By Eseosa Ewere | Benin City
To be humble is not to be pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming; humility may be defined as one’s ability to have a low opinion of oneself; not proud, not arrogant, to be humble is to show modesty in one’s daily living, taking into consideration the existence of others, treating them in a dignified and respectable manner.
While the struggle to manage affluence and humility in the political class continue to hit the rock, a handful of principal political figures, however, yet maintain the spartan lifestyle, denying self of luxurious insatiability.
It becomes almost impossible to find genuinely humble political players in a free-for-all political system, were one could find a local tout talk down on a University Professor, as fate now sits both characters on same table to discuss politics, be it formally or otherwise.
“All politics is local” is a popular parlance that refers to the fact that politicians need local skills to win the primary election that gets them into their safe seat, and they need backroom political skills to secure their portfolios.
Whereas a Prof. may be skilled in the development and implementation of policies and programmes for administrations, the aggression of a local tout will be needed to galvanize other members of his class for increased voting.
To understand the above paragraph precisely is to check the meaning of inclusive participation which suggests thus: about everyone being able to take part in the work and activities of organisations; it means everyone’s voice is listened to and that decisions are made with people rather than for them.
Ikpoba-Okha, a Local Government Area situate in Edo South Senatorial District of Edo State, created 1st of October, 1996 by the General Sani Abacha administration with its administrative headquarters at Idogbo, the immediate past Chairman and Chairmanship Candidate of the PDP for the September 2nd Edo LG election, Dr. Eric Osayande is an undebatable embodiment of a servant-leader.
Having work very closely and professionally with Osayande in the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 continuously, and considering his interpersonal relationship with people, it is safe to say that the former Chairman is one politician who eats, sleeps, talks and embodies the art of humility.
Osayande, a multiple award-winning Council Chairman who instituted a new way of thinking to local government administration, got the commendation of the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki as best in Edo, despite his towering accomplishments in his first tenure 2018-2021, he continue to parade an extremely humble personae, an art, uneasy to come by amongst politicians of his worth.
The ongoing campaigns, flagged-off in Ward 3 (Ogbeson) few weeks ago further elucidates Osayande’s character, competence, capacity to speak of his achievements in the most humble and unassuming manner, while yet conveying veritable messages for electorates to go and verify.
In his 3 years as Council Chairman, Osayande built a lasting legacy that historians and book makers will continue to necessarily appraise whenever talks of effective local government administration in Edo takes the center stage; his will be a memoir of hardwork, excellence, commitment, accountability, loyalty, compassion, progress, fulfilled promises, torchlighting his ability to rally the best and most competent hands to get the job done.
A deep look at him shows his unwavering commitment to do more for the good people of Ikpoba-Okha, God-willing he is elected to Council this September; my frequent interactions with members of staff of Council at the Idogbo secretariat reveals a community of workers burning with enthusiasm to receive Osayande.
As campaigns revs up, with Wards 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 waiting in wings to recieve Osayande and the Ighiwiyisi-led Ikpoba-Okha Campaign Council, discussions will continue to revolve around what Osayande did in the years 2018-2021 that qualifies him for popular support for another 3 years.
His mastery of the various communities and people that makes up Ikpoba-Okha shows how close he is with the people; Osayande, an excellent community leader, human resource manager whose humility and mien continue to endear him to all in politics, religion, tradition, academics, market women, community leaders, youths, women, Keke riders, artisans and people from all walks of life; Osayande lives amongst his people, he knows each and everyone by their names and he is very much abreast with their profession.
As political discourse heats up in Edo ahead 2024, Osayande’s humble personality will serve a major rallying point for his Party and whoever wins his support.
Having successfully shapen the fortunes of local government administration in Ikpoba-Okha, the highly respected Chairman will be playing a fundamental role in shapening the cause of the campaigns particularly as we continue to search for that man with the character, competence, capacity to preserve, protect and defend the developmental landmarks of Obaseki, while building more.
Eseosa Ewere is immediate past Press Secretary to the immediate past Chairman, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, Dr. Eric Osayande
