Okphebolo’s Faux Pas: Not Only Harmless Mistakes, But Warning Signs Of His Competence

BY ISAAC ASABOR *

Edo’s political landscape has been littered with gaffes since the start of electoral campaigns for the September 21 Governorship election. Embarrassingly, Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, committed the majority of the faux pas or public blunders.

A video of Okpebholo making another gaffe while addressing a crowd during a campaign rally in the state’s Ovia North Local Government Area on Thursday, September 5, 2024, has gone viral. Okpebholo said in the video, which began trending on Saturday and has since gone viral, “We are going to provide you with insecurity.”

In the video, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo-North and former governor of the state, is seen signalling to Okpebholo on the podium, after which the candidate corrects himself.

Without resorting to a calumny campaign in this context, it is worth noting that previous gaffes by the APC candidate have frequently elicited widespread laughter or outrage, but behind the humorous gaffes are serious concerns about his ability to lead effectively. It is easy to dismiss these gaffes as simple errors in speech, but in a state like Edo, where leadership can make or break the future, such incidents should be scrutinised more closely. The reason for this view is not farfetched; past gaffes by politicians, both at the state and national levels, frequently reveal deeper truths about a politician’s competence and readiness for leadership.

Consider instances where political candidates have misquoted vital statistics or stumbled through critical policy discussions. While these may appear to be minor mistakes, they frequently demonstrate a fundamental lack of preparedness, which becomes obvious when such individuals rise to positions of power. The real issue here is not simply grammar or eloquence. It is about the message beneath the error: a failure to grasp critical issues, which is a red flag when deciding who should lead.

Once elected, leaders cannot afford to make rash decisions. In Nigeria, the burden of leadership is heavy, and a leader’s inexperience can have disastrous consequences for millions of citizens. Aside from the “faux pas” of their campaigns, many leaders have been elected based on sympathy or charisma, only to discover later that these same leaders were unsuitable for the demands of government.

A poignant example of this is voters’ frequent failure to recognise early signs of incompetence in a candidate, instead focussing on personal stories, flashy slogans, or ethnic affiliations. We have seen politicians make public gaffes during election campaigns, which get them elected, only for their lack of preparation to result in four years of stagnation, corruption, and hardship for the people.

In a democracy like Nigeria, the people have the power to choose their leaders. However, this power comes with a high level of responsibility. Voting based on sympathy or emotional connection, rather than competence, frequently has disastrous consequences. When a politician appeals to voters with sentimental narratives, such as their humble background, personal struggles, or lofty promises, people tend to overlook their actual track record or potential.

To be cautious, it is appropriate to state at this point that a strong emotion cannot steer an economy out of a crisis or security challenge. When the election is over and the emotional appeal has faded, the harsh reality sets in. If the next governor of Edo State fails to perform, the entire state suffers. Without sounding exaggerated or partisan in this context, the suffering has lasted four years, possibly eight, and can either propel Edo State forward or push it deeper into a state of misgovernance.

The last decade of Nigerian politics has demonstrated how dangerous it is to ignore a candidate’s flaws, whether it is an inability to communicate clearly or a failure to present coherent policies. The consequences of these poor decisions extend across sectors, from healthcare to infrastructure, with citizens bearing the brunt of poor leadership.

The warning signs are often obvious to everyone. Whether a candidate stumbles during a debate, avoids media questions, or makes incorrect statements about the state of the economy, these are not minor mistakes. They are reflections of the candidate’s readiness and seriousness. A leader who is unfamiliar with the core issues confronting the country or a state, such as Edo in this case, will find it difficult to address them once in office.

Several leaders have come to power in Nigeria, and their leadership shortcomings were evident during their campaigns. Nonetheless, they were elected because of sympathy, regional loyalty, or the influence of their political party. What is the end result? Unemployment continues to rise, inflation is unchecked, and insecurity spreads. Meanwhile, the leaders who were ill-prepared from the start continue to stumble through their terms in office, leaving citizens frustrated.

It is more than just saying the wrong thing; it is also a failure to recognise the importance of leadership.

Given the foregoing, it is reasonable to conclude that the upcoming Edo elections provide another opportunity for Edolites to make informed decisions. This time, voters must choose competence over sentiment. Look beyond the sound bites and campaign speeches and consider the candidate’s track record, understanding of state issues, and ability to lead with vision and clarity.

A leader who makes frequent public gaffes, struggles to communicate policy, or avoids difficult questions during campaigns is unlikely to suddenly become competent in office. Voters must ask themselves, “If this candidate can not answer simple questions in an interview, how will he handle complex challenges?”

Political gaffes frequently demonstrate a lack of depth and understanding of the issues at hand, and they are reliable predictors of future performance in office. Edolites must resist the urge to vote based on sympathy or ethnic affiliation. The stakes are prohibitively high.

Edo can not afford four years of ineffective leadership. Beyond the “faux pas,” Edolites must take these incidents seriously and consider what they say about the leader in question. The voters have the power to shape Edo’s future, and it is time for Edolites to put competence ahead of sentiment. Leadership is not a joke, and political gaffes are not just innocuous mistakes; they are warning signs of what is to come.

Edo deserves leaders who are prepared and capable, not those who hide behind emotional appeals. The decisions made at the ballot box will have long-term consequences for the state. Choose wisely.