#SMOkingGun Obaseki, the politically-neutered stray cat who thinks himself a lion.

 

Wahala! This Obaseki no go use laugh kill person. Kai! I think say this man don learn.

It appears that former Governor Godwin Obaseki, in his new-found life of holding court in European beer parlours with a handful of bewildered Nigerians abroad, has contracted a severe case of amnesia and has forgotten his own history of empty boasts and threats. Now, surrounded by the echo of his own voice in a Birmingham bar, he has mistaken himself once again for a lion.

His latest performance, a tantrum filled with impotent rage, would have passed for comedy if it weren't so pathetically delusional. Let’s be clear: the man who threatened to “burn Nigeria” if he didn’t get his way, only to slink away in silence with his tiny tail between his legs when his candidate lost, is now claiming he will “mobilize the global community” against Governor Monday Okpebholo and President Bola Tinubu.

Abeg, I wan ask o; mobilize them with what? Is Obaseki a ‘political leader’? Any sane person who follows Edo politics knows Obaseki cannot mobilise 20 street children even if he was offering them sweets.

I laugh as I think back on his many empty noises and weak, powerless boasts and threats. No be im talk that time say, “We just kept quiet last Thursday, if they try what happened last Thursday again in Edo, Nigeria will burn.” Well, he was taught a political lesson reserved for stubborn children who don’t respect their elders, and he couldn’t even locate a box of matches, talk more of making Nigeria burn.

No be im still make mouth about 'obedients' before the election, saying “…people who claim to be Obidients will, of course, be, but they will lose interest. How many people have been able to do what we are doing? We know how to run elections (said by someone who at that time had never run an election strictly on his own leadership efforts).” Empty talk. Till today, wetin APC and Obidients use 'Mr. Election-Master' eye see during the election still dey make am shout and jump from sleep some nights! E be like horror film for am.

This same empty boaster had said during a visit by the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former military Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord before the September elections, that his party would not sign the peace pact if certain things were not done in his favour. He overestimated his impact. On the day of the signing, him and his party were shocked at how they were dismissed by the committee like recalcitrant kids due to their childish shenanigans.

He made so many other boasts and threats, and out of all of them, none was achieved. Not one. So, when he now stands before a camera and says, “Okpebholo will see,” the most appropriate response is a deep, unrestrained laugh🤣. The only thing Governor Okpebholo will see is the continuing development of Edo State, unbothered by the incoherent rantings of a former leader who has chosen to become a political tourist.

His biggest joke of the century was claiming he is “mobilizing diaspora and international community to stop Okpebholo from delivering 2.5 million votes to President Tinubu” . I laughed so hard my belle wan tear.

Firstly, who are you to engage diasporans? On what basis? What do they owe you to make dem listen to you? Secondly, which diasporas? Those 18 and a half people you gather in pubs are the ones you want to use to stop an Okpebholo that chased you out of Government House while you were a sitting governor and your party was ruling? 

Joker.

You leave people for here wey get voters card and wey go vote, go dey mobilize people wey dey abroad. This guy na real mugu. Lol.

Let’s even talk about your capacity to mobilize anyone. A serving Governor Obaseki, with all the resources at his disposal, could not mobilize a resistance to being sent packing. Is it a defeated, fugitive Obaseki who is contending with the anger of Edo State residents and members of his own party that can mobilize to confront Jagaban and Akpakomiza? Even he knows he is just using his sweet tongue to romanticize his uninspired and downcast supporters' ears. Same way he did as governor, till he led them to devastating election losses they haven’t recovered from. 

Godwin Obaseki doesn't have what it takes to lead in politics. Which political leader loses an election and leaves his supporters directionless, disillusioned, without inspiration, confused, and just lost, while he goes to sit down abroad? (No wonder you and Atiku na allies. Na the same mentality una get).

He now attempts to play the tribal card, declaring that “Okpebholo cannot come from Irrua to dictate to anyone in Benin-City.” See who wan play regional politics. Lol. Of all people to promote anything Edo South, is it Obaseki? No single individual has attempted more harm to the Benin Kingdom like Godwin Obaseki. His tenure was an eight-year assault on our traditional institution. So he should forget that pathetic attempt to adorn himself with the toga of a tribal champion. The Benin people have not forgotten.

The reality is this: Obaseki is a scared, harmless cat, meowing loudly from a safe distance. He is a political liability who handled party affairs in both the APC and PDP with a dictatorial touch, leaving only crisis in his wake. He doesn’t understand that politics is about mobilizing, inspiring, and leading people with humility, respect, and gratitude- virtues clearly alien to him. He should learn how Governor Okpebholo has managed to unite various political leaders and interests, even forging a healthy, respectful working relationship with his deputy despite their history- a feat of leadership the former governor could never accomplish.

Is he even aware there is no opposition left in Edo State? The PDP is a ghost of itself, thanks to his terrible management. His rag-tag of supporters in Edo are wandering helplessly. Meanwhile, Okpebholo’s performance and grassroots initiatives have cemented his hold on the people. Communities are opening up, farmers are being empowered, and several Obaseki injustices are being remedied.

So, how exactly does he want to stop Tinubu in Edo state? With his "international community"? This guy na real joker.

Obaseki should stop thinking he is a lion when the reality is that he is a stray cat that overestimates its own importance. If he is ready for real politics, make he dey come house come do the work. The era of benefitting off other people's efforts is over.

If e sure for you, come do the work. Until then, the rest of us in Edo will be busy building our state, utterly undisturbed by the faint, irrelevant meowing from European beer parlours.

Dem dey turn meat for soup, periwinkle sef dey show imself.

The #SMOkingGun is re-loading…