Lonely At The Top : Obaseki And Philip’s Feud In The Shadow Of Oshiomhole’s Prominence

Lonely At The Top : Obaseki And Philip’s Feud In The Shadow Of Oshiomhole’s Prominence....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

By Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah

It’s lonely at the top
(Lonely, lonely, lonely)…Money on my mind
(Money, money, money)…Don’t care what they yearning about me in particular

The Nigerian song titled “Lonely at the Top” by Asake, currently holding the top position on the charts, appears to express ideas of ambition, self-reliance, and the journey towards aspirations while navigating societal norms and pressures…CONTINUE READING

The last 48 hours in Edo State  have been filled with excitement. It commenced with an incident involving Godwin Obaseki, the governor, and his deputy. This incident could be interpreted as a considerable embarrassment, as a DSS officer intercepted Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, preventing him from approaching Governor Obaseki during a thanksgiving service held to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the creation of Edo State.

On the second day, we saw Philip leave a state event owing to a disagreement between his media team and the governor’s media team. On that same day, we saw heartwarming photos of the ex-Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, and his successor, Godwin Obaseki, smiling and greeting one other.

We all know how Obaseki teamed up with Philip Shaibu to disgrace their boss Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and deny him the chairmanship of Africa’s largest political party, the APC. He was labelled a Greedy Godfather and was unleashed with a series of defamations from the pair of Obaseki and Philip.

Now, Obaseki is stepping down as Governor next year, while Comrade Oshiomhole is a senator who makes political decisions in national circles, and Philip Shaibu is pursuing a lonely dream to succeed his Governor.

“It’s lonely at the top (Lonely, lonely, lonely)”

 Now that things have fallen apart, Obaseki and Philip are no longer friends, leaving them lonely at the top. Obaseki, who is nearing retirement, may need to rekindle his friendship with Adams Oshiomhole, whom fate has propelled to national prominence, while Philip is alone with no one to support his ambition.

 “Don’t care what they yearning about me in particular (Ko kan mi, kan mi, kan mi)”

Philip Shaibu’s determination to succeed Obaseki as governor is reminiscent of the song’s lines, “No one can chase it for me.” Just as the song emphasizes the importance of pursuing one’s dreams in the face of challenges, Shaibu’s persistence in the midst of political turmoil underscores his unwavering commitment to his ambitions. His journey echoes the sentiment that personal determination is the driving force behind any pursuit of power.

The Crescendo of Changing Dynamics:

The chance image of Oshiomhole and Obaseki reconciling, as recorded in the photos, echoes the song’s “O pọ lọ pọ, pọ” (“things have become clear”). This moment of clarity exemplifies the changing political situation. As the song implies, clarity develops from complexity, and the restored rapport between Obaseki and Oshiomhole demonstrates that time can heal even the deepest of schisms.

“Wetin you love o…No be wetin I love o
Wetin I love I go do am with all my heart o…Ogogoro no be vodka
Mr. Money ginger”

In contrast, Adams Oshiomhole emanates a radiant demeanor that appears to convey a message to Obaseki: the past is behind them. Oshiomhole’s demeanor implies that his aspirations may diverge from Obaseki’s own objectives. Oshiomhole’s ambition, rooted in elevating the masses, fostering development, and combating oppression, aligns with the line “Ọ́lọ-lọlade maa n gb’ọmọ lọ (gb’ọmọ lọ)” from the song.

Furthermore, the juxtaposition of “Ogogoro no be vodka, Mr. Money ginger” serves as a clever analogy. This comparison contrasts the modest “ogogoro” with the more sophisticated “vodka,” emphasizing that one’s origins should not constrain their capacity to uplift the marginalized and underprivileged.

In closing, I hope you’ve heard the song “It’s lonely at the top” by Asake; if not, please go put the tune on repeat and relax; for me, I’m not searching for anyone’s trouble, “No dey find anybody na money me I want (me I want).”

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Chairman and CEO of Bush Radio Academy.

Source iReporteronline.