Much has been said about the three major contestants in the Edo State gubernatorial election candidates.
However, sticking to the ideals of Dr Asue, who has said repeatedly that he would prefer that campaigns be issue-based rather than the usual drag-him-down syndrome old politicians are known for, I would like to write only about his virtues rather than the obvious lows of the other two candidates.
Although Dr Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Candidate, comes from the private sector PLUS, since 2016, he has been involved directly in the Policy Analysis aspect of Edo State, using the Economic Advisory Team(EAT) and Alaghodara Summit as platforms. Asue brings top-down policy to actual governance.
His disciplined implementation rigour in the private sector will reinforce public service delivery when he is elected as the governor of Edo State come September. His personality is humane; ask those close to him one way or the other.
He is humble and hungry to uplift the everyday Edo State citizens and those left behind from mainstream economic activities. Personally, I count him high on diplomatic dexterity and skills to pursue positive consensus-building while remaining independent-minded, fair, and just. You can notice these traits easily since he started his campaigns, meeting those on the left and right as well as the undetermined.
Taking an example from the military, there are what are called Regular Combatants. In civilian, democratic terms, I have translated this to mean Regular Citizen, and that is who Asue is. You can easily sense his upbringing, education, and career pursuits, and he is rising unblemished to the pinnacle in all ramifications.
He is the kind of role model in Nigeria that is short of them. His key success factors in the private business, not the government cronyism we are used to in Nigeria, include hard work, diligence, exemplary interpersonal relationships anchored on humility, and never under-rating his opponents. Come close to Asue, you cannot fail to notice the warmth he possesses, holding a ready made smile, beneath a resolute granite to Get-There-and-Get-It-Done endeavours. Long before now, he is quick to cut through, bypass the elitist red tape, to get across and connect with the ordinary people.
This has been noticed since he indulged in this campaign, starting from his consultations. I strongly think that the appeal of the office of the governor of Edo State he seeks now is to squarely serve the masses and reciprocate God’s faithfulness upon his life thus far. Democrats anywhere in the world run a democracy; it cannot run itself. With Asue, democracy will be run rigorously in Edo State with altruistic decency.
With discipline and with respected politicians. With courage and competence to deliver on public priorities while relegating narrow and personal interests. With Asue, politicians will be ready to subordinate their whims so that the majority of the citizens of Edo State can enjoy the dividends of democracy. This I think is what Asue brings to the table differently.
Gabriel Osagie Franklin is a Development Economist, he wrote thia from Benin City, Edo State.