WILL “EMPEROR” STOP TRAILING GOVERNOR OKPEBHOLO?

By John Mayaki

Why is he always trailing the governor everywhere he went? Is he now a government official or an exco member? “He was there in Lagos, when the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo visited the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Now, look at him there with the governor in Portharcourt”, a disgruntled citizen addressed Emperor Jarret Tenebe in a video yesterday.

In life, failure is an orphan. It is more so with success – it breeds envy. And Emperor Tenebe, the Chairman of the APC in Edo state, is not a stranger to this reality. This detractor has taken this issue up and he wants Emperor to let the governor breathe. He’s is worried over his proximity to the governor, accusing him of overstepping his role. That’s the point – when you see greatness attracting envy, this is the color.

Here’s the elephant in the room. But before I discuss that, why shouldn’t Emperor bask in the glory of his hard work? He led his party to victory against all odds that would have broken lesser men. Victory or power, as President Bola Tinubu would always say, is not served a la carte. It’s a meal you sweat to prepare. And so, the victory in Edo state today isn’t without Tenebe’s political acumen, strategic brilliance, and determination. And so, to begrudge him his moment in the sun is like chasing a mother for holding her newborn baby very close.

The guy who lamented Tenebe’s closeness with power may have been expressing the mind of his sponsors but they forget one thing: loyalty. They also forget or pretend not to know that leadership is a ship that requires capable sailors, and Tenebe has shown that he’s a steady hand on deck.

Here’s a state where the APC once found itself in the political wilderness, he didn’t just guide the party back; he restored its pride. So, why wouldn’t he stay close to the project he laboured to hard to bring to fruition?

History speaks for itself in this case. Back in 2020, when Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu contested against ex Governor Godwin Obaseki, the APC, under the then- Chairman, Col. David Imuse, faced betrayal from within and interference from without, especially those in the corridors of power at the national, at the time. And so, the party lost, not for lack of effort but because saboteurs had their way.

Fast forward to today, and it’s a different story. Emperor didn’t just reclaim victory; he wrote a new chapter for the APC in the state – a chapter where the former ruling party now switched to opposition and then, finally finds its voice again. Role reversal is not bad, sometimes. Emperor was part of those who made it possible.

Let me be clear here, Tenebe’s traducers are not simply upset about his actions; they are upset about their own political irrelevance today. It’s the bitterness of defeat speaking, the lamentations of those who thought the APC would remain a footnote in the politics of the state. It is not unexpected – if they can’t cry over the policies of this new administration, which are already unfolding, they will find something else to wail about and this is one of them – Emperor Jarret Tenebe is tailing the governor everywhere, even to official engagements. Why?

Wait. Let me even flip the script. Should Tenebe, having endured sleepless nights, betrayals, and near-impossible odds, now retreat to the sidelines while others bask in his hard-earned glory? Would you build a house and handover the keys to a stranger? Would you nurture a child through labour pains only to abandon it because of the first cry? Who does that? Tenebe’s proximity to the governor is not an overreach, if you ask me, it’s simply stewardship.

Let me admit that Tenebe’s politics style could be worrisome, sometimes. And I have not always agreed with his methods. But in the end, politics is a game of strategy, and in this game, he has bested even his harshest critics, myself included. To win is to prove you played the game better, and Tenebe has done just that. Should I begrudge him, no need. Rather, I would retrospect on my loss, than seeking to delegitimize his well-earned success.

Known for his no-nonsense approach, Tenebe would talk tough and damn the consequences. Emperor Tenebe is a leader who does not merely react to political tides, he personally would create them. His ability to remain steadfast in his struggle and refusal to back down in the face of opposition have made him a force to be reckoned with in Edo politics; we saw in efforts in the local government elections. His name, ‘Emperor,’ is not just a title but a testament to his commanding influence and connection.

Let us not forget the larger picture. Under the previous administration, APC leaders were marginalized, dehumanized, frustrated, arrested, humiliated and threatened. Some had their houses demolished, bombed, and properties seized, using the apparatus of state. Today, those once sidelined are reclaiming their voices, their spaces, and their dignity.

If, therefore, Emperor decides to celebrate his victories loudly, why shouldn’t he? After all, the tables have turned, and those who once dictated terms must now watch as the APC rebuilds it’s house brick, mortar upon another brick.

In all of these, as the APC charts a new course under Governor Okpebholo, Emperor’s leadership will be critical in ensuring that promises are kept because, the stakes have never been higher.

Should we therefore insist that Emperor take a back seat or allow him his due? For me, I think he has earned the right to stay close to the governor, to guide the administration, and to ensure that the dreams he fought for don not fade away into oblivion. People are however allowed to gnash their teeth, but history will remember Emperor as a man who turned the tide for his party and for the governor.

Enjoy your day in the sun, Emperor. All we ask is that the governance you helped to midwife lives up to the promise – good governance, development, food on the table and security for Edo people.