For over ten years consistently, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, the South-South Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, country home end-of-year party, has become a firmament for gathering politicians, friends, natives and people from all works of life.
However, this year’s offered something slightly different from what I have witnessed since reporting the get-together party.
The difference was not in the quality of food and drinks that were massed on all the tables. Everyone had as much as they could eat and also take home. From my estimation, maybe 50 cows must have been slaughtered to host people from all 18 Local Government Areas, LGA, in Edo State.
The difference was not in the music; the local musicians serenaded the atmosphere with melodies. No, it was not in the cultural dances of Edo women or acrobats masqueraded in colourful attires.
The difference from other previously held parties recently was that the get-together offered a platform for several PDP gubernatorial aspirants to meet and fraternise with the people.
All the very serious contenders under the PDP were present, and it was an opportunity for them to also share their campaign materials with members of the party present. Barr Asue Ighodalo, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Hon Felix Akhabue (JOFEL), and others were all there in the rendezvous that offered more than just food and drinks, but some parley, conviviality and felicitations.
However, Mr Asue Ighodalo stole the spotlight in my estimation, as his presence at the get-together party elicited some surprise – something of a rare departure from the expected absence.
No one expected him to grace the occasion, so he ordinarily was the cynosure of prying eyes. Could this be real? You will not fail to sense those questioning feelings.
This surprise was not unexpected – there have been long-standing awkward and reciprocally ill feelings between the governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the host, Chief Dan Orbih, since after the 2020 gubernatorial election.
So it was expected that Mr Asue, who people rumoured to have the governor’s backing, also continue distancing himself from the former Edo State PDP chairman. But this was not the case. He came, sat like every visitor, mingled with the people in the open air, and spoke in a friendly manner when called upon to speak while his branded caps rented the air conspicuously.
While describing himself as a bona fide Edo State citizen from Ewohimi in Edo Central earlier this month, Ighodalo stated that he is nobody’s candidate but one who is ready to bring his multiple experience of serving as chairman of various companies to bear when he gets the approval of the electorate next year to govern the state.
If this vitiation by Mr Ighodalo is the beginning of several to Chief Dan Orbih in the coming days and months, I will evaluate it as a good political move.
Dele Elempe is a Truth Live News columnist and Political Editor.