Why Gov Oshiomhole Now Bears Eric

Jethro Ibileke

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Nigeria’s south-south state of Edo, needs no introduction wherever he goes. His name rings the bell both locally and internationally. He has always been known as Comrade Oshiomhole even while he was President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, long before becoming a governor.

However, the Comrade Governor, as he is fondly called, has suddenly become Governor Adams Eric Oshiomhole. All press statements issued by the press unit of Edo state Government House in recent weeks, now carry his full complement of names; Comrade Governor Adams Eric Oshiomhole.

Expectedly, many have been wondering why the sudden inclusion of Eric in the governor’s name, with some people asking why now that he is preparing for a run on the Presidency or Vice-Presidency. What is more, the appearance of the name coincides with the announcement of his new political ambition.

Till date, no official pronouncement has been made either by the Comrade Governor himself or any of his aides, as reason for the new name, Eric. But could there be any link between the new Comrade Governor Adams Eric Oshiomhole and his recent political ambition?

Responding to inquiries by P.M.NEWS on this puzzle, the Special Assistant on Media to Governor Oshiomhole, Prince Kassim Afegbua, dispelled insinuations of any link between the name and the governor’s political ambition, noting that Eric has always been his name.

“There is nothing special to it. Eric has always been his baptismal name. Reverend Father Kuka told him that since he was baptised a Catholic, what is the use of his baptismal name if he does not use it. So there is nothing more than that to it,” Afegbua said.

But a dig into P.M.NEWS fact file further shed light on how Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole acquired the name Eric.

The religious status of Governor Oshiomhole  has always been a subject for a debate, with many arguing that he was a Muslim by virtue of his patents’ religion in which he was brought up. Secondly, it is a known fact that majority of the Etsako people of Auchi, in Edo north, are traditionally Muslims.

However, the Governor himself set matters straight on the issue of his religious status at the funeral of his late wife, Clara, on 16 December, 2010, during which he ‘confessed’? that Eric was his baptismal name.

“So this debate about my religious status, I want to remind our men of God that even they that preach are never sure who is a christian, only God knows. Because I was in the church when the Reverend Father announced that people should file out for holy communion, but he also warned that people should watch their pockets, because not everybody that queue are there to receive but queue to steal handset.

“But let me confess or announce that I am a Catholic. I was baptised by Father Miniham in Kaduna and my baptism name is Eric, it was selected by my wife Clara.

“It is true that my parents are Muslims. My father, Alhaji, is late, and my mother whom I had the privilege of introducing to the President, is also Alhaja.

“I am a very, very proud Catholic. I think with this open announcement and confession, I want to implore Bishop Dunia to decree that nobody shall hereafter debate whether in private or in public. I have always said it to Clara that my action, much more than my words, defines my religion. And that it is important that we have to do bridges and we make religion a very personal mater. But I have no doubt that without my belief in Christ, I won’t get to where I am,” Comrade Oshiomhole had said.