The die is now cast for the public presentation and launching of the book titled: “Ematon”, written by the prolific writer and multiple award winning academic, Dr. Francis Ilenloa Igberaese, as the event will be chaired by the National Vice Chairman of the PDP and the Chairman of Ambrose Alli University Governing Council, Chief Dan Osi Orbih.
Ematon, which was the nickname given to the former Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was formed into a title by the author who goes by the pen name “Ilenloa Igberaese”, to x-ray the administration of the former governor and account for the reasons Mr. Asue Ighodalo lost the November 2024 gubernatorial election to Sen. Monday Okpebholo. According to the author, the former governor was nicknamed Ematon for his infamous habit of hitting hard on all those who had caused him goodness. The book maintains that while his hypnotised followers, branded and blinded by him, and now on auto mood anger nicknamed the former governor “Ematon 1 of the Universe”, the other people in the street also nicknamed him “Ogbobhabhese 1of the Universe” for this infamous and repeated penchants of paying evil for good done onto him.
“Comrade Oshiomhole, his biggest political benefactor, told us that he was a con man but we did not believe him. The Chief Orbih led PDP removed his shame as the political destitute Comrade Oshiomhole had made of him. No sooner had he got to power than he started confirming the name that Oshiomhole had given him, becoming a serial betrayer, which vindicated Comrade Oshiomhole. He did not even spare Chief Nysom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, to whom he had led a delegation to thank before the whole world for making his re-election possible”, the author said. “He, by his actions, reunited all former enemies against himself, and Ighodalo thus, merely became a man who passed through the path on the day everything was lost. How his party leaders did not see the defeat Ighodalo suffered coming and started shouting rigging to alibi the expected loss, even as Obaseki unjustly took on ‘Ehi and Oghare’ was most baffling.
The book, which will be reviewed by the erudite and Distinguished Prof. Matthew Izibili, takes a wipe on the former governor’s attempt to diminish the revered Oba of Benin, the ancient Benin Palace, as well as the traditional institutions, and his public governance deficiencies. It calls Obaseki a mere ruthless profiteers in government instead of a people welfare maximiser. It states that Obaseki did not understand the differences between the objective functions and operations of the private sector – the business firm and those of the public sector – the government. He does not come near a degree or certification in Economics and knew not more than a year one economics undergraduate. Yet, he lied to all that he was the best economist ever, which was one part of the brandings that blinded his followers.
“His dream was to make Edo State his final retirement benefit. In the process, he did not mind dividing the people along party and ethnic lines more than ever in the history of Edo State, provided he achieved his con man intentions. Somehow, as it would always be, God raised for us an iron bender in Sen. Monday Okpebholo, to melt an Ematon”. The man who once ignorantly and proudly answered Ematon is now Dansisidan – forced into distance land from his people, from where he has been explaining himself to no one in particular.
Besides Obaseki’s ignoble attitudes in government, the author in the Twenty Five chapter book, also Chronicles some events he is personally privileged to witness in Edo history, including but not limited to the interesting political intrigues between Chief Tony Anenih and Sen. Oseriemen Osunbor as governor of Edo State, and why Chief Anenih’s core boys were so afraid of the late Chief bringing his children to politics, as against the general belief that he never wanted his children in politics.
“It is simply time we started writing about these events, because no one knows which piece of writing would make it to the next bible”, the author said.
According to the Chairman of the Book Launch Organising Committee, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye, former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, the actual date of the event will be announced soon.