South can restore its dignity and ensure that its people are adequately represented at the national level.