It is not surprising that Godwin Obaseki just lost his temper. It’s just the continuation of a pattern that the Edo people saw too late. His years in government were characterized by a violent tendency that was always simmering beneath the surface, intolerance, and vindictiveness. His disposition still leaves wounds on those who worked closely with him. The most obvious example is Philip Shaibu, a former deputy.
No sensible leader would plot the humiliation and dismissal of a deputy he once referred to as a brother, whatever of the nature of their disagreement. However, Obaseki used the House of Assembly as a pawn to crush a man whose only transgression was losing favor with the lord of Osadebe Avenue, using every institutional tool at his disposal to settle a personal score.
In October 2022, Obaseki started acting nasty toward people he had pledged to help. In the settlements of Oke-Oroma, Irhirhi-Obazagbon, and Ogheghe, he oversaw the demolition of almost a hundred houses. Despite the residents’ insistence that they had legitimate paperwork, such as Certificates of Occupancy, he proceeded against an ongoing court order that had prohibited any action until their lawsuit was resolved. It was a disastrous outcome. Property valued at billions of naira was reduced to ruins, and thousands were forced to flee their homes. What a retaliatory man!
When Obaseki vowed to burn Edo if his favorite candidate lost the 2024 governorship race, the Edo people witnessed the full scope of this savagery. They weren’t the meaningless diatribe of an irate politician. They came from a leader whose government had a history of using state authority as a weapon, arming loyalists and establishing networks of political enforcers who readily mixed in with the criminal elements before turning their weapons on defenseless civilians.
The fact that kidnapping and armed robberies skyrocketed in the early days of the current administration is no accident. These crimes weren’t random. They were the last-ditch efforts of an ecosystem that Obaseki himself created, supported, and enabled.
The state was purposefully left unstable, and Governor Monday Okpebholo had to bring it under control. He has been able to control the tumult and rebuild public trust by exercising quiet strength and composed leadership. However, rather than withdrawing into introspection, Obaseki has intensified his efforts.
His most recent film from Birmingham shows a man who is unable to accept that Edo people have gone on. He vowed that the governor “will see,” called Okpebholo “stupid,” and claimed that he is rallying the world against both him and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
These remarks from a disgruntled former official are not innocuous. These are well-thought-out threats from a person who has never concealed his intention to topple Edo State if he loses control.
He asserts that a governor from Irrua cannot impose his will on the people of Benin. The perilous tribal undertone of his policies is revealed by that statement alone. He used ethnic animosity to isolate opponents and split communities for eight years. He is now trying to fan the same flame of division against a governor who has only concentrated on development, inclusivity, and governance.
In that video, Obaseki uses language that is not only careless but also explosive. It suggests an effort to incite animosity toward a government that is making a concerted effort to repair the harm he caused.
It is increasingly more obvious that his recent travels under the pretense of “meet and greet” are an attempt to gain international support, money, and legitimacy for a domestic political conflict he has already lost. There are legitimate concerns about motive when a former governor publicly boasts about organizing the international community and the diaspora against the state’s current government.
Why does he require pressure from around the world? Why is he trying so hard to fabricate a crisis story when there isn’t one? And who are the foreign recruits he intends to bring on board? This same individual had threatened to burn down Nigeria before an election, and the Edo people have not forgotten that.
They still remember how his personal “security structure” used political allegiance to threaten local populations. They are aware of the ramifications of a former governor seeking international backing while exchanging animosity and terror.
The unsettling reality is that Obaseki’s remarks imply a readiness to work with outside parties to threaten Edo State’s stability. A man who used to arm political enforcers and foot soldiers is now bragging about mobilization on a global scale.
The connection seems realistic. His post-tenure travel habits, abrupt desperation, and incendiary speech raise the idea that he is looking for money or covert assistance to resurrect the political apparatus that formerly worked for him—a mechanism that turned to crime when he left government. Edo is unable to ignore this. A man who threatened institutions in the past is now intimidating a serving governor with threats.
Even yet, Monday Okpebholo hasn’t threatened Obaseki in spite of his attempt to distort reality. His ethnicity has not been weaponized. He hasn’t used abuse in response. He has only reminded the public that Obaseki’s misrule records are out for anyone to review.
the failure to swear in politicians who have been properly elected. the Assembly’s manipulation for private gain. the historic choice made by the National Judicial Council to postpone the swearing-in of judges. Without offering the general public a workable substitute, the primary hospital was demolished. These acts were the pinnacle of haughtiness and disregard for the people he purported to represent, not merely poor government.
Ironically, Obaseki’s past is replete with actions that compromised the welfare of the Edo people, yet he now blames others of endangering him. It is not Governor Okpebholo that he fears. He fears being held accountable. He worries that the harm he caused to organizations, communities, and public confidence will no longer be concealed by the mist of propaganda. In the hopes that distance will skew reality, he flees overseas in search of fresh allies.
His criticism of Governor Okpebholo’s allegiance to President Bola Tinubu is even more damning. Obaseki demonstrates the resentment that results from losing political significance by arguing that Okpebholo shouldn’t send votes to the President. However, governance is not about ego. It is performance that garners support. Furthermore, Okpebholo is already well ahead of the eight years of stagnation that Obaseki left behind because to his subtle but persistent changes in the areas of public administration, social welfare, infrastructure, and security. The people of Edo are not blind. Who is working is known to them. Who listens is known to them. Who respects them is known to them. That cannot be altered by any amount of foreign bluster.
Obaseki’s most recent outburst is a risky escalation from a man who is having difficulty staying relevant in politics. It is a clear threat to peace and an indication that he is prepared to draw Edo into hostilities in order to satisfy his wounded ego. The federal government and the Edo people need to give issue the serious attention it merits. There is a security risk when a former governor openly supports dissidents overseas while tribalizing domestic politics. It appears from his actions, comments, and record that he is not acting alone.
Security organizations need to pay attention to Obaseki’s most recent remarks. It is impossible to ignore the warning signs raised by his divisive speech, worldwide mobilization, and public threats. To ascertain the networks he is trying to ignite and the motivations underlying his words, a detailed investigation is required.
To make sure they don’t jeopardize the peace Edo State is currently experiencing, his well-known fans, internet loyalists, and political enforcers need to be appropriately profiled and well watched. Every organization in charge of ensuring public safety must take swift action before remarks turn into something more deadly because Edo cannot afford to return to instability.
