Asue Ighodalo: The struggle to touch the hem of his garment, by John Mayaki

In the sweltering heat of the day, as the crowd swelled in the streets, one could hear the chants echoing and multiplying with each passing second: “Asue! Asueeee!! Our governor!!!” It was no ordinary scene; it was something almost spiritual.

Men, women, and even children surged forward, arms outstretched, as if hoping that a single touch of Asue’s garment or hand would cure all their woes. Some people have started comparing the fervor to that of touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, seeking wholeness and salvation.

In this near-religious fervor stood Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the man whose popularity in the upcoming 21st governorship election had transcended the realm of mere politics. His down-to-earth character, the kind that didn’t hide behind gated walls or armored cars, was on full display.

He moved through the crowd not as a distant leader but as one of their own, accessible in a way few politicians had ever dared to be – I am not talking about the one with an elder-spokesman inside an open-roof SUV and a motor-boy hanging precariously on the wings of the door.

Here, in this video of Asue with the people, you could see it in his eyes – the empathy, the love for the people. There was no pretense, no flashy displays of wealth or arrogance. He was there for them, with them, and of them.

Asue Ighodalo is the man with every quality the people had longed for in a governor. His acceptance was not bought or forced; it was earned. His presence in any community stirred excitement and hope, a rare gift in the age of political cynicism. His hands, open and warm, were always extended to shake another’s, to listen, to understand – both old and young, girl and boy, rich and poor.

And that was the core of Asue’s appeal in this video – his accessibility. He wasn’t just a name on a billboard or a face on TV. He is someone you could reach, someone who actually cared. Asue’s love for the common man is resonating deeply with the people. It was a love not based on empty promises but on years of commitment, service, and action – the humble, easygoing, simple, smart, successful, and illustrious Esan son.

As they continued to hail him, one couldn’t help but see that this was more than just politics. This was a movement, a wave of hope that Asue Ighodalo would be the governor Edo State had been waiting for – the ideal leader who combined vision, compassion, and accessibility. The people knew it. They believed it. And in their outstretched hands, in their cries for his attention, they showed the world that in Asue, they had found their leader.