It was actually during his 3-year stint as governor of Cebu that he was catapulted to national prominence.
The fact that he was responsible for the construction of the 38-kilometer Transcentral Highway and the establishment of the Cebu Business Park bolstered his political stock.
These projects ushered many business opportunities for local and foreign entrepreneurs, triggering the economic boom in Cebu that Osmeña claimed as his personal achievement.
At that time, our country was still suffering from the stigma of the Marcos dictatorial regime.
The nation then was wary of remnants of the past administration still lurking in Cory Aquino’s new government.
That is the reason why anything anybody would tell, even a lie, was welcome news as long as it was not related to the Marcos’ dictatorship.
Which was also the reason why Osmeña’s drumbeaters succeeded in projecting Cebu’s economic boom as a business phenomenon all his own.
All told, he gained the upperhand in the race to Malacañang.
But all of a sudden, Lito O wavered and lost his hold. Nobody knew exactly why he gave up his aspirations.
Nobody knew why he asked and convinced his fellow Cebuano, then chief justice Marcelo Fernan to run as president in his stead.
Most Cebuanos thought it was a supreme sacrifice on Lito O`s part in order to preserve unity among us.
What happened next was, to borrow Lito O`s own phrase, “A monumental blunder.”
Indeed, it was a fitting admission.
In the mad scramble for political power, Osmeña turned his back on Fernan, his comprovinciano, a trusted friend, a loyal ally and a protégé, to support Fidel Ramos, a Ferdinand Marcos remnant.
As if, adding insult to injury, he ran as vice-president of Ramos unmindful of Fernan, whom he cajoled into running as president only to drop him like a puppy, in the middle of a busy street.
Treachery?
Perhaps it was God’s will to remind us of the Latin proverb that says: “Quem deus perdere vult, prius dementat.”
Whom God wishes to destroy, He first makes mad.
So, it is a cause for celebration for Gov. Gwen Garcia.
