Bishop Dr Joseph Ighalo Edoro is an Edo State-born cleric and public affairs commentator. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, he gives an insight on the shape the coming governorship election will take, even as he takes a look at the Ondo governorship election, as well as the fate of the Nigerian workers. Excerpt: 

 Nigerians joined the rest of the world to celebrate this Workers’ Day on May 1, 2024. How have the Nigerian workers fared under the current administration? 

I congratulate the workers for celebrating the workers’ day. The day was meant to celebrate the workers. The nation appreciates them for their contributions to the GDP. It is time for workers to celebrate and the government to release more incentives to remind the workers. The Nigerian workers have been so marginalised in the scheme of things promotion and rewards. The government has made it look like their relationship with workers is that of the task master. Policies and programmes that should encourage and motivate workers have been thrown to the winds. This is a country where the workers have no hope. Pensions are not paid. Gratuities are a far cry. Housing for workers is nonexistent, except for a select few. The workers have borne the brunt of the state’s unfairness and injustice. There is high inflation created by the state via policies without corresponding cushioning effects, and workers have to bear the brunt. How much is the minimum wage? How much is fuel, foodstuff, university tuition fees? Only N30,000! The workers have not fared well, not under former President Muhammadu Buhari, or under the current Bola Tinubu administration. Instead of the government to take care of the worker, it engages in propaganda. There is no hope for the Nigerian workers, all the government does is propaganda and divide and rule. 

The Labour Movement has been canvassing for N650,000 as minimum wage, while Lagos State has raised it to N70,000, same with do State. What do you think should be the National Minimum Wage? 

I sincerely believe that the only commensurate wage will be between N650,000 and N700,000. Cost of transportation is so high, how much is a bag of rice? School fees and taxes, medicals are all very high, including house rent and emergencies. All these have been factored in for the legislators and political appointees’ salaries, but, not for the workers because they see the workers as being down the ladder. As the workers celebrated, the Federal Government was silent on the national minimum wage. But, they were talking about a percentage increase. Lagos said they have not commenced the implementation of the N70,00 they announced. Edo just announced theirs, which is about N70,000. The workers are left to the whims and caprices of the politicians. Workers will continue to be on the receiving end as long as their leaders continue to hub nub with the government to their detriment. It is so sad that all the negotiations with the government have not come to a meaningful end. The government will continue to win at the negotiation table because they are good at propaganda. Workers are celebrating without fuel. It was indeed a graveyard workers’ day. Workers’ Day has lost its colour in Nigeria long ago. 

With the primaries for the Edo State governorship election concluded, which of the three ‘major’ parties do you think will carry the day? Or, do you foresee an upset by the ‘minor’ parties? 

We have majorly three political parties in Edo State: the PDP, the APC, and the Labour Party, since the last general elections. I do not see an upset by any of the ‘lesser’ parties in the coming governorship election. The Labour Party performed well in the presidential election in Edo but poorly in other elections. Based on that, the governorship election in Edo State has a particular direction. The Labour Party should not think that because they did well in the last presidential election in 2023, they will carry the day in the governorship election. This is because the avalanche for change in the 2023 elections was so massive and now the support for the Labour Party has simmered down. They did not win any seat in the other elections in the 2023 general elections. So, we have to look at the PDP and APC. The APC is a formidable opposition in Edo State, but how far has it fared as an opposition party in the state? APC is the ruling party at the centre. How much has it done in Edo State in terms of federal infrastructure? What will APC tell the people now? When a party is in power at the centre, it is easier for it to take over a state in the next election. Now, the governorship candidate of the APC is trying to build a four kilometer road in Esan. Why wait till now? In the time of Obafemi Awlowo, the opposition was doing a lot. This is one problem the APC has. PDP is a sitting government in Edo. Looking at the candidates, the APC took a cue from Governor Godwin Obaseki’s vision for an Esan candidate. There was injustice and the Esan people were agitating. APC took a cue and brought an Esan man. Who are the two candidates and what are they bringing to the table that will benefit Edo people? Both the PDP and APC candidates are from Esan. So, the election will be between the two parties. Coming to the PDP, all the failed promises are now being fulfilled by the state government, which is carrying out massive development. Do not forget that Edo is a PDP state. The PDP man, Ighodalo started his ground work well ahead. Esanland will be divided between the PDP and the APC but the votes will be determined by the other divisions. Governance has changed because of the dynamic nature of society. We need someone that is dynamic in today’s world, who and what Edo people want to move the state to the next level. 

What is your view on the recent governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State? With the crisis recorded in the primaries, do you think the party will not lose the election proper? 

What happened in the Ondo APC governorship election is common with political parties where the anointed candidates will carry the day. Supporters of the anointed candidates will work to ensure that they carry the day. Even after the primary, their peace move crashed and they are now in court. If the APC continues like this, they may lose the election. The PDP seems to have overcome its challenges and is ahead. If APC continues in crisis, it may lose the election to PDP. I do not see any other party winning in Ondo because there are basically two political parties in Nigeria, PDP and APC. Don’t be surprised that by the next general elections, the Labour Party will not be there. People are even working hard to make both APC and PDP a single party. 

Why do you think the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not been able to discipline Nyesom Wike for contributing to the party’s loss in the 2023 general elections, but allowed him to take part in the recently held National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting? 

I think that the PDP has been handicapped. PDP has been in a state of confusion because of its constitution. What will they hold Wike for? Wike cannot easily be said to have committed anti-party activities. Wike is not a push-over and contributed to the party’s existence. Wike still has his heart in PDP despite his maneuverings. PDP knows that Wike will continue to serve in the APC government. PDP has not met the demands of then G-5 Governors led by Wike. If PDP leaders try to discipline him, they may infringe on his fundamental human rights. If they go to court over Wike, the party will disintegrate because Wike has supporters. Why is the crisis still lingering? Is Wike so adamant? What approaches are they adopting for settlement? Have they been able to discuss it with him? Wike they are neglecting in PDP is an asset to APC. Look at what he is doing in Abuja. I give it to President Tinubu for trusting Wike. If PDP cannot appreciate him, it is unfortunate. They could have locked the gate against Wike in their last NEC meeting, but they could not because Wike is an asset. 

Why is the APC still retaining Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as its National Chairman despite his sack by his ward and his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)? 

The APC at the upper hierarchy is looking at Ganduje’s case. They want Ganduje to be eaten up by himself. The APC wants Ganduje to be consumed by himself. That is why the crisis started from his ward. That was exactly what happened in Adams Oshiomhole’s case. In politics, those that start a fire will continue to fan it till it consumes. Those who fan ambers of crises are the grassroots. Ganduje has cases in courts and the EFCC and they are still retaining him. But, those who start a fire in politics will continue to fan it till it consumes. I can safely say that Ganduje’s days as the APC National Chairman are numbered. 

In conclusion, what is your advice to Nigerians and the political elite? 

The government of the day should be magnanimous and compassionate to look at the plight of the workers. What is happening now is unfair. No motivation. No promotion. No housing. No car loans. In the Edo election, I encourage the parties to eschew their differences and rancor. They should realize that the election is not a do-or-die. To Esanland, I say to them, though the two candidates are their sons, they should look for a better one and go for him. To the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, I commend him. I salute him for his vision by seeing injustice and trying to correct it. But for his vision, the APC would have gone for another tribe. His vision is for the betterment of Esanland and Edo State.