By Akinwale Kasali
Is Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State PDP -bound? Is he going to fly the PDP flag in the on-coming governorship election? And is he training militias to wreck the state?
Obaseki says perish thoughts, and vehemently rejects the allegations.
But a faction of the party loyal to the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, who the Obaseki faction suspended, says the governor is guilty as charged.
They cite as an example, the recent visit to the governor of former President Goodluck Jonathan as a confirmation that his heading to the PDP. But sources say Jonathan who was in the state to pay a thank you visit to the Esama of Benin, Gabriel Igbiniedon, for the honorary doctorate degree recently bestowed on him by the Igbiniedon University, Okada, only observed protocol by visiting the governor to tell him of his presence in the state.
But, the supremacy battle between Obaseki and Oshiomhole seems to be beclouding all reasoning as it gets messier by the day, with just months to the party’s governorship primary in the state.
Edo State APC through the Party’s secretary, Lawrence Okah, emphatically alleged Obaseki is training militia groups in the state. He, however, provided no evidence.
The party also accused Governor Obaseki of being the mastermind of the violent political atmosphere being currently experienced in the state. It also accused him of creating crisis and maiming APC leaders due to his desperate ambition for a second term.
Okah stressed that, recently, the Obaseki-led Government sent people to bomb his residence, and that of Chief Inegbeneki.
“Obaseki has gone to recruit militia at Okada under the guise of security outfit. But today, they have all been armed to kill APC leaders. When the National Chairman was in Benin to attend a burial, he sent thugs to the airport to stop him from entering the state.
“They went and blocked his residence with trailers belonging to Edo State Waste Management Board.
“Those who have observed the politics of Edo State over the years will certainly see the administration of Governor Obaseki as one full of mischief when he accused Oshiomhole of perpetrating lawlessness in the state”, the Statement read.
The statement also stated that Obaseki is dinning with the opposition Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He noted:“We want to place on record Governor Obaseki’s diabolical approach to systematically destroy APC in Edo State since he started hosting PDP leaders in the Government House and, of course, their endorsement of his second term ambition.
“First was when Governor Obaseki hosted the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, a known PDP leader in Edo State, who endorsed him (the governor) for a second term.
“Then followed the visit of Chief Tom Ikimi, another PDP leader, who equally endorsed the governor for a second term. Just recently Governor David Umahi, who claimed to be PDP during the day and APC at night, equally endorsed him for a second term.
“We are aware that the governor has been holding meetings with some PDP leaders in Edo State and PDP governors with a bid to joining the party.
“But, unfortunately, he has been rejected by the leadership of the party in Edo State due to what the opposition party leadership described as his ingratitude to his benefactor, Comrade Oshiomhole, which according to the opposition party leadership could infect the state PDP if he is allowed to join the party.
“But our plea to Governor Obaseki is that if he wants to join PDP, he can freely move out of our party, which Comrade Oshiomhole and other well-meaning leaders and members risked their lives to build in Edo.
“His desperate plans to destroy APC in Edo State will be vehemently resisted. Abusing Comrade Oshiomhole will not help him because Edo people love and appreciate Comrade Oshiomhole, who liberated them from the stranglehold of politics of primordial considerations”.
At the time of filing this report, Obaseki was yet to respond to these serious allegations leveled against him by the APC.
