By DADA AYOKHAI
The upcoming local government election in Edo State has the potential to reignite political rivalries among various clans.
In Etsako West, the political rivalry between Auchi and Uzairue may, once again, erupt, especially with the declaration of Hon. Romeo Omoike to run for the council chairmanship position.
Hon. Omoike a relation of Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, from Uzairue has formally indicated interest to vie for the Etsako West Local Government Area chairmanship seat
While Hon. Omoike’s formal declaration generated sufficient excitement, it also brought to the fore the age-old rivalry between Auchi and Uzairue.
Despite their shared interests, both clans represent a stronghold of the APC in the Edo North district and consist of the four political wards with a large voter base that can significantly influence election outcomes, their commonalities often end there.
The two clans are fierce political opponents, seizing every opportunity to demonstrate their superiority.
Going by available records, From 1999 to 2003, Uzairue had its first shot with Chief Lucky James, elected as the Etsako West council chairman
According to Uzairue political leaders, Since then, various factors have combined to deny Uzairue the opportunity to lead the local government.
With the declaration of Hon. Omoike,and others they expressed a glimmer of hope .
Uzairue’s political leaders, feeling hopeful seem willing to approach their Auchi brothers to foster brotherhood and garner support.
On the side of Auchi, the first executive council chairman from Auchi was the late Hon. Hassan Kadiri, who was elected in April 2013, after the late Prince Azeez Momoh, who served as a caretaker council chairman.
Following Hon. Kadiri’s death in May 2015, midway through his tenure, the then-governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, refused to allow Hon. Alhassan Muhammed, the council’s vice chairman from Uzairue, to complete his late boss’s term. Instead, Governor Oshiomhole appointed Hon. Busari Yussuf, an Auchi indigene, to finish Hon. Kadiri’s tenure.
In March 2018, Hon. Oshiorenua Yakubu from Auchi was elected chairman of the local govt but midway into his tenure, he became one of the major casualties of the political feud between former Governor Godwin Obaseki and his political godfather, Oshiomhole.
Obaseki’s defection to the PDP, along with his deputy Hon. Philip Shaibu created a major political stir, resulting in the deputy governor taking control of local governments.
A politically savvy Hon. Shaibu quickly moved to assert his authority by installing his allies in the council chambers .
He is alleged to have orchestrated the illegal removal of the then Etsako west local government chairman, Hon Yakubu Oshiorenua .
Hon. Imonofi Osumah Inusa, Oshiorenua’s deputy, was sworn in on October 23, 2019, by former Obaseki to complete the truncated tenure of his boss.
The Auchi and Uzairue has both indicated interest in the local government Chairmanship seat and their preferred party platform, APC, becomes the sole determinat on where the party ticket goes
