TRUTH, LOYALTY AND THE POLITICS OF SELECTIVE MEMORY AND MISINFORMATION.
In recent days, information has reached me about a planned protest in Benin city and Ovia North-East Local Government Area allegedly organized by some individuals who claim to oppose my aspiration to contest for the position of Chairman of Ovia North-East Local Government Council. Ordinarily, such matters would not deserve a response, as political aspirations often attract differing opinions. However, the narrative being promoted by those behind this agitation is based on deliberate misrepresentation of facts and is clearly intended to mislead the public and, more importantly, to create a false impression before the leadership of our great party and our amiable governor Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The central argument being pushed by these individuals is that I worked for the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki between 2016 and 2019 when we were all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). On the surface, this statement may appear factual, but what they deliberately fail to state is the most important part of the story. In 2016, the entire APC family in Edo State worked collectively to elect the APC candidate who eventually became governor at the time. Like many committed party members across the state, I played my role as a loyal party man in supporting the victory of our party. That effort was not an individual decision but part of the collective struggle of thousands of APC members who worked tirelessly for the success of the party.
However, when the political circumstances of 2020 unfolded and the then governor chose to leave the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), many of us were faced with a defining moment of political choice. At that point, my decision was clear and unwavering—I remained in the All Progressives Congress.
Not only did I remain in the APC, I worked actively and supported the candidacy and flag bearer of our party in the 2020 governorship election.
Since that period, my political loyalty has remained firmly with the APC. I have continued to support the party and its leadership without wavering, even in moments when it would have been politically convenient for me to move elsewhere. It is therefore both ironic and unfortunate that individuals are now attempting to distort this history in order to create suspicion where none exists.
More importantly, it must be stated clearly that many respected leaders and stakeholders in the present administration of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, also played key roles in governance and politics during the same period I am now being accused. Mentioning names and positions of those that worked for that same administration will further lengthen this write up, but I will not fail to do so when it becomes necessary. To now attempt to isolate one individual and weaponize that shared history as a political tool is not only dishonest but also deeply unfair.
The truth is simple: my political journey has been defined by consistency and loyalty to the party. When circumstances changed and lines were drawn in 2020, I made my choice—and that choice was to remain with the All Progressives Congress. No amount of political propaganda can erase that fact.
The people of Ovia North-East know those who have remained consistent in their political convictions and those who have moved from one platform to another in search of convenience. They also know those who have continued to work quietly at the grassroots level in support of the party and the development of our communities.
Aspiring to serve one’s people should never become a basis for orchestrated campaigns of misinformation. Democracy thrives when individuals are free to present themselves for service, while the people retain the ultimate right to make their choice.
Interestingly, the same individuals who previously described me as politically unknown are now accusing me of actively working for the administration of Godwin Obaseki between 2016 and 2019. This contradiction clearly exposes the inconsistency and lack of sincerity in their arguments.
What these contradictions ultimately reveal is that the sudden noise around my name has little to do with truth and everything to do with discomfort in certain quarters. In politics, when an individual begins to gain genuine acceptance among the people, it often unsettles those who fear that the political landscape may be changing.
My aspiration to contest for the position of Chairman of Ovia North-East Local Government Council is driven by a genuine desire to contribute to the development of our communities and to strengthen grassroots governance. It is not motivated by personal ambition but by a commitment to service and progress.
Those who seek to distract the public with unnecessary controversies should remember that leadership is ultimately judged by integrity, consistency and dedication to the people.
I remain a committed member of the All Progressives Congress, loyal to the leadership of our party and respectful of the administration of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State.
No amount of political mischief will change that. The focus should remain on building a stronger Ovia North-East Local Government and advancing the collective interest of our people.
*COMRADE OROBOSA CHRISTOPHER ERIAMIANTOE*
