Simon Ebegbulem’s interview and Value Decline
It will be none of my concerns if Simon Ebegbulem had not veered off from his self glorification theme in his interview published in Vanguard Newspaper of September 12, 2020. That he used the interview to inform the public that he has stepped up from a brown envelope journalist that he was in Benin and now a commissioner in Imo State is none of my business. My concern in his interview was the attempt to disparage Governor Godwin Obaseki and portray him as an enemy of progress as they say in local parlance.
But I pity Simon Ebegbulem for not being smart enough. He attempted to assassinate the character of Governor Obaseki but ended up underlining one of the cardinal changes that Obaseki introduced to governance in Edo–the end to the culture of spending state resources on politicians to the detriment of the people. Simon was correct when he said that Obaseki stopped politicians from visiting Government House. This is very correct. During the government of Simon’s paymaster, Adams Oshiomhole, politicians breezed into government house and breezed out with ghana-must-go loaded with money. This culture ended with the assumption of office by Governor Obaseki in order to stop waste, corruption and most importantly, to use Edo resources for the people.
If there is anything, Simon’s account revealed how debased his mind has become and the damage done him by Oshiomhole such that he can no longer differentiate between good and bad. To the likes of Ebegbulem, who are used to feeding fat on government like a kitchen rat, such move from a culture of waste and spending Edo’s resources on few individuals, is evil. People like Simon are the real enemies of the people, who prevent the dividends of democracy from reaching them.
For using Edo resources on Edo people and not politicians, Simon predicted that Saturday’s election “will be tough” for Obaseki. Simon forgot that by focusing on the people and Resetting Edo for efficiency, Obaseki won the hearts of the majority of Edo people; traders, bus drivers and market women who are free of the harassment of thugs and agberos, teachers, civil servants and pensioners who get their entitlements as at when due, home owners and builders who are no longer encumbered by the CDAs and get their C-of-O within 30 days. These are some of the categories of persons who will vote for Governor Obaseki and PDP on Saturday. This is also the reason why the people will not vote for a man whose simple and only agenda is to satisfy the insatiable greed, demand and ego of Simons paymasters. Edo people will not vote for a man and Party that will share their wealth and resources for politicians just like Oshiomhole did.
Simon in his self adulation declared that he supported and worked for the All Progressive Congress (APC) at a time he was a correspondent for the Vanguard Newspaper. He openly declared that he was actively involved in the politics of Edo State and was highly partisan even as a journalist. Simon did not only inform the public that he betrayed one of the ethics of his profession, but that he is only a tool in the hands of anyone ready to pay his price. Shame.
Simon in his interview also revealed that he is only loyal to his stomach. He informed us how he betrayed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who he described as an old time friend, to support Obaseki, who he was not close to. Simon, however, did not tell us how much his benefactor, Adams Oshiomhole gave him to do this. Just like his paymaster, he has returned to his vomit. It is rumored that it only cost the good people of Imo state a commissionership slot for Simon to support Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu this time around.
While Simon was quick to narrate his movement to Abuja as press secretary to Oshiomhole, he, however, concealed the dirty politics he played in his attempt to become the chief press secretary to Obaseki. Why is it difficult for Simon to say that he turned against Obaseki because he appointed John Mayaki as his chief press secretary and not him? John Mayaki himself can speak on the role Simon played in making sure that he lost his job. What did Simon do when Obaseki did not give him Mayaki’s job? He fell out with him and started fighting him.
Indeed, there is no space for corrupt and highly compromised people such as Simon in the new Edo. This is the reason all of them have converged to fight the person, who took the wealth of Edo State from their control. The group that Simon belongs have no problem if Obaseki traded the Edo people for them. I am certain they will be campaigning for him now if he had chosen them over the Edo people. They are blind to the achievements of the current government in human and infrastructural developments.
Off course, Edo people’s gains are their losses, hence their blindness.
Signed
Chris Osa Nehikhare
SPS PDP EDO STATE
Chairman Media&Publicity Sub-Commitee
Edo 2020 Campaign Council