Chijioke Edeoga

By Shedrack Ozioko

Ambitiousness is the oil which greases the wheels of success. However when it is not balanced with realities, doom is imminent. Chijioke Edeoga, a former contestant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary election in Enugu State is apparently on the verge of besmirching what remains of his reputation and relationships with people of value. A colossal failure looks forward to meeting him in the 2023 governorship election for a warm embrace if he continues on this treacherous path. 

His declaration on July 3 as the Labour Party flag-bearer for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Enugu State, sent shock waves down the spines of his former supporters. Few weeks prior to his declaration, Edeoga had made public his acceptance of defeat in the primary election, where he secured a paltry nine (9) votes while Mr. Peter Mbah, the eventual winner, won with seven hundred and ninety votes (790). Just like most of the failed aspirants, Edeoga congratulated Mbah. He further invited the latter to his residence and hosted a banquet in his honour. Excited for Mbah, Edeoga announced the collapse of his structure into that of Mbah, declared support for him and instructed his followers to support the flag bearer as a credible candidate who would take Enugu State to the zenith. 

In a press statement issued by him and well-circulated by his media aides on social media, Edeoga attested to accepting the results of the primary election in the higher interest of Enugu State. He stated, ‘’...we have accepted the results in the interest of peace and stability of our beloved state’’. In affirming his support for Mbah, Edeoga declared in the letter: ‘We decided to remain in PDP and support the flag bearer, Barr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah’’. But that was not all. He issued specific directives to his supporters, admitting the humility and magnanimity of his defeater. Edeoga stated: “Peter has reached out to us and stretched out a hand of fellowship; we are disposed to support him. Now is the time when intra-party jostling should take the back seat. Now is the time to heal and lend a hand towards building our dear state. In view of the foregoing, I hereby urge all my supporters and the people of Enugu State at large to rally behind Mr. Peter Mbah for the tasks ahead”, he declared with a seeming tone of finality and closure. 

The above avowals instantly won him public applause. His unambiguous concession of defeat was hailed as the hallmark of sportsmanship. This is the reason his supporters went bananas when he made the unexpected volte face of defecting to the Labour Party. Edeoga made a fool of those whom he instructed to support Peter Mbah. His unstable character and blatant desperation has left many with much chagrin. His chameleon-like personality begs the questions: Can Edeoga ever be trusted? Why does he keep swaying? Does it mean he has no mind of his own? Do integrity and honour count for something in his moral orbit if there be any?

It is obvious that Edeoga joined the Labour Party having seen the zestful campaigns for Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate whose supporters have become a potent force to reckon with. The ‘Obidients’ as they call themselves are everywhere on social media ‘winning souls’ for Peter Obi. More so, they have come out en masse and embarked on permanent voters card (PVC) sensitisation. They have also occupied every INEC office registering for their PVCs. Betraying his deficits in scruples, Edeoga, seeing the social media vibrancy of the ‘Obidient’ movement, decided to seize the opportunity to revive his ambition. He observed that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, an effortlessly marketable candidate - Peter Obi has arisen. He made his devious move, hoping to ride to electoral victory on the back of Peter Obi and his record of excellence and integrity in private, corporate and political spheres.

However, the failed Commissioner for Environment forgot that Peter Obi’s ideological beliefs differ markedly from his. While he was Commissioner in Enugu, the state witnessed the peak of uglification. Dirt, refuse dumps and drainages stuck with sands defaced the beautiful city. It was so appalling that even The Punch newspaper, in a March 30, 2022 report titled ‘Enugu stinks, refuse takes over streets, block drainages, residents fear epidemics’ described how dirt littered Enugu State, noting that residents were at risk of epidemic. Edeoga dented Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s effort as a result of his unabashed ineptitude. Hence, his resignation came as a relief. Since then, gusts of fresh air have been wafting all over the state. The environment is now clean, safe and livable. What Edeoga could not do in three years as the Commissioner for Environment, someone else did in less than three months. This shows how incompetent and disorganized the over-ambitious aspirant is. 

When someone who could not keep Enugu clean desires to lead the same state, what possibly does he have to offer? Edeoga lacks the qualities of leadership; he is incompetent, unpatriotic, selfish and a double-tongued man. Ndi Enugu do not need someone who could not even do well when he was given a little task to lead them as governor. The Holy Bible affirms that he who is faithful with little, more will be given to him but he who is not, even the one he has will be taken from him and given to a capable person. It is a wonder that Peter obi, who has ran a captivating campaign on his record of honestly, competence and passion for excellence in public office will accept a complete mismatch like Edeoga as the governorship candidate of Enugu State. Edeoga’s candidacy is a negative advertisement to the Peter Obi brand. 

It is no secret that the Nwodo family desires the Lion Building and sees Edeoga, their in-law who happens to come from the area favoured by the zoning politics in the state, as a bait to get there. A long time lackey, he is beholden to them and has little or no say in their unceasing power seeking shenanigans, especially with himself packaged as the chief beneficiary. Their desperation to plant a stooge in the Lion Building has been an obsession since Dr. Okwelieze Nwodo’s four-year governorship tenure was abridged midstream by the Abacha coup in 1993. Adorning the godfather togas, their bids to install a minion as governor failed in 1999, 2007 and 2011. Edeoga is the last hope of the fading Nwodo brothers to rule the state by proxy. 

Now that Edeoga is on a perfidious quest for the Enugu Government House, what exactly will he tell his supporters about Peter Mbah during campaign? Will he say that a man whom he once poured encomiums on is no longer fit for the job? Obviously the scales have fallen off his supporters eyes. They have become Mbah's ardent fans as Edeoga's true nature blooms in the sun. The pack of hack writers he hired to malign not only Mbah but also Governor Ugwuanyi for his alleged role in his loss of the PDP ticket is deserting him for his ideological waffling and tragic summersault. His Isi Uzo constituents are asking questions, wondering why they should abandon a party that catapulted the unstable son of theirs to the House of Representatives, senior presidential appointment and State Commissioner. Only a simpleton will believe a man given to such erraticism. Ndi Enugu should be wary of the man who is consumed with personal ambition, a man who can easily be coaxed into swallowing his own vomit. Obidients and the Labour Party supporters should be circumspect of last-minute defectors like Chijioke Edeoga who are driven by selfishness and over-ambition. 

Ozioko resides in Nsukka.