By Omo Odigie
Not a few political observers have described Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, APC’s leading aspirant for the Edo State gubernatorial race as a greenhorn in partisan politics, having retired as a federal civil servant in January this year.
How wrong they all are as events have increasingly shown, lending credence to the biblical caution that “the race is not to the swift, neither the battle to the strong but that time and chance happeneth to them all”. Nothing can be more apt on this for anyone than for Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, an ex-federal PermSec who is gunning for Edo governorship.
Yes, he may have just entered into partisan politics but that does not make him a greenhorn or neophyte in politics; or to say that he does not understand the intricate ropes of politicking. Far from it!
Perceptive observers do acknowledge the leadership and management skills Dr Umakhihe exudes, with his wealth of experience of 35 years as a top-flight bureaucrat, technocrat and chartered accountant for that matter during which he traversed several important and strategic ministries and MDAs and interacted with the high and low in the society.
How many of his co-aspirants can boast of such credentials? A handful perhaps, if any at all! Events of the last few weeks have proved strongly that Dr Afolabi’s top rating and sagacity on the political turf is not a fluke, especially as the gubernatorial race has steadily gathered much momentum.
Umakhihe was amongst the earliest to obtain the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms of the party and indeed has submitted the same ahead of the party’s screening exercise which is sure to get him through. For now, his rating and followership keep soaring higher. This is largely predicated on the widespread acknowledgement of his huge experience in practical governance, competence and electability, aside from his known ethical values and fairness in all his considerations.
Amongst all 12 aspirants in the APC primary race, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe is the most experienced in administrative governance when you appraise his career which started from ground zero to the highest position in the federal civil service. Sure, the experience attained in the different ministries and MDA that he traversed will be brought to bear in moving Edo forward when he becomes the Governor.
Recall that he started his civil service career at the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR); through to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation as a Director. And then to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he oversaw over 100 foreign missions. He, thereafter, moved to the Ministry of Defence and later to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning where he combined the responsibilities of Permanent Secretary and acting Honorable Minister.
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He was also at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and finally the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security – all in the capacity of a Permanent Secretary.
These accomplishments have won Dr Umakhihe several laurels too numerous to mention here. No doubt, Providence has been at work all his life – preparing Dr Umakhihe for the challenges ahead in these times of the nation’s life and particularly the task to restore the lost glory and fortunes of Edo State.
Dr Umakhihe’s credentials may be pleasantly intimidating you may say but that is not quite; they are only a modest testimony of his diligence and faithful service to the fatherland.
The APC is a united family of people who recognize excellence when they see it and, in the Edo gubernatorial race, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe is one of such! Therefore, it would not be out of place to suggest that all other 11 aspirants in the race save the APC the stress of a rigorous primary.
They should just, out of consensus arrangement, give the slot to Umakhihe. He is the only one who satisfies all conditions that encompass competence, integrity, party loyalty and zonal/ethnic balancing.
Umakhihe’s recent tour of all local governments in the state is worth recalling regarding the overwhelming reception accorded his train, particularly in Edo South and Central senatorial districts where the majority of other contestants come from.
It would be very wise on the part of the Edo APC to pick its best for the Edo governorship, to enable it to wrest the coveted seat at Government House in Osadebe Avenue. Most party faithful and in fact, the generality of the people of Edo State root for Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, who the APC should pick.
Dr Odigie is a political analyst and Umakhihe’s ardent supporter
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