By John Mayaki
Osagie Ize Iyamu has joined the APC’s war against education in Edo State to promote their unlettered candidate. He delivered his assault in an infamous video, in which he disparaged educational achievements and the capacity for clear, lucid expression in a language that serves as a passport to the world.
Anyone watching Ize Iyamu for the first time in the said clip could mistake him for a ‘senior yahoo papa’ mainstreaming and providing justification for the shameful ‘school na scam’ mantra that became the rallying call of cybercriminals some time ago. Debasing himself in the name of politics, he made a mockery of his own education and prolonged stay at the University of Benin with illogical references and comparisons. This is the same man whose wife is a highly versatile Professor with a capital letter ‘P’, fluent and blessed with the gift of the gab.
He criticized Asue Ighodalo of the PDP for being well – spoken and supremely educated, while excusing Okpebholo’s illiteracy and lack of experience. Granted, mastery of the English language is not necessarily an indicator of knowledge, as he hinted in the speech that will certainly haunt him in the near future. However, that still doesn’t vindicate Okpebholo, because he fails to make coherent sense in any language, whether Esan, broken English, or Urhobo.
When the head is empty, the mouth can only produce white noise, such as the nonsense Okpebholo muttered about ‘most luckiest Benin’ and ‘natural resources’ at rallies.
Ize Iyamu’s hypocrisy is striking. Every Sunday, politics permitting, he mounts the pulpit to preach the Word. He does so in English, not his native Benin or Esan, because he reckons it is the most effective medium to engage with a diverse audience. Churchgoers are, after all, cut from different cloths.
Now imagine a state, particularly one like Edo, where every senatorial district houses groups with distinct languages. English is the thread that runs through and unites them. It is why parents invest in their children’s education: they understand that mastery of the language opens the world to them and ensures they are not limited to opportunities in their immediate environment. This is the reason Edo’s diaspora continues to produce world leaders across fields. Ize Iyamu himself has made that sacrifice. He clearly wants none of his children to end up like Okpebholo, incapable of self-expression.
Yet he recommends the same fate for the common man. He has abandoned the altar of truth for the altar of politics – the politics of “do as I say, not as I do.” The Bible urges the overseer to be above reproach, but this pastor is bending the truth to achieve a self-serving political goal. He wants his boy to win the election so he can be governor-at-large, ruling the state from his Ugbor palace.
In an attempt to add depth to the hollow message, he made references to European countries like France, where French, not English, is the common language. But this only betrays his ignorance. French became the common language in France through the Edict of Villers-Cotterêts, which adopted Francien as the only official language. It was chosen among other local languages because it proved to be the most popular written form. This is no different from the decision Nigeria made with the English language.
Perhaps Ize Iyamu should restrict himself to teaching the Word and leave linguistics and its history to those well-versed in the subject. But then again, aren’t preachers of the Word expected to speak the truth, even when it is difficult, and remain steadfast in its defense? Can Ize Iyamu swear on the Bible that Okpebholo is the most competent man in the race? If Edo were Ize Iyamu’s business and Okpebholo came to apply for the role of CEO with his empty head, would he hire him?
