On Wednesday, August 6, 2014, I hear there was an unusual meeting in the Edo State Government House in Benin City. The unusual was the visit of the Benin High Chief and business mogul, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion to the Comrade Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. It was indeed an august visitor in August! Media reports said the Esama came in a maroon red Rolls Royce Phantom car and as usual, he was accompanied by a returnee of close associates and aides who were kept out of the secret meeting. The surprise visit was said to have lasted for about 35 minutes. Those who are in the know say it was about the first by the Esama of Benin Kingdom to the government house in the last five years. However, that is not to say that the two prominent sons of Edo have not been having chance meetings at social functions in and out of the state. The formal meeting in the government house, though said to be unscheduled, is the unusual, hence, the news. The print and electronic media promptly latched on it, making a mincemeat.

Given the relationship between the government and the patriarch of the House of Igbinedion, the secret meeting kept tongues wagging in the ancient city as to the real motive. Could it have been the lingering crises rocking the state house of assembly which has torn it into two parts with lawmakers holding parallel plenary along party lines?

Was it a plea to cooperate towards the forthcoming general elections? Or to solicit support for and formerly invites the governor to the Esama’s 80th birthday in September? Questions and questions begging for possible answer(s).

But blame not these wagging tongues, insinuating all sorts of things, because anything is possible in party politics, especially in this season of political anomie characterised by defections and impeachments. Some went to the extent of saying the Esama was planning to dump the PDP, adding that he had gone to discuss his defection with his entire household to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC. Yet, some say at 80, the Esama is moving round to reconcile with all those he had issues with at one time or the other. But wait a minute, since the meeting was held behind close doors, I believe all these could be better described as garbage from the political rumour mill.

Without giving in to these “idle talk”, I would however want to believe that the Esama may have quietly met with the comrade governor to appreciate him for the Yeoman’s job he is doing in Edo State, especially in the area of infrastructure, human capital development, youth employment and healthcare delivery. This is more like it given the enormity of transformation the governor has brought to bear on Edo in the last six years. As a chieftain of the PDP, the Esama had to do “secretly” acknowledge the comrade’s modest efforts to avoid sanction from the hawks.

That is the colour of the unfortunate politics in this clime where the opposition is blind to anything good done by the party in government. As an old politician cum astute businessman, the Esama understands this too well and discretion, they say, is the better part of valour.

Well, to me, whatever may have prompted Mohammed going to the Mountain at this “auspicious” time, is good for the polity, especially that of our dear state of Edo. It is high time the political class put aside politics of hate and work in the interest of the people and the state, notwithstanding party affiliation. I was impressed with the Esama when he was quoted in the media as say that “he is the governor of Edo State and I have come to see my governor”. This statement and indeed, the visit itself is in the true spirit of reconciliation on the part of the Esama and I believe the governor will reciprocate accordingly. Yet, the Esama is not celebrating his birthday for the first time with activities running for months and dignitaries thronging his palatial apartment in Benin city from across Nigeria and beyond. But he has never visited the governor in his capacity as the first citizen and chief security officer of the state to formally invite him. This new turn of event or is it change of attitude, may have heighted the suspicion of the people that kept tongues wagging. Like the New PDP in Edo State, perharps, this is a new and born again Esama!

For those who do not know, the Esama is the biological father of the immediate past governor of Edo State, Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion. Yes, I said the immediate past because in the eye of the law, Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor was never governor of Edo State. However, that is a story for another day. At this juncture, let me comment properly on the relationship between the Oshiomhole government and the House of Igbinedion which has been frosty for close to five years. The not too cordial relationship is said to be as a result of government’s determination and courage to say no to business as usual in the state, especially as regards the age-long culture of evading tax with impunity and in the enforcement of the Land Use Act. The government believes no nobody is above the law when it comes to tax matters in Edo state and it has shown that it’s more than ready to enforce it in line with the spirit and letter of the law. If need be, it’s also ready to step on powerful toes and chop off stubborn ones in the interest of Edo. Apparently, this is where the government came in conflict with the Esama who has vast business interests across the state with landed property dotting virtually the entire landscapers of Benin, the state capital.
Again, the octogenarian wittingly or unwittingly believed the state property law which came into effect in year 2013 and the enforcement of the Land Use Act were primarily targeted at him and his business interests. For this, he has been waging a cold war against the state government, using all the arsenal at his disposal, including his TV/radio station and sponsoring protest marches to the state house of assembly against some executive bills.

However, regardless of whatever anybody would have said, thought or believed, that meeting is for our collective good as Edolites because a lot of tension would have been doused and a lot of misgivings would have been laid to rest in the state.