Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Oshiomhole: The End of a PoliticalColossus (Analysis) [ A Rich Historical Analysis on PoliticalTransformations, Relevant Beyond its Immediate Context]

OAA,

         Firstly, my concern was correcting the lies, Salimonu Kadiri spins into Benin history and don't care if he decides to label Agho Obaseki a quisling. If you decide to join him in labeling Agho Obaseki a quisling because he was a colonial agent, that is your business. 

          Secondly i never agreed with you anywhere that "...the royal links between the Benin Royals and Yoruba Royals ...was started by Oranmiyan from Ile- Ife" .My take was and still is that the Benin royal link with Ife started with the Benin Prince Ekaladerhan who became the ruler of Ife as Oduduwa and he sent his son Omonoyan ( who the Yoruba call Oranmiyan) to Benin to rule in his stead because he was already too old to make the long journey. 

          As for your APC and Oshiomole, i have no interest in the matter as i don't want my good name to be associated with their parties. I rest my case.

Uyi 

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagbetuyi@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 8:22 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Oshiomhole: The End of a PoliticalColossus (Analysis) [ A Rich Historical Analysis on PoliticalTransformations, Relevant Beyond its Immediate Context]

 

Uyi.

I dont think there are substantial differences between your account and Baba Kadiri's account.  Both portray Agho Obaseki as ' 'Quisling' as Baba Kadiri suggests.

Your account confirms the royal links between the Benin Royals and Yoruba Royals which we debated earlier in the forum and which we agreed was started by Oranmiyan from Ile- Ife.  For me this confirms the unalterable kinship between the Benin, Warri and Yoruba people.

What you established is that treachery cannot be said to be an established feature of only a particular family.  It is part of general human nature I absolutely concur.  I have wanted to immediately after Baba Kadiri's post cite the June 12 episode when the Yoruba advised Aare Abiola to pick Babagana Kingibe as running mate because they thought in view of marital links to the Yoruba he would not dare betray his Principal like other unprincipled northern power brokers.  He did just that preferring to abandon the fight  for democracy pitching his tent with his uniformed Kanuri clansman (Abacha) and thereby reducing the June 12 struggle to an ethnic battle.  

Aare Abiola himself, before throwing his hat in the ring to help dislodge the Babangida infamy, as I recall, asked for assurances that ' they wont ditch us' ( as normal northern power brokers are wont to do) once they were added to achieve their objectives.  They did just that!  

What is more the same dishonourable people are already  saying there is no assurance the post Buhari administration would produce a southern president.

Yes treachery is not restricted to just one family and I bet there are honourable people in the Obaseki family but what Godwin did can be attributed to nothing but treachery. This is Baba Kadiri's essential reading.  Obaseki  could have found ways to settle his differences with his former boss rather than just changing his party and make his gains his party's loss if he actually loved his party and not just power.  Of course if you say the same could be said of Ize-Iyamu if he had won,  I would agree absolutely with you.

As it were the APC have taken their loss with grace showing a superior ethos in politicking.  They  have retained their faith in Oshiomhole and the progressive credentials he had brought to the party no matter the tactical errors he had made in this matter. Whether misled or they have decided to part with APC the Edo electorate have made their decision.  All we can say is good luck!

OAA 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

-------- Original message --------

From: Uyilawa Usuanlele <biguyi@hotmail.com>

Date: 22/09/2020 09:37 (GMT+00:00)

To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Oshiomhole: The End of a PoliticalColossus  (Analysis) [ A Rich Historical Analysis on PoliticalTransformations, Relevant  Beyond its Immediate Context]

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Salimonu Kadiri,

                          I dont know what your point is, but aspects of your story about Agho Ogbeide Oyoo who became Obaseki and later Iyase are not factual but peppered with outright untruths.  to demonize the Obaseki family for leading the revolt against your APC tribal gods. 

                         Firstly you claimed that Agho Ogbedeoyo was a native of Agbor who migrated to Benin where he became a successful trader. This is not true, Agho Ogbeide Oyoo was not from Agbor. His ancestor left Benin long before the 15th C and was appointed the Enogie (Obi) of Nsukwa (now in Delta State) which was part of Benin Empire) as was normal practice for the Oba of Benin to send Princes to distant lands as rulers- Warri, Lagos, Idoani, Ikale etc. Agho's ancestors brought a succession dispute to Benin in the 18th C and after the settlement, Agho's great-grandfather lost and as a diviner he was retained in Benin. Agho's grandfather and father were born in Benin and his father Ogbeide Oyo was so trusted and conferred that he was conferred the title of Ine ne Ibiwe, (caretaker of the Oba's harem and royal children). Agho was a playmate of Oba Ovonramwen who put him in charge of his private business and conferred on him the Obaseki title. 

                      Secondly, you assert that Agho Obaseki led the British to the hideout of Oba Nogbaisi Ovonramwen who chained him and banished him to Calabar. This is another untruth as Agho Obaseki did not lead the British to where Oba Ovonramwen was hiding. Agho might have persuaded Ovonramwen to come to surrender (after 6 months in hiding) and when he did, he stayed with Agho. When the British deposed Oba Ovonramwen after a "mock trial" and decided to take him to visit Calabar and other places, the Oba sought refuge with the Ezomo (war commander). The Consul general threatened another war and the Ezomo quickly notified the British to get Ovonramen from his house. 

                    Thirdly, it was sometimes after Ovonramwen was deported that Agho started warming his way to the British by reporting a planned uprising in 1906 and doing many contracts. He was made the District head of Benin City (one of the many districts) in 1908 and became the chief agent of the British. The British Resident did propose making Agho the Oba after Ovonramwen joined his ancestors, but the Benins rejected the proposal and the British foisted him on Oba Eweka as the Iyase.

                   Agho was not the only Benin chief that worked with and for the British. Even some of the Princes took up jobs with the British and did contracts as well. Yes Agho betrayed the Benins by squealing on their planned uprising and the Benins paid him back by making the British to remove him from office in 1920 shortly after which he died.  

                   The questions then are what has your fabulations about Agho got to do with his grandson Godwin Obaseki?     

 2.) Why are you silent about Osagie Ize- Iyamu's grandfather, Chief Izevbizua Iyamu, also a foremost British agent and District head of Urhonigbe and Igbanke who was driven out of the villagers or escorted out by British soldiers on some occasions?  

Uyi

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Salimonu Kadiri <ogunlakaiye@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2020 4:43 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Oshiomhole: The End of a Political Colossus (Analysis) [ A Rich Historical Analysis on Political Transformations, Relevant Beyond its Immediate Context]

 

​Before Vidkun Quisling, there was Obaseki, whose original name was Agho Ogbedeoyo. In order to understand the connection between Vidkun Quisling and Agho Ogbedeoyo, let's find out first who was Vidkun Quisling.

Vidkun Quisling was Norway's Minister of Defence between 1931 and 1933 in the then Farmers' Party government. In 1933 he formed a Nazi political party called National Assemble. He visited Berlin in December 1939 where he presented to Hitler a plan of German occupation of Norway which would be followed by him, Quisling, taking over government's power. When on 9 April 1940, Nazi Germany invaded Norway Vidkun Quisling declared himself the head of government of Norway. King Håkon of Norway rejected him completely. King Håkon fled Norway, subsequently, and Quisling was able to form an NS-government (NS=National Assemble or Coalition government) in February 1942. Quisling's name has since been synonymous with a traitor throughout the world after the defeat of Hitler and Nazi Germany in 1945.

The equivalent of King Håkon of Norway in Nigeria was the Oba (King) of Benin, Nogbaisi Ovonramwen, who ascended throne in 1888. Agho Ogbedeoyo was a native of Agbor who migrated to Benin where he became a successful trader. King Ovonramwen allowed Agho access to his palace and the daughter of Oba Ovonramwen, princess Etuohun, became the wife of Agho Ogbedeoyo in 1889. In connection with that marriage Oba Nogbaisi Ovonramwen granted Agho the title Obaseki in 1889. Thenceforth, Agho Ogbedeoyo was known as Agho Obaseki. Eight years later, 1897, the English troops invaded Benin and the brave Oba Ovonramwen fought the invaders tenaciously and escaped from the palace. The British sent emissaries to him in his hideout that they would allow him to continue to reign as King if he agreed to his territory being put under British Protection. The Oba refused in 1897 just as King Håkan of Norway refused to be under Nazi German sovereignty in 1940. At that stage, Agho Obaseki who was supposed to be loyal to the Oba by virtue of marriage to the King's daughter betrayed him. Agho Obaseki led the British to the hideout of Oba Nogbaisi Ovonramwen who chained him and banished him to Calabar. By virtue of his marriage to the exiled King's daughter, Etuohun, Agho Obaseki wanted to be Oba of Benin but the people revolted and rejected him. Yet the British made him the head of administration until 1914 when Oba Ovonramwen died. Prince Aiguobasimwin Ovonramwen became Oba Eweka II in 1914 and through the benevolence of the British Colonialist, Agho Obaseki, was imposed on the new Oba as his Iyase, meaning Chief Adviser to Oba. Agho Obaseki, the great grandfather of Godwin Noghghase Obaseki, the controversial current governor of Edo state, remained Iyase of Benin from 1914 until his death on 9 September 1920 by the grace of the British and against the will of the Beni People. Shall we be talking about a godfather or a traitor?

S. Kadiri 

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju <toyin.adepoju@gmail.com>
Sent: 21 September 2020 06:08
To: usaafricadialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Oshiomhole: The End of a Political Colossus (Analysis) [ A Rich Historical Analysis on Political Transformations, Relevant Beyond its Immediate Context]

 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: vincent modebelu vin_modebelu@yahoo.com [AfricanWorldForum] <AfricanWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2020 at 03:13

Oshiomhole: The end of a political colossus (Analysis) 

Sunday, September 20, 2020 3:45 pm | Daily News Headlines | 1 Comment(s)

Daily News Headlines – P.M. News Headline stories from Nigeria and the rest of the world.

A dejected Oshiomhole

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the September 19, 2020 governorship poll in Edo State certainly marks the end of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole's illustrious political career. It is the end of a political colossus, he is ostensibly the architect of his own debacle.

It is nothing but falling from grace to grass in the space of less than two years.  Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the poll, is certainly not the loser, it is Oshiomhole who is the loser. He has been retired politically and will now have to find solace in his Iyamho home.

Two years ago, Oshiomhole was everywhere, he reached the pinnacle of his political career as the National Chairman of the APC, after unseating the former, John Odigie-Oyegun. Before then, he was a two-term governor who excelled and transform Edo State in terms of infrastructure development.

Then he installed his stooge, Obaseki as his successor. Obaseki, who was then Oshiomhole's economic adviser dedicated his heart to the job, which was why the former governor trusted him. But things fell apart between the duo when Obaseki felt that Oshiomhole wanted to be the godfather of Edo politics and was taking more than he should have taken in terms of appointment from the federal.

The final straw that broke the camel's neck was when Obaseki, in the dead of the night secretly inaugurated the Edo State House of Assembly with seven lawmakers loyal to him and shut out 14 others loyal to Oshiomhole. From then, it has been dirty and bitter battle between Obaseki and Oshiomhole. Obaseki had always had his ways in the battle between the duo.

Oshiomhole, who felt cheated wanted to show Obaseki that he is still the king of Edo politics and will unseat him. He felt that he could use his office as the then national chairman of APC to hunt him down. He then went for Ize-Iyamu, who was then in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as his joker to outwit Obaseki in a bid to retain his power and toga as the undisputed king of Edo politics. Ize-Iyamu, who contested against Obaseki in 2015 and narrowly lost, left the PDP for APC to challenge Obaseki for the crown. Political pundits had alleged that  Ize-Iyamu won the 2015 poll against Obaseki and was rigged out by Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole felt he could use his popularity as a grassroots man to end Obaseki's dominance.

The battle against Obaseki cost Oshiomhole his national chairmanship position of the APC. He was dragging the APC down, using the office to fight his dirty war. A very smart Obaseki used his loyalists in Oshiomhole's wardi to suspend him as member of the APC on allegations of anti-party activities. Oshiomhole had waved off the suspension as nothing until it began to work against him. Series of court cases led to his being sacked as the national chairman of APC by the appeal court.

Before then, Oshiomhole's National Working Committee, NWC, had disqualified Obaseki from contesting the governorship election over flimsy allegations and upheld Ize-Iyamu as the right consensus candidate of the party. The move made Obaseki to decamp to the PDP to seek his re-election. He was quickly embraced by the PDP and became a potent threat to the APC's aspiration of retaining Edo State.

President Muhammadu Buhari ended Oshiomhole's reign as party chairman when he recommended the dissolution of the NWC of the APC and the setting up of an Interim Committee, led by to reconcile aggrieved members of the party who have been angered by Oshiomhole's inordinate ambition.

Oshiomhole then knew that if his candidate, Ize-Iyamu did not win the Edo governorship election, he is a goner. That was why he put everything he has gotten to ensure that Obaseki is booted out of office to make him still relevant in Edo politics. Thus, the Edo battle was meant to be a face-saving for Oshiomhole. He was everywhere during the campaign, telling Edo people that he made a mistake to have presented Obaseki to them in 2015 and begged for forgiveness.

With Obaseki gaining more sympathy from the public and his campaign slogan hinged on ending 'godfatherism' in Edo State, the people bought into his idea. It is not that Obaseki performed creditably well in Edo State than Oshiomhole, but he has gotten the sympathy of the people. Thus, the victory of Obaseki in the September 2020 governorship election was not because he decamped to the PDP, his victory was not aided by the PDP, but it was protest votes against Oshiomhole that gave him the victory.

Thus, the biggest gainer in the Edo election was the PDP. Few months ago, the PDP never thought it could recapture Edo from the APC. The party was in crisis before Obaseki defected. But as luck would have it, Obaseki was forced to decamp by Oshiomhole and the party became a threat.

Also, the intrusion of the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu into Edo's local politics spelt doom for the APC. His inglorious four minutes video in which he asked Edo people to reject Obaseki was seen as attempt by Tinubu to make Edo another of his political base and the spreading of his 'godfatherism' base from the Southwest to South South. Tinubu ostensibly contributed to the downfall of the APC in Edo State. Edo people saw him as trying to gain control over them and they resisted. This is because in local politics, locals are always against interference from foreign bodies into their affairs.

READ ALSO  #EdoDecides2020: ADC candidate congratulates Obaseki

#EdoDecides2020: ADC candidate congratulates Obaseki Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Saturday's governorship election in Edo State, Mrs. Mabel...

It is a lesson for Tinubu, that he should stay in his political base and should desist from meddling in political affairs of other jurisdictions in the country. The 'Jagaban' of Lagos politics has been drawing bad blood from Nigerians over his purported ambition for the 2023 presidency. He may have thought that gaining control in Edo State may boost his ambition.

Another reason for APC's loss in Edo was the party's choice of Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje as the choice of the APC National Campaign Council for Edo Governorship Election. Ganduje's dollar saga disqualified him from holding such position. His choice represented a negativity for the APC. The cliche, 'Gandollar' was feasted upon by the PDP during the campaign.

What if Oshiomhole had not use the APC National Chairman office to hunt Obaseki? 

What if Oshiomhole had not been over-ambitious and had not fallen apart with Obaseki? 

He would still have remained the party's chairman and relevant in Edo politics. 

But for now, Obaseki has retired his once godfather from politics and sent him into political irrelevance. 

Oshiomhole has lost in all front, he has fallen from grace to grass, he has been silenced and what is next for him? Only time will tell.

vin......///

What may be added is that the desire to dominate a protégé installed as governor with his help of which Oshiomole is being accused is the same political godfather culture he described himself as abolishing in Edfo stare with the relegation of Chief Tony Anenih and the Igbinedion  factor in Edo politics.

What Oshiomole tried to do to Obaseki was seamlessly accomplished in Lagos State when Ambodeh was recently prevented from returning as governor by his own party.

Why the difference?

SW reliance on hierarchical control as derived from Yoruba culture?

toyin

".....Born to tell the truth....

 Observe and see

What may be added is that the desire to dominate a protégé installed as governor with his help of which Oshiomole is being accused is the same political godfather culture he described himself as abolishing in Edfo stare with the relegation of Chief Tony Anenih and the Igbinedion  factor in Edo politics.

What Oshiomole tried to do to Obaseki was seamlessly accomplished in Lagos State when Ambodeh was recently prevented from returning as governor by his own party.

Why the difference?

SW reliance on hierarchical control as derived from Yoruba culture?

__,_._,___

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