Edo: Obaseki, Oshiomhole Renew Battle Ahead June 2 Primaries

By Tosin Olatokunbo

After weeks of grave yard silence, the Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the National Chairman of the All Progessives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole have renewed their hostilities..

The state is gearing up for the APC June 2 primaries ahead the governorship election coming up later in September.

But four months to the guber election, the state government has accused the APC chairman of plot to hijack the party, following a mock primary it said, the Oshiomhole faction held on April 30, where 50 loyalists of the APC boss were present.

Governor Obaseki has, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the APC chairman to order before he threw the state into further crisis.

The meeting held under the auspices the Edo Peoples’ Movement, EPM, the governor said violated the social distancing directive of the state government apart from the fact that it can further worsen the fragile peace in the state.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, and Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, said Oshiomhole’s has failed in his quest to use the mock primary to rattle Governor Obaseki.

The statement said “It is not surprising that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has continued his doom-fated attempt to destabilise the Edo State chapter of the APC.

But what is most unconscionable is that he is propagating this move at the expense of the safety and wellbeing of Edo people.

By organising the supposed mock primary on April 30, 2020, with more than 50 persons in attendance, he is undermining efforts of different stakeholders at containing the spread of the virus and also dishonouring all those who have died from it.”

The APC chairman had failed in many of his diabolic plots and will also not succeed this time around to stop Obaseki from seeking a second term, the statement said.

According to the governor’s aides “Those who organised the political gathering initially held at Lucky Imasuen’s residence in Benin City later moved to different locations to continue their inglorious show of shame, in the perpetuation of the wishes of their puppet master.

The antics of Comrade Oshiomhole are well-known, but it bears repeating that he is on a mission to re-enact what happened in Rivers, Zamfara and Bayelsa in Edo State.

He has continued to perpetuate the ‘factionalising’ of the party in the state, with intent to cause the party to lose its opportunity to participate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.”

Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Oshiomhole denied the allegations.

The Publicity Secretary, Chris Azebamwan, said Obaseki were only out to smear the good name of the APC chairman.

Azebanwa said Oshiomhole shares the pains of the people of the state during the COVID 19 pandemic and not insensitive to their plights as a former governor.

“As part of our corporate social responsibility, the APC in Edo State organised a forum for well-meaning individuals within our fold to put resources together to assist our government and the vulnerable in our society to cope with the challenges of partial lockdown,” he said.