General
How Edo Finally Became Lagos!
“Edo No Be Lagos!”
Remember that catchy slogan from 2020?
Back then, it was a rallying cry during the Edo State governorship election of that year.
The people of Edo wanted to draw a clear line: “We’re not Lagos, and we certainly don’t want a one-man (godfather) dictating the show here.”
This outcry arose from seeing the kind of “emperorship” that existed in Lagos. That same scenario was on the brink of playing out in Edo State. The Edo residents weren’t having it.
The outrage became necessary when they saw Oshiomhole making power moves that felt way too familiar.
In what seemed like a fast-track attempt to recreate Lagos’s power structure, Oshiomhole backed a candidate to challenge the then-incumbent Governor Obaseki.
The people of Edo resisted, shouting, “Edo No Be Lagos!” as loud as they could.
That slogan helped Obaseki secure a second term in office and kept Oshiomhole from building his own political dynasty.
Let’s take a trip back to understand what “Edo no be Lagos” really means.
Lagos: The One Man Kingdom
Since 1999, Lagos has been under the undisputed control of one man – Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu wielded immense influence in Lagos. Once elected governor, he quickly entrenched himself in a position of tremendous power and influence. He was the alpha and omega.
From local council seats to the governorship, if you’re not “ordained” by the Lion of Bourdillon, forget about it.
Even his immediate family members benefited from the power play: his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, a non-Lagosian, was made a Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial Zone.
His daughter, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, holds the title of Iyaloja General, essentially the matriarch of all market women in Lagos—a position previously held by his adoptive mother. Technically, this position became a hereditary one.
His nephew, Fola Tinubu, is the MD of the company with the monopoly over Lagos’s BRT operation. Also, his son Seyi Tinubu, is the de facto governor of the state and it is rumoured that he is being primed to replace Governor Sanwo-Olu.
MC Oluomo-controlled Lagos NURTW
And let’s not forget the role played by the Lagos “agbero” otherwise known as Lagos NURTW (National Union of Road Transport Workers).
The Lagos agberos, is the militant arm of the Tinubu regime in Lagos. They are very crucial in Lagos politics. The organization which was once lead by MC Oluomo rakes in an estimated N123 billion annually. This is according a statistical report by the International Centre for Investigative Report. This amount is more than the combined IGR of several states in Nigeria.
Interestingly, these funds didn’t just stay on the streets; they greased the gears of Tinubu’s political empire, fueling his presidential ambition.
Fast-forward to 2024!
In September 2024, Oshiomhole’s persistence finally paid off.
The APC, the party of Tinubu and Oshiomhole “magically” wrestled its way back to the top position in Edo State. This happened with the announcement of Monday Okpebholo as governor.
And Oshiomhole role in the emergence of Okpebholo as governor resembled a puppet master’s rather than a party chieftain.
Now, the signs of the “Lagos-ification” of Edo are manifesting. The parallels are just too hard to miss.
The day Okpebholo was sworn in, the streets of Edo felt eerily similar to those of Lagos.
Agberos, or as they’re better known locally, “Lions and Tigers,” flooded the streets of Benin City.
They didn’t waste a second, returning to their infamous “collection” tactics—extorting drivers, harassing traders, and generally making their presence felt in a combative manner.
In some cases, their “return” involved violence. Vigilante offices were torched, and anyone remotely associated with the previous administration faced harassment.
And with the aggressive agbero presence suddenly flaring up in Edo, one has to wonder if there’s a new revenue stream brewing in Benin City as well.
If the Lions and Tigers are allowed to entrench themselves as deeply as the Lagos agberos, it might just be a matter of time before Edo’s treasury starts looking a lot like the Lagos ATM funding private pockets.
A Dynasty in the Making?
Cyril Oshiomhole, son of Adams Oshiomhole, the recently appointed Commissioner for Health.
And just when we thought it couldn’t get more “Lagos-like,” one of the earliest official appointment was made by the new governor; Cyril Oshiomhole, son of Adams Oshiomhole, was made a commissioner.
Sound familiar? That’s the kind of family dynasty move that Lagos is notorious for.
It’s almost as if the spirits of Bourdillon have floated down the expressway and found a new home in Edo.
There’s a lot at stake here. In Lagos, this centralized power structure has produced undeniable political strength for Tinubu, enough to make him president.
But what is Edo residents should be more worried about is how significant public policies and decisions would be funneled through one individual who is not their governor.
As we watch the events in Edo unfold, it’s worth asking: Is Oshiomhole trying to walk in Tinubu’s shoes? And are Edo residents ready for the long-term implications of this?
For now, one thing is clear: the slogan “Edo No Be Lagos” may need some updating. Perhaps “Edo done be Lagos”?
