WHY ZACHARY OBADO HAS A HUGE FOLLOWING & IS LIKELY TO BE THE REGION’s KINGPIN UPON RAILA’s RETIREMENT.
After 2022, H.E Okoth Obado will be remembered as a beloved leader, a moral authority and an “extraordinary human being”. His would-be-retirement will bring admiration for his singular achievements in the struggle for free & Fair ODM party nominations.
Disappointed by Orange sham party primaries in 2013, Obado later became the first governor of Migori, where he was democratically elected via the little known PDP party. “He stood for something very simple, which was for equality and fairness,” – says Mr. Obinju charger wuod Owino. Thus gov Obado became a symbol of the struggle against exclusion by the top party henchmen.
Obado the leader
“His work in ending Shambolic Chungwa nominations and inaugurating political democracy in Migori is a big achievement,” said Hon David Chacha Mathew Bukuria, an elected MCA from Kuria east. Obado’s ability to return to ODM and even work with some of those who had rigged him out of the party in 2013, and then go ahead to Win with over 70% in 2017, gave him enormous moral authority.
Some feared that when Obado got to office, he would create bad blood with the Odm and shun it, but he didn’t. “Obado wanted to have peace, not more Chaos.” Sir Domnic Akugo says, he adds that he can’t think of anyone else who had the right qualities to make that very difficult decision. People hold Obado up as an ideal, Akugo asserted — “And he came out and lived up to that ideal.” In Nyanza, the governor is reffed to as “SirkalMatiyo,” meaning an industrious leader, a sign of great honor.
Obado the man.
The people speak of two Obados: “There’s the icon, the person who became the figurehead in this campaign in transitioning from the oppressive odm party election(s) in Migori, to Democratic-majority rule. And then there’s the ordinary person Obado; a father, husband and parent. “He’s not a superhuman figure,” as said by Hon John Mbadi Ng’ongo at Siala resort recently. Despite his authority, Obado has all the marks of a human being. He is a warm figure -somebody who listens very carefully. The governor also has a great sense of humor.
Tonnie Abiero.
Socio-political-Commentator.
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