By Ehichioya Steve Odion
Although the Senatorial election held in Edo Central has been won and lost, but the role Senator Clifford Ordia played in ultering the rotational arrangement between Okpebholo and Agbazilo for the Senatorial position in Edo Central Senatorial District will remain in the minds of Esan people for a very long time, and there is no doubt that it may continue to hunt Clifford Ordia politically in the zone because the people were not happy with his third term ambition.
The gentleman arrangement started in 1999 when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hold sway in the Senatorial District under the leadership of Chief Tony Anenih of blessed memory.
Chief Anenih then, being the leader of PDP in Edo Central, in his wisdom felt in order to live as brothers and sisters and for peaceful cooexistence decided to call the people together and proposed the rotational arrangement between Okpebholo and Agbazilo on the Senatorial position and that of House of Representatives. All Esan people both home and abroad bought the idea and settled for it.
Without any acrimony Okpebholo produced the first Senator through Prof. Osareimhen Osunbor who hailed from Iruekpen-Ekpoma, in Esan West Local government area. He served between 1999 to 2007. Between 2007 to 2015 it became the turn of Agbazilo and the position was given to Sen. Odion Ugbesia from Esan South East, Ubiaja.
Despite this arrangement, Sen. Ordia contested with Sen. Ugbesia for the Senatorial position. I believed it was allowed just to promote democracy within the period knowing fully well that there is an agreement on ground concerning the position. Although Sen. Ordia won in one of the contest, he was asked to step down for Sen. Odion Ugbesia in order not to ulter that arrangement. Chief Anenih being the father of all, compensated Sen. Ordia through political patronage and he was promised the Senatorial ticket if Sen. Ugbesia finishes his tenure. That promise was fulfilled and he was given the ticket in 2015 and won the election. In 2019 he was reelected to serve for second term which will end in June, 2023.
Although, Sen. Ugbesia equally fought for third tenure, Chief Anenih objected to it in order to allow Sen. Ordia have his second tenure, having been assured of two tenure if Sen. Ugbesia round off his second tenure. Although Sen. Ugbesia participated in the primary that produced Sen. Ordia's second term the party made sure he (Ugbesia) did not win the primary.
But one expected that Sen. Ordia would learn a lesson from the attempt Sen. Ugbesia made for his third tenure which failed woefully. But due to greed and selfish interest Sen. Ordia decided to ulter the rotational arrangement by coming in to the race through Gov. Obaseki faction of the PDP, knowing fully well he will not get the ticket through the proper channel which was the Dan Orbih faction, now called Legacy Group.
It is no longer news that the two factions in Edo PDP have been having a running battle in the court, until Gov. Obaseki faction was favoured at the Supreme court. Based on this judgement Senator Clifford Ordia became the candidate of PDP in Edo Central.
This was when the real battle started when (EBAKOTA) "meaning our agreement" came in to work for Clifford Ordia's failure, in conjunction with the Legacy Group of the PDP.
In order to ensure he was fully defeated, the Esan people who believed so much in the rotation decided to form an alliance with the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo who is also a bonafide Esan man from Esan Central to ensure his victory at the poll. With the APC candidate's victory, the rotational agreement was ultered because another Okpebholo man has retained the senatorial seat for Edo Central instead of Agbazilo.
This action of Sen. Ordia no doubt brought political inbalance to Edo Central. Sen. Ordia has therefore committed a political suicide that may hunt him for the rest of his life.
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