Edo State @ 30: Braimoh Recounts Experience, Congratulates Obaseki

By DADA AYOKHAI 

Thirty years after its creation, from the old Bendel State, Edo State has indeed come of age and even rubbing shoulders with older states in every sphere. 

The state was decreed into existence on August 27th 1991, under the regime of military President Ibrahim Babangida. 

Edo was carved out of the old Bendel State, into what is today known as Edo and Delta States respectively. 

However, as Edo state rolls out the drums to celebrate its creation, reminiscences of what the December 1991 Edo Guber race looked like during the nascent stages of the then new state, came flooding back as Senator Yisa Braimoh recounted his botched 1991 Bendel state Senatorial experience .

Senator Yisa Braimoh is an Edo North PDP leader, who represented Edo North in the 6th National Assembly between 2007 and 2011. 

Prior to the creation of Edo State, Senator Braimoh was one of the frontline politicians of both the SDP & NRC in Bendel State at that time, along with Chief John Oyegun, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Rev Peter Obadan and Chief Lucky Igbinedion and others. He was also at that time, the Deputy Chairman (to late Senator Ibrahim Mantu) of the NRC National Campaign Committee.

Recounting how the creation of Edo State in 1991 changed the political dynamics at that time and forced him into making some tough political choices, Senator Braimoh recalled how he was already coasting home to victory in his 1991 NRC Bendel North Senatorial campaign, when the then military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, announced the creation of new states, with the then Bendel State being split into Edo and Delta States.

Sen. Braimoh disclosed that as a result of the new state creation, he was drafted into the Edo State NRC governorship race, as the running mate to the NRC Guber candidate, Chief Lucky Igbinedion. 

According to him, the creation of Edo State dramatically changed the political complexities in the sense that the earlier-selected running mate to the then NRC Bendel State Guber candidate, one Dr Richmond Leigh, geographically fell into the newly created Delta State. 

He submitted thus, “The party was then left with no choice but to scout for an immediate but suitable replacement candidate of Edo state origin. Chief Tom Ikimi, the then NRC national chairman, in his wisdom, prevailed on me to drop my Bendel/Edo State Senatorial ambition to take up the slot of Edo state NRC running mate to Chief Lucky Igbinedion, to which l heeded and, as they say, the rest is now history”. 

The NRC later went into that hotly-contested December 1991 Edo State Gubernatorial election with vigour but lost to the duo of Chief John Oyegun and his running mate, Rev Peter Obadan, of the SDP. 

The NRC, thereafter contested the “Oba-Line” prone SDP election victory at the elections tribunal. It won but when the case was appealed, the SDP won again. All governorship cases at that time terminated at the Appeal Court.

Sen. Braimoh, from the Owan East Local Government Area , later actualized his senatorial ambition in 2007, when he represented Edo North in the red chamber. Today, he is one of the pillars of PDP in Edo State and was quite instrumental to making sure that the party garnered substantial votes from his base during the 19th September 2020 Edo State Guber elections.

And very proudly, Senator Braimoh heartily concluded as follows, “As Edo State celebrates it’s creation 30 years ago, I am also a proud celebrant and beneficiary of that noble creation, because I was involved at that time”.

He congratulated His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki and people of Edo state for the remarkable developmental strides recorded in the state in the past thirty years, whilst urging our “wake and see“ Governor, His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki to do more with his technology driven innovations in industry, energy, infrastructural and ports developments, mining, education and medium scale manufacturing hubs all across Edo state.

Senator Braimoh who further commended the governor for making the state a model for others, described the journey so far as encouraging and reinforces hope of a more prosperous future.

While acknowledging the sacrifices and foresight that gave birth to the state, the former lawmaker noted that under Governor Obaseki’s administration the state is experiencing developmental strides that fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the people of Edo State.

“Looking back at the last 30 years and the progress the state has made in almost every sector, I think there are enough reasons to celebrate. I, therefore, enjoin the good people of Edo state not to relent in their total support for the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki to enable him deliver more dividends of democracy in the years ahead”, he stated.