The storms have started gathering against Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term aspiration in Edo State.As the schemings gain traction, the two major political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are putting forth their best feet, thus promising to make the forthcoming Edo 2020 very explosive.
Already, there are telltale signs that the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the incumbent government are engaging in some political hide and seek. While Obaseki’s close allies are pressuring him to dump his running mate Hon. Shuaibu in the 2016 gubernatorial election, some PDP stalwarts have designed a ‘cold’ strategy to use Obaseki to turn the tide against APC chairman.
Meanwhile, Gen. Charles Airhiavbre who is believed to be banking on both Oshiomhole’s and PDP’s support seems to be caught in the middle of the intrigues, especially after the governor returned from his overseas vacation to announce that there was no division between him and the APC chairman.The development has given rise to a multiplicity of interest groups within the ruling party in Edo.
Between Oshiomhole, Obaseki
ONE feature of the political unease in the state is the inability of party chieftains to put a handle to the hazy relationship between Oshiomhole and Obaseki. As such it has been difficult for stakeholders to declare their allegiance to either of the duo openly for fear of possible backlash.
However, a chieftain of the party in the state, Chief Francis Inegbiniki, who decided not to sit on the fence in the matter, recently stated that Obaseki’s second term ambition would remain a fantasy until he (the governor) secures the backing of the APC national chairman. Inegbiniki stressed that the current political structure being raised by Governor Obaseki preparatory to the 2020 governorship election would, rather than lead him to victory, end up in shameful defeat.
While contending that “authentic” APC leaders would not allow the governor destroy Oshiomhole’s legacies in the state, Inigbeniki, who was APC Senatorial candidate for Edo Central in 2015, accused the governor of playing treacherous politics. He regretted that the governor fell out of reckoning by jettisoning the political structure Oshiomhole built and which brought him to power.
His words: “Obaseki’s style of politics is alien to modern day politics; his style of politics is treacherous. Some of us that are grassroots politicians did not know Obaseki untill Oshiomole introduced him to us sometimes in the year 2000.
“Before then Obaseki had never voted in any election in the state. He was not a politician. Oshiomole made Obaseki politically. But today, Obaseki is showing ingratitude by trying to destroy the ladder with which he climbed to the top. He is now dining and wining with all those Oshiomhole fought to make him governor.“He has equally abandoned all the projects Oshiomhole commenced in the state and, in fact, chased away all APC leaders who made him governor. That is why I laughed when I read the statement signed by my good friend Osarodion Ogie, who is now the Secretary to the State Government, who claimed there is no problem between Obaseki and Oshiomhole, which is pure hypocrisy.”
Inigbeniki alleged that Obaseki started by fighting all Oshiomhole’s loyalists, stressing that as one of the most experienced politicians in Edo State today, “I know that in life if you say the truth, you will die; if you don’t say the truth, you will still die. So, let me say the truth before I die.”He maintained that Obaseki had betrayed Oshiomole and most of the people who made him, pointing out that the governor must therefore work hard to earn a second term, since according to him, “some of us objected to Oshiomole making Obaseki the candidate of the party in 2017.
“We later agreed based on our respect for the former governor and campaigned round the state, convincing Edo people that it was going to be continuity. The APC structure you see in Edo State today was put in place by Comrade Oshiomole; it was that structure that was used to make Obaseki governor. But today where is the structure?”
Inegbeniki said the new Obaseki structure could not stand as some of them have vowed not to stand aloof to see Oshiomhole’s structure destroyed. He said Obaseki and his loyalists organised the last National Assembly and Presidential election with their structure and failed in their units, wards and local governments, including the governor’s. So, without Oshiomhole, they will fail again.”
The APC stalwart counseled Obaseki to watch the utterances of those around him, particularly the young boys he brought from Lagos carrying laptops and POS around, saying, “We are watching them and Edo people will react soonest.”
Already, there are telltale signs that the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the incumbent government are engaging in some political hide and seek. While Obaseki’s close allies are pressuring him to dump his running mate Hon. Shuaibu in the 2016 gubernatorial election, some PDP stalwarts have designed a ‘cold’ strategy to use Obaseki to turn the tide against APC chairman.
Meanwhile, Gen. Charles Airhiavbre who is believed to be banking on both Oshiomhole’s and PDP’s support seems to be caught in the middle of the intrigues, especially after the governor returned from his overseas vacation to announce that there was no division between him and the APC chairman.The development has given rise to a multiplicity of interest groups within the ruling party in Edo.
Between Oshiomhole, Obaseki
ONE feature of the political unease in the state is the inability of party chieftains to put a handle to the hazy relationship between Oshiomhole and Obaseki. As such it has been difficult for stakeholders to declare their allegiance to either of the duo openly for fear of possible backlash.
While contending that “authentic” APC leaders would not allow the governor destroy Oshiomhole’s legacies in the state, Inigbeniki, who was APC Senatorial candidate for Edo Central in 2015, accused the governor of playing treacherous politics. He regretted that the governor fell out of reckoning by jettisoning the political structure Oshiomhole built and which brought him to power.
His words: “Obaseki’s style of politics is alien to modern day politics; his style of politics is treacherous. Some of us that are grassroots politicians did not know Obaseki untill Oshiomole introduced him to us sometimes in the year 2000.
“Before then Obaseki had never voted in any election in the state. He was not a politician. Oshiomole made Obaseki politically. But today, Obaseki is showing ingratitude by trying to destroy the ladder with which he climbed to the top. He is now dining and wining with all those Oshiomhole fought to make him governor.“He has equally abandoned all the projects Oshiomhole commenced in the state and, in fact, chased away all APC leaders who made him governor. That is why I laughed when I read the statement signed by my good friend Osarodion Ogie, who is now the Secretary to the State Government, who claimed there is no problem between Obaseki and Oshiomhole, which is pure hypocrisy.”
Inigbeniki alleged that Obaseki started by fighting all Oshiomhole’s loyalists, stressing that as one of the most experienced politicians in Edo State today, “I know that in life if you say the truth, you will die; if you don’t say the truth, you will still die. So, let me say the truth before I die.”He maintained that Obaseki had betrayed Oshiomole and most of the people who made him, pointing out that the governor must therefore work hard to earn a second term, since according to him, “some of us objected to Oshiomole making Obaseki the candidate of the party in 2017.
“We later agreed based on our respect for the former governor and campaigned round the state, convincing Edo people that it was going to be continuity. The APC structure you see in Edo State today was put in place by Comrade Oshiomole; it was that structure that was used to make Obaseki governor. But today where is the structure?”
Inegbeniki said the new Obaseki structure could not stand as some of them have vowed not to stand aloof to see Oshiomhole’s structure destroyed. He said Obaseki and his loyalists organised the last National Assembly and Presidential election with their structure and failed in their units, wards and local governments, including the governor’s. So, without Oshiomhole, they will fail again.”
The APC stalwart counseled Obaseki to watch the utterances of those around him, particularly the young boys he brought from Lagos carrying laptops and POS around, saying, “We are watching them and Edo people will react soonest.”
