Why Lito Osmeña might run -- or not

MANY people assume that former governor Lito Osmeña is serious about running for the top Cebu provincial post in the next elections.

He sought out Cebu newspapers one after the other and declared he'd run, this time minus the denial and kidding he tackled the question when he moved voting residence to Balamban town from Cebu City ("I couldn't even walk well, why should I run?" or words to that effect).

More careful watchers of the political scene though will note that Lito made similar noise before the 2007 and 2010 campaign and then quietly slipped away. Why now, after the silence in 2013, when people thought he had given up politics as a contender?

The reason he gave isn't flattering to Gov. Junjun Davide but not surprising about Lito. Lito has always been big on projects that shake and change things and move people. Lito hasn't seen passion in Davide, like, say, completing the trans-axial highway and building a freeway.

Lito was governor for four years (1988-1992). Why has it taken him 23 years to decide he must return to public office and do things himself?

Infrastructure

Other forces of power are entrenched at Capitol or struggling a comeback, with political machineries that Lito still has to build from scratch. Mayors, barangay captains and sitio leaders, long detached from Lito, are now committed to their respective political leaders.

He would've the money but not the infrastructure for a bruising campaign. He might be willing but would he have physical stamina (he'd be 77 this Sept. 11) to meet all those people and places across the province (he couldn't campaign just from Maria Luisa or a mall coffee-shop)?

He could be a kingmaker instead: help elect the governor who could translate Lito's vision for Cebu. Or a king-blocker: stop the unfit wannabe from getting anywhere near the governor's office.