By DADA AYOKHAI
With a few days left before the presidential and the national assembly elections, the Edo State government is not making light of its intention to ensure total victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates.
Consequently, the state government has taken immediate steps to activate its political machinery.
A top government source privy to some of the schemings playing out in the political arena said the state government is concerned about the defeat starring it in the face, especially against the backdrop of the soaring popularity of the Labour Party in the state and the division in the party.
After a thorough analysis of the situation that it must take some drastic steps to avert political defeat which awaits it at the poll if nothing is done to prevent the PDP from losing its firm grip on power.
Based on the projections carried out, it was agreed that the state government should put some feet on the ground as a way to offset any inroads or gains by the opposition.
The source further added that it somehow dawned on the state administration that the best way to counteract the opposition was to quickly activate the LGA Liaison Officers and send them to their respective duty stations as foot soldiers who will give vent to the political objective.
Thus, without thinking it twice, Gov Obaseki said to have held a secret meeting with the 18 LGA Liaison Officers during which he dished out to them the marching order to ensure that the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the other National Assembly candidates of the party emerged victorious at the polls.
For all intents and purposes, the result of the election is crucial to the survival of the Gov Obaseki administration. As a result, he was said to have repeatedly drummed this into the ears of the LGA Liaison Officers while also admonishing them to make sure that they “win” the heart of the electorate on behalf of the PDP
However, there seems to be no role whatsoever for the members of the rival Chief Dan Orbih faction of the party. Speculations are rife that members of the Orbih faction may likely not support the Obaseki candidates during the election and, if it indeed turns out to be true, it will certainly count against the Obaseki’s faction.
Evidently, the reward of the liaison officers will be based on the results of the election in their various localities.
In addition, they were adequately mobilized for the kind of precarious job assigned to them. The source alluded to the fact that said each of the lucky liaison officers left the venue of the meeting smiling because of the hefty sums of money that were allocated for the task.
So as not to incur the wrath of the public, the “allocation” in question was clandestinely labeled as “allocations” meant for the rehabilitation of roads.
However, the liaison officers are in a quandary as to how to go about discharging their assignment. The dilemma is even more worrisome for those posted to the Edo North district as they are likely to come face to face with the intimidating political machinery of the former comrade governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole.
As the day goes by, more and more of the tactics adopted by the political gladiators to either dislodge or retain power will come to the fore
