By Gideon Njoku
If things continue to fall apart between the All Progressive Congress’, APC, National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, the APC may lose the state to their rival People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Both men, bosom friends until politics tore apart, are doing everything to run down each other.
Oshiomhole was Obaseki’s political godfather. Until he endorsed him as his successor, to the shock and anger of a couple of his other aides who had eyes on succeeding him, Obaseki was Oshiomhole’s SSG.
But soon after he became governor, he and his governor fell apart.
The story out there, at the time, was that Oshiomhole wanted to run the state for Obaseki, as is actually the case in a few states.
It was a rumour both men tried to cover up by denying. But the sh.t hit the roof a couple of months ago when both men disagreed openly over the Speakership of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Oshiomhole has an interest in somebody else, and Obaseki in another. But Oshiomhole pulled the rug from under Oshiomhole’s feet. His preferred candidate, was installed Speaker. And, since then, Edo APC has had no peace.
Since then, many people, including governors, had intervened, but there has been no peace, inspire of claims by both men to the contrary.
A few days ago, Oshiomhole told Nigerians what his anger was with Oshiomhole.
He said it was not over appointments or money. He has never asked him for a favour. But, he emphasized that out of the about 20 Commissioners, he nominated only one. Even that one, he revealed, was sacked by Obaseki, soon after a peace meeting was held. Yet, Oshiomhole said that didn’t worry him.
His grouse, he said stems from the fact that Obaseki discontinued with all the projects his government, which Obaseki was part of, started. Government is a continuum, he explained. He also said he had no interest in either Obaseki’s impeachment, as is being rumoured, or in stopping him from contesting for a second term in office.
But in a swift response on Monday, Obaseki prefered not to dignify Oshiomhole’s submission with a response. He simply said he was pursuing the path of peace but declared that Oshiomhole was hostile to his government.
Proof: Oshiomhole says he does not, and will not, recognize Frank Okiye as the Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly. He wants another Proclamation by the Governor, and what he calls a proper election of a Speaker.
For Governor Obaseki, that will be the day!
