Former All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has revealed that as Governor, he was sleeping in same Hotel suite with the incumbent Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki each time they traveled. He was, however quick to add that they slept in separate beds. He explained that the bond he shares with Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki goes beyond politics.
Obaseki was Oshiomhole’s Chief of Staff, and he was instrumental to Obaseki succeeding him in office.
This comment is coming barely two years after the duo battled for the soul of Edo State, as Obaseki faced his one time godfather squarely in the battle for supremacy.
Oshiomhole had caused the disqualification of Obaseki from running for a second term in office, and imposed , Osagie Ize-Iyamu on the APC, prompting Obaseki to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to actualize his dream.
The fight between Oshiomhole and Obaseki who were once bosom friends put the political landscape of the State in crisis.
But in a landslide victory, Obaseki defeated the former Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, boss and his candidate at the polls, and was re-elected as the Governor of the State.
Both men, though political enemies, are always in their best behaviour each time they ran into each at public functions.
On several occasions, Obaseki had denied having any grudge or issues with his predecessor, except on his style of politics.
“I don’t have anything personal against Oshiomhole. I may not like his politics, but he has not done anything personal against me. We all are interacting with the interest of the country and the development of our community at heart,” he said.
Oshiomhole in an interview with THE PUNCH Newspaper on Friday said that Obaseki remained his close brother and friend despite their reported frosty relationship.
The two-term governor of Edo State also affirmed that he still had fond memories of their time together.
“For me, I have moved on. Obaseki remains my brother and friend. I have had the honour of working with him and God in his infinite power used me to ensure that he became the governor of Edo State.
“Sometimes, God wants us to know that He is the only one that is all-knowing. He is the only one who knows the beginning and the end. When, as human beings, everything seems to add up, we celebrate our intellect. But sometimes, God intervenes just for us to know that we don’t know it all and it is meant to remind us of our limited knowledge of life. He remains my brother and friend.
“When I was governor and he worked under me, my relationship with him was not that of boss and subordinate. He was one of the very few who called me by my nickname. When we travelled together on foreign trips, we didn’t book different suites in a hotel. Instead we shared the same suite in a hotel but slept in separate rooms. That’s how close we were.”
Political analysts have said that the statement credited to Oshiomhole may be mere political talk as he is also vying for the Edo North Senatorial District Seat, having gotten the ticket on the platform of the APC.
As there is no permanent friend nor permanent enemies in politics, maybe Oshiomhole is trying to put that into practice by indirectly wooing Obaseki, some political analysts say.
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