Asue Ighodalo: the Lonely Londoner of Edo Politics

ASUE IGHODALO: THE LONELY LONDONER OF EDO POLITICS

By Fred Itua

In the haunting pages of The Lonely Londoners, Samuel Selvon paints a poignant portrait of isolation, abandonment, and the soul-crushing experience of being alone in a bustling city that promised so much yet delivered so little. Today, that literary metaphor finds striking resonance in the political odyssey of Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21, 2024 Edo Governorship Election—a man who, once paraded as the golden boy of Obaseki’s political experiment, now finds himself politically orphaned, discarded, and isolated.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, in its Thursday ruling, brought closure to the legal contest over the Edo governorship election. The court affirmed what the people of Edo State made clear at the ballot box: Monday Okpebholo won the mandate to lead, and he did so convincingly. The judgment was not just a legal victory—it was a political exclamation point.

But while Governor Okpebholo has extended a hand of political reconciliation in statesmanlike fashion, offering what he described as “political amnesty” to Ighodalo, it is difficult to ignore the deafening silence surrounding those who once championed Asue’s cause with almost religious fervor. Where are the so-called progressive allies of the PDP? Where is Governor Godwin Obaseki, the principal architect of Ighodalo’s candidacy? Where are the influencers and power-brokers who promised fire and brimstone, who roared with arrogance and strutted about with assumed invincibility? They have all melted into the shadows, abandoning their chosen candidate like yesterday’s newspaper.

Asue Ighodalo is now the Lonely Londoner of Edo politics—adrift, friendless, and surrounded not by supporters but by the echo of unkept promises. His story is a tragic study in political hubris, blind loyalty, and the fleeting nature of godfatherism. Like Moses Aloetta in Selvon’s novel, Ighodalo arrived at the political “London” of Edo State with dreams, a borrowed platform, and the backing of a governor who had mistaken technocratic elitism for electoral strength. But politics is not a boardroom; it is a rugged marketplace of ideas, relationships, grassroots loyalty, and the pulse of the people.

The very machinery that projected him as Obaseki’s anointed successor has gone mute in the wake of defeat. There have been no solidarity rallies. No press statements of defiance. Not even a token appearance by his benefactor at the court sittings. What we see instead is a man left to wander the harsh terrain of post-election reality, his dreams shattered, his so-called supporters absent.

This abandonment should not surprise anyone. Obaseki’s political history is replete with betrayals, broken bridges, and shifting allegiances. From Adams Oshiomhole to PDP stalwarts who brought him into the party, the former governor’s track record is that of using people as ladders and discarding them once the climb is complete. Ighodalo is merely the latest casualty in this long list of expendable allies.

Yet, even in this political wilderness, there is a lifeline—one extended not in mockery but in genuine goodwill. Governor Monday Okpebholo, whose leadership style blends strength with compassion, has invited Asue Ighodalo to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is not a trap nor a tactic to humiliate, but a bold invitation to put ego aside and place Edo State above personal ambition.

It is often said that in politics, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. For Ighodalo, this is a chance to redefine his legacy—not as a pawn who got played, but as a statesman who found redemption in the service of a greater cause. Governor Okpebholo is building a new Edo—a state anchored on inclusion, development, and reconciliation. That table is open to all, even those who ran against him.

The time for illusions is over. Asue Ighodalo must now confront the harsh reality that his political journey, built on the shaky foundation of Obaseki’s waning influence, has come to a dead end. But it need not be the end of his contribution to Edo. The door is open. The hand is extended. The question is: will the Lonely Londoner accept redemption or remain lost in the fog of betrayal?

Fred Itua is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.