By GEORGE ETAKIBUEBU

Wednesday's unprovoked attack on Dr Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election by Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Edo State on national television is to say the least, a most despicable thing to do. It can best be described as dancing naked in the market square by a supposedly elder statesman.

Oshiomhole, driven by the combined forces of fear and frustration, exhibited an uncanny hatred for Ighodalo as if he was on a personal vendetta against the boardroom guru. In his ill-advised TV appearance, he cast aspersion on the person and integrity of Ighodalo with a view to tarnishing his unassailable pedigree and hard earned reputation. But alas, Oshiomhole failed woefully. Not even the anchors of the popular programme cared to buy the rotten stories he was hawking not to talk of the viewers.

Since his misadventure on the prime time TV show, the question that has been flying around is why did Oshiomhole choose to dance naked in the market square even at his age. He was 72 on April 4, 2024.

Why did he choose to throw shame and decency out of the window and show the world wrinkled and flaccidly parts? If you're one of those asking the question, here are the reasons.

Oshiomhole and indeed the APC are mortally afraid of Ighodalo. Therefore, Oshiomhole's actions on TV were borne out of extreme fear. If you noticed, he was terribly agitated, uncomfortable and visibly panicky as he tried to deliver on his job schedule. Oshiomhole knows, his party, the APC knows, too, that Ighodalo is their nemesis in the forthcoming election. They have come to terms with that reality. And that is why everyone of the spokespersons of the APC has been charged to try and damage Ighodalo's reputation. Unfortunately for them, the more they try, the harder they fail.

And why not, Oshiomhole and the APC ought to be afraid of Ighodalo. They have reasons to be afraid. Ighodalo parades an intimidating CV that Oshiomhole's party candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, does not have even one tenth of. Oshiomhole and the APC should be afraid because the level of popularity and acceptance Ighodalo has been enjoying is simply confounding to them. Oshiomhole and APC should be afraid because Igholado has a Master Plan — "The Pathway to Prosperity for All" as a manifesto which is not just ready but already unveiled and shared to everyone to read and know exactly what Ighodalo is talking about. Their candidate, Okpebholo has none, not even a sentence jotted down anywhere in the name of a manifesto. They are afraid because while the manifesto of Ighodalo is all over the place, the APC candidate is hiding from the media and hiding from the people. And from his hideout he has been quoted as saying he doesn't need a manifesto to govern Edo State. What a lame alibi from an empty mind bereft of ideas and the intellectual rigour to properly articulate and espouse the same. This is indicative of a vacuous and untested mind. Importantly, it was a confirmation that he was never ready for Edo State and Edo State would not wait for him or accept the half baked bread that he is.

Oshiomhole, during the show of shame on national television, displayed poor anger and frustration management skills while exhibiting gross ignorance of what the courts have been dealing with.

Oshiomhole danced naked in the market square because his party, the APC fielded what he himself called a "slowed engine" candidate. A candidate described variously by sundry writers and analysts as "mute", "vacuous" "dour", "empty", "uninspiring", "hiding", "absconditus" and a "social hermit." Who wants such a fellow for a governor of Edo State, peopled by highly social, intellectually mobile and generally well enlightened lot?

With an unsellable candidate like Okpebholo, there's every reason for Oshiomhole to be afraid of Ighodalo. He is simply their nemesis. And the APC has decided to make the peddling of lies and propaganda as their only official campaign strategy.

But Ighodalo is focused on his vision and dream for Edo State. He would not be distracted by the barking of an old and self-adulating individual. Nor is he ready to trade his commitment of moving Edo State from a third world state to a first world sub-sovereign in Nigeria. These distractions are at best the howling noises of the enemies of Edo people. Oshiomhole may as well continue to dance naked in the market square for whatever he thinks it is worth. Edo people will decide his fate and that of Okpebholo on September 21.

•Etakibuebu, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Benin City.

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