By Mani Imaru
Senator Monday Okpebhelo is being hailed in some sections of the polity for being truthful in opening up on his plans or even lack of it for the citizenry in Edo State.
His truthful gesture came out after he boldly told supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC while campaigning in Ovia North Local Government Area last Thursday of his plans to provide insecurity for them.
He said: “We’re going to provide you with insecurity,” he declared, inadvertently promising the opposite of safety that the people desire.
Some have mocked him and the APC that he let slip what they claim as the evil that the APC has foisted on Nigeria. Others, however, disagree saying that Okpebhelo spoke out of ignorance.
As he made his election pledge of providing insecurity to the people, party leaders who normally are always around to guide and guard him were shocked. The first to respond was Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who quietly tapped him to correct him.
Oshiomhole apparently told him that he had missed the script that may have been rehearsed.
Why Okpebhelo missed the script has not been immediately disclosed and calls on him to clarify what he meant have been unheeded.
APC propagandists are now spreading the word that Okpebehlo meant to say that he was going to provide e-security. It is a phrase that he is yet to explain and hopefully should do at the forthcoming governorship debate among the major candidates
A video has also been circulated where Senator Okpebhelo came out also saying the correct thing to wit, that he will provide security is now being desperately circulated by APC partisans.
He made the correct phrase after he was nudged by Comrade Oshiomhole. Those who watched the video in Ovia North are now saying that it justifies the claim that if Okpebhelo is elected governor that he will be handled by folks like Oshiomhole who will control him and direct him on what to do and not to do.
For the majority of the people of Edo State a third term for Oshiomhole is not what they canvassed for and Okpebhelo has demonstrated that he is the quickest route to that plan. Edo people now have a choice between returning Oshiomhole or moving forward.
*Mani Imaru, a public affairs analyst wrote from Auchi