After Agbebaku: Can Uhonmora Retain Its Political Influence in Edo?

For Uhonmora, a relatively small community in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, producing the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly was more than a political achievement. It was a moment that placed the community on the political map of Edo State.

For a community that had rarely occupied such a powerful position in the state's political hierarchy, Blessing Agbebaku's emergence as Speaker represented visibility, influence and, perhaps most importantly, access.

But just two days ago, that political story changed dramatically.

Agbebaku was removed from office as Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, bringing an end to a period in which Uhonmora could proudly say that one of its sons occupied one of the most influential legislative positions in the state.

Naturally, this development is capable of producing mixed feelings among Uhonmora indigenes.

Some may feel disappointed that their son is no longer Speaker. Others may argue that political offices come and go and that the community's future should not be tied to one individual.

Both positions deserve consideration.

Uhonmora loses an important political symbol

There is no denying that Agbebaku's Speakership elevated Uhonmora's political profile.

His position gave the community a voice at the highest level of the Edo State legislature and placed Uhonmora in conversations that extended beyond Owan West.

With his removal, that immediate political advantage has been reduced.

But that should not necessarily be interpreted as the political defeat of Uhonmora.

A political office belongs to an individual, but the influence surrounding that office can sometimes create opportunities for an entire community.

The real question now is whether Uhonmora can preserve the political relationships and visibility it gained during Agbebaku's tenure.

Was Uhonmora's influence built around one man?

This may be the most uncomfortable question for the community.

If Uhonmora's political influence depended primarily on Agbebaku being Speaker, then his removal could represent a significant setback.

But if the community has built a broader political network involving its traditional leaders, professionals, business people, politicians and younger generation, then the end of Agbebaku's Speakership may simply represent the end of one political chapter.

Uhonmora has produced and maintained relationships with influential political actors beyond the Speaker's office. That means the community still has political capital that can be developed.

The challenge is how effectively that capital will now be deployed.

The community must look beyond party politics

This is perhaps the moment for Uhonmora to rethink its political strategy.

Rather than placing all its political weight behind one individual or one political office, the community may need to build relationships across the political spectrum.

That includes maintaining constructive engagement with the Edo State Government, the new leadership of the House of Assembly, political leaders in Owan West, federal representatives, traditional institutions and other influential stakeholders across Edo State.

Such an approach would ensure that Uhonmora's political relevance does not rise and fall with the fortunes of one politician.

What happens to development?

This is where the concerns of ordinary Uhonmora indigenes may become even stronger.

Political influence is important, but what communities ultimately want is development.

Roads.

Schools.

Healthcare.

Electricity.

Water.

Agricultural support.

Youth empowerment.

Employment opportunities.

Agbebaku had spoken about attracting development to his community, particularly in areas such as education, agriculture and rural development.

Now that he is no longer Speaker, Uhonmora will naturally want to know whether government attention and development initiatives associated with the community will continue.

That is a legitimate question.

The political office may have changed hands, but the needs of the people have not changed.

The Owan West factor

There is also a broader political calculation.

Uhonmora is part of Owan West, where communities have their own political interests, aspirations and ambitions.

Agbebaku's emergence as Speaker gave Uhonmora considerable visibility within that political equation.

Now that the Speakership has changed, other communities may see an opportunity to strengthen their own political positions.

This could influence future discussions around appointments, representation, development projects and political leadership within Owan West.

Uhonmora must therefore be politically alert without becoming politically divided.

This should not become a war against Agbebaku

For Uhonmora indigenes, perhaps the most important thing is to separate the political fortunes of Blessing Agbebaku from the collective future of the community.

If Agbebaku's removal was the result of political disagreements within the House, those issues should be treated as part of the political process.

Uhonmora should not allow the development to create unnecessary divisions among its people.

The community can disagree politically while remaining united on development.

That may actually be the greatest lesson from this episode.

A painful moment, but also an opportunity

Agbebaku's removal may be painful for many Uhonmora indigenes because, for a brief period, their community occupied a position of extraordinary political prominence.

But political influence is not supposed to belong permanently to one office holder.

The real test begins now.

Can Uhonmora transform the political visibility it gained under Agbebaku into a sustainable community network?

Can its leaders work together despite political differences?

Can they maintain relationships with the new political leadership?

Can they ensure that development projects do not become casualties of political changes?

And, most importantly, can Uhonmora continue producing people capable of rising to important positions in Edo State politics?

The answer to these questions will determine whether Agbebaku's removal becomes a political setback for Uhonmora—or simply the beginning of another chapter.

For now, one thing is clear:

Uhonmora has lost the Speakership, but it has not lost its political future.

What happens next depends not only on who occupies the Speaker's seat, but on what Uhonmora does with the political capital it has already built.

And perhaps that is the uncomfortable conversation the community needs to have now.