By Richard Osadolor
As the stage gets set for the 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, remains the party to beat in the upcoming contest.
The reasons are not far fetched. To start with, as the party in power in the state, the PDP needs to place every step right as it quests to lead the state for another four years after Governor Godwin Obaseki.
In the present, a lot of names have made the list of political pundits across party lines. Those names are heavy weights in their own rights, and are capable of helping their parties, sway the electorate to their benefit-winning the governorship election.
In the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State in particular, several big names have also been dropped as those with interest to succeed Governor Obaseki. But among those names, none seems as acceptable and as weighty as that of the Earl Osaro Onaiwu.
Those who run with Osaro Onaiwu’s name, say he is a dedicated party man. And believe all you can, there is no gainsaying that a dedicated party man is among the many qualities an aspirant should possess, to scale the first hurdle in the quest to being governor; that is, winning the party primaries.
Osaro Onaiwu has been one of the engine rooms of the PDP in Edo State since inception in 1998. Apart from the few months when he moved out to seek redress following a lopsided primaries in the 2016 guber primaries of the party, Onaiwu has been a consistent follower and leader of the PDP till date.
Onaiwu comes with an enviable service acumen both to Edo State and Nigeria. He had served the former military Governor of Midwestern states, Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia. He also served Admiral Festus Aikhomu, the former vice president of Nigeria. That service was rekindled when Onaiwu became the founding Director General of the PDP governors forum and later, Director-General of the Nigeria Governors Forum.
His leadership credentials did not come cheap. Onaiwu is a confirmed grassroots mobilizer. He is noted for playing deft roles that keep party men and women together and has ensured the PDP retained its grassroots followership in the state despite challenge from other parties in recent time.
Again, in the present scheme of things in Edo politics, Onaiwu has a high percentage of youth followership as well as followership from core party men and women which is prerequisite to swing the votes in PDP’s favour in 2024. Indeed, Onaiwu is the only one among the lot whose contacts and friendship spans across party lines and ethnic nationalities in the state and beyond.
A Family man and successful business man, whose interests span across real estate, Garment manufacturing, Hospitality, media and entertainment, Onaiwu possesses a Sociable. Likeable mien which is lacking in many politicians of today.
Earl Onaiwu is a graduate of International Institute of Journalism, Abuja. He is the founder of fashion houses Jalomeseki Couture and Osaronno, Africa’s first all white bespoke menswear brand.
Onaiwu is popular with his Red Carpet Protocol, a reputation management consultancy, established in 2006, which serves the corporate needs of the 36 state governments till date. He is the publisher of the monthly talk of the town magazine “Mandate 36.”
Onaiwu’s Orovie Group, plays big in real estate, hospitality and media. He is also heavily involved in a charitable organisation called Joy Osaro-Onaiwu Foundation.
-Richard Osadolor, a political analyst, writes from Benin City
