Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has concluded plans to host his long-time middle man, business partner and chairman of his economic team as the next governor of the state.
oshiomhole
FREEPRESS learned that the governor invited key editors of major newspapers across the country to the state capital and lavished them with cash running into hundreds of millions.
An eyewitness account who is shy of the press said for the governor to dole out such amount of money to a group of top editors variously is an indication that he has mortgage the state already.
“Edo State in the next ten to fifteen years can not recovery from the plundering and debt it has been railroaded into by the comrade governor.
“It’s shocking to see the governor doling out N8 million each to news, political and features editors of various national newspapers for the promotion of Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s ambition and to be downgrading the ambition of other aspirants for the same race in the same political party.
Our source hinted that the commissioner for information, Mr. Kassim Afegbua was visibly angry with governor Adams Oshiomhole after seeing one of the editors off to the Benin airport without the courtesy of given him 10 percent of the largesse he got from his boss.
Governor Oshiomhole is known for allocating huge sum of money to buying each paragraph of the national dailies for favourable publications and out-of-world-propaganda.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s ghostbuster-general and Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s train-bearer-in-chief, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has been demonstrating how unconfident, unqualified and unintelligent a governorship aspirant; expecially one hashed on a demobilized political space can be! It’s so disorienting at best and at worst, repulsive to read of governorship aspirant in this time and space who lacks basic knowledge of national configuration as it relates to constitutionally settled matter in the Exclusive, Concurrent and Residual lists.
Godwin Obaseki
Except for lack of conscious attention, I have, for the umpteen times, read or heard Mr. Godwin Obaseki, one of the September 10th Governorship contenders goofed about state-craft should he succeed the twitterpated governor of Edo State. Mr. Obaseki’s attempts at the soapbox in recent times come with mis feelings, in all instances.
Earlier, Obaseki’s lame exposition on the Benin historical facts was a miscarriage as much as political naivety. He granted two separate interviews in two national newspapers where he chided the Benin dynasty for not taking his grandfather’s counsel. In the other interview, he revealed his near emptiness; absent-mindedness, vague platitudes and sheer insolence.
Up till this moment, Mr. Obaseki has not refuted his earlier assertion “that when the British entered Benin Kingdom and attempted to do ‘business’ with Benin, his grandfather advised the then Oba of Benin, Oba Ovonramwen N’ogbaisi, to sign a treaty with the foreigners. He is yet to perforate all available evidence which suggests that the British did not intend to do business with any of their eventual colonies, rather they were on a colonial mission as they did also with Jaja, Nana, Attahiru and Kosoko, among others.
In another interview, Mr. Obaseki was quoted to have said, “my area of specialisation is (Capitalism). I was born into Capitalist system and it is also the system of governance of Edo State people right from time immemorial and I don’t know when socialism entered the system”. Edo electorate are waiting patiently for him to come clean on ‘how, when and where was the Capitalist system he was born into’.
Not done yet, Mr. Obaseki disclosed thus: “But, in the meantime, we also had the benefit of the experience of Comrade Oshiomhole on how to execute transactions, policies and projects even when the super structure of governance is broken down. So, we had to build roads, whether we had qualified engineers to help us to design roads in the Ministry of Works or not. We had to get our bills of quantity right for our schools and our government buildings; we had to procure the services of consultants to help us understand the lay of the land of our environment to do the mapping to determine what we needed to do before we build roads”.
This is the first time I am hearing that pieces of grand engineering edifices have taken place or health care delivery services have been achieved without doctors and nurses! In other words, Edo people should not be certain that schools, hospitals and roads built presently would last for a while. Or shall we also say that Mr. Obaseki who is the head of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Economic Team is not aware that engineers, doctors, and nurses have been employed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration?
This is the point at which Edo State and Nigerians have arrived at ground zero. Governance finally died literally in the land. This is probably the first time in living memory that a would be successor to the governor’s throne is totally removed from the government in which he serves in an attempt to shield despair and despondency etched on the faces of the citizens.
Obaseki’s major gaffe came from his latest voyage in the media titled: “Obaseki unfolds agenda” by one of the national dailies. “One thing that this government has started that the people will not see until two years time is electricity. Government has encouraged people to come and generate electricity for Edo. As we speak, our investors have started building big electricity plants across the state that will generate about 450 megawatts each. The total electricity we consume in Edo is about 100 but these people are building a plant that will generate 450 each. So by the end of 2017, we will have enough electricity for Edo”, the aspirant stated.
The above statement by Obaseki is replete with vagueness. It falls short of educating Edo people how many of such power generating firms would be churning out 450 wattages. If his arithmetics is correct through equitable distribution it means Nigeria currently generates 3,700 megawatts. Can you spot the difference between South Africa which produces around 240,300 gigawatt-hours (865,000 TJ) electricity annually with a population of barely 53 million according to 2011 demography. Most of this electricity in South Africa is consumed domestically, but around 12,000 gigawatt-hours are annually exported to Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other Southern African Development Community countries participating in the Southern African Power Pool.
If we want constant power supply that can sustain heavy industries, the minimum standard across the country should be in the neighbourhood of 1,000 mw for every one million people. Edo State at the last count is presently estimated to be inhabited by nearly five million people. Therefore, Edo State needs as much as 5,000mega watts of electricity. On the average, it will a cost nothing less than $5 billion.
How many megawatts is Obaseki envisaging and how long will it take Edo State to get there in the very unlikely event that he becomes governor? Where is he getting the investors that will invest such amount of money in Edo State when the people are extremely wretched with very high rate of political unrest and uncertainty in the land? Where is Mr Obaseki’s blueprint for the transformation of the education and health sectors for the State? Will it be out of place to alleged that a certain godfather is out to foist fraud on the people?
You can clearly understand the problem with Nigeria state and the governing process. For Mr. Obaseki to say he would bring constant electricity to the state, shows that he clearly doesn’t understand the rules and operation of electricity in Nigeria. One of the major problems facing Nigeria with power( electricity) is the central control which is listed in the Exclusive list. Mr. Obaseki knew that if Edo State should build a power plant producing 450 megawatts each by non-existent companies as he claimed, it is not owe by the state and her people.
Now, this. Why did Obaseki feign ignorant that his unaware that electricity generation is not for the states? Why did he not nationalise the need to decentralize power generation, distribution and supply if deception is not at the heart of it? If not for political ends why should Mr. Obaseki claim that the Azura Power Plant located in Edo State belongs to the state government, something everyone knew belongs to the federal government? Shouldn’t Mr. Obaseki have remonstrate on the pertinent of states generating electricity, credit itself first with the supply, and what is left should then be sold to the national grid? Could it be that he knew that the people are gullible and sought to take advantage of it? Can it be said that it is an intentional move to deceitfully mislead the people he intend to govern?
One of the falter flaws of Mr. Obaseki’s minders’ defence is akin to a filmic, a man falling off a skyscrapers; suddenly a fire engine rushed to the scene and position itself beneath the falling man’s head, then the roof slid back! They have refused to accept the fact that the old order which we fought and thought had destroyed itself with the coming of Adams Oshiomhole has resurfaced. All the certainties of political emancipation, its heroic possibilities and buoyant optimism for a new order has evaporated. Now, Edo electorate are being told, like the biblical children of Lot not to look back, lest they be turned into a sack of salt!
Erasmus Ikhide, social commentator writes from Lagos Nigeria.
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole…must never allow himself to be distracted or wavered from those cardinal creeds which he embraced on November 12, 2008”. Quoted in Nowinta’s book;2012: Conqueror of the Godfathers (page 87)
WHEN the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, recently applied the big stick once against the Edo State Traffic Management Authority, EDSTMA, knocking them off their usual nefarious and very much hated business, the question that came to my mind was simply:‘ who is fooling who? Yes! Who do the Comrade-Governor think he is fooling? Does he think he is a political ‘Solomon’ wiser than the knowledgeable and sensitive people of Edo State?
Oshiomhole
If I am not wrong, I think this is the second time in the life of this administration that the Comrade-Governor would be putting the Edo State Traffic Management Authority out of circulation after they would have given us dosages of unwarranted terror. The reasons the Comrade-Governor gave for sending them packing this time around is not new to the much-oppressed people of Edo State.
The sacked EDSTMA officials were notorious for stark extortion of law-abiding and peaceful citizens of Edo State under the guise of traffic control. These EDSTMA thugs, while their evil reign lasted, operated like tin gods and inflicted untold hardship and brazen torture on the vulnerable people of Edo State.
Where was Comrade Oshiomhole when the innocent people of Edo State were brutalised, terrorised and treated like slaves by EDSTMA thugs who did not employ decent modern traffic procedures when handling the people? I think the Governor waited for too long? While the Comrade-Governor waited tactically, he simply turned the other eye to allow some useless, jobless, selfish, inhuman and greedy party stalwarts to pounce on the innocent people of Edo State using traffic control or management as a cover.
Why did the Comrade-Governor betray the people in such a fashion after what they did for him in 2007 during the governorship election and in 2012? Today, as I penned this piece, market women and ‘pure water’ hawkers in all the major markets in the state are being compelled to pay all sorts of fees /levies to some marijuana-smoking, nasty and fierce looking thugs working for ‘a band of political merchants’ that have one connection or the other to the Dennis Osadebey Avenue.
Certainly this was not the promise that Comrade Oshiomhole articulated in 2007 and in 2012. Agreed that the Comrade Governor is one of the best things that have happened to Edo State in terms of construction and rehabilitation of roads; and other laudable frantic efforts he has made in other sectors. Granted that he has indeed rubbished the nearly 10 years of gigantic misrule which the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, perfected in Edo State. But the ordinary people do not seem to have a place in his democratic agenda!
It has been a very sad story of ‘used and dumped’. Where is the Youth Employment Scheme (EDO YES) that the Governor sang and danced with in his political manifestoes? These guys are now roaming the streets aimlessly, hungry and panting for survival! What about the last local government election in the state? Was it free, fair and credible? We all saw what took place.
Today, the Comrade-Governor has turned full circle after he incredibly sent the political godfathers packing and completely out of business after his victory in the governorship elections in 2007 and 2012. The road for the race of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primaries in Edo State is being dug up and covered with political land mines purchased and delivered allegedly by the foot soldiers of those who run the show because one Mr Godwin Obaseki is the alleged ‘anointed aspirant’.
Gentleman Amegor, an absolutely dedicated party man in the fold of the APC and others are being hounded and persecuted because they are demanding due process, transparency, equity and fairness in the way the party’s governorship candidate should emerge. For instance, not too long ago, Edo South Senatorial meeting allegedly called in Amegor’ s house was disrupted by those working for the ‘anointed aspirant’.
Recently, Ken Imasuagbon, a governorship aspirant in APC Edo State was allegedly locked out of Oredo Local Government party secretariat where he was to have a meeting with party faithful in the locality. Also, some commissioners, council chairmen, political appointees who were alleged to be working for other governorship aspirants in the state other than the ‘anointed man’ have been yanked off from their positions, etc.
I think it is not too late for the Comrade-Governor to retrace his steps, call his ‘warriors’ to order and ensure that a level playing field is available for all those who have indicated interest to participate in the APC governorship primaries. Who says the Comrade-Governor should not be interested in who succeeds him on November 12, 2016?
We know absolutely that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu showed interest in who he wanted to succeed him as Governor of Lagos State, but available records showed that his successors went through open and credible party primaries. I fear for the APC and the good people of Edo State should the party’s governorship primary become enmeshed in crisis, thereby spoiling the party’s visible chances of ultimately winning the governorship election when the time comes?
Who says any one cannot aspire to be a political godfather? But because of the terrible chains that became the lot of the people of Edo State before the emergence of Comrade Oshiomhole in 2007, we don’t need another godfather in Edo State.
Mr Igbotako Nowinta, an author, wrote from Benin, Edo
The national chairman of All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun has turned down Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s request to add five delegates each from the one hundred and ninety two wards across the eighteen local government of the state.
APC National Chairman, Odigie Oyegun
Earlier the state chairman of the party, Barrister Alsem Ojezua, made similar request in writing to the national chairman asking for permission or approval to alter the delegate list and was turned down.
Inside sources revealed that all the attempt is tailored towards the enthronement of Oshiomhole’s favourite candidate in the person Mr. Godwin Obaseki who has been rejected by the all powerful Benin Palace and the APC delegates who sees Mr. Obaseki’s candidacy as an extension of Oshiomhole’s tenure which failed to reward APC members with political appointments, rather defectors from the PDP were well rewarded with juicy positions.
FreePress is reliably informed that the Chief Oyegun told Governor Oshiomhole that the rules of any game cannot be altered at the middle of it.
Currently, governor Oshiomhole has become more desperate in his pursuit to install Mr. Obaseki as the governorship candidate of the party employing crude and uncivilised methods to achieve his purpose.
Last month the Edo South Senatorial Leader, Barrister Gentleman Amegor was not only said to have been suspended from the party by a group loyal to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, but was two week ago prevented from holding an Edo South Senatorial meeting in his residence by heavily armed thugs alleged to be sponsored by the governor.
Similarly, last week, Barrister Ken Imasuagbon who is a governorship hopeful of the APC was locked out from the Oredo party secretariat where delegates across the local government had Gathered to the addressed by him.
Supporters of other aspirants within the party are harassed and intimidated and, in some cases, political appointees perceived to be supporting other aspirants are either dismissed or sacked. Example are four commissioners, two local government chairmen, Martins Izevbijie and a host of others.
Political observers are of the view that this ugly trend of executive rascality if not checked portends great danger for the APC in Edo State and a threat to the peaceful conduct of the 2016 Edo governorship election.
A member of the All Progressives Congress, an aspirant of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki has said he will not step down for anyone.
Don Pedro Obaseki
Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS, Don Pedro said he was running for the people and running to win.
His response was as a result of the speculation in some quarters, that one of the aspirants, Barrister Osarodion Ogie has stepped down for Dr. Godwin Obaseki who is a cousin to Don Pedro.
Godwin Obaseki is speculated to be supported by the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole and the APC. However, the moves by other aspirants to challenge the decision of the party and that of the governor have continued to create internal division in the party.
Responding to the speculation, Don Pedro said “Is any one stepping down for me? I’m not running for or because of anyone person. I’m running for my people. I’m running to win.
The Nollywood Director who said he was flagging off his campaign on Sunday (today) vowed to keep every promises he made during campaign if he emerged as the governor, contrary to the believe by many Nigerians that politicians make promises they can’t keep.
He reminded that he was not a carrier politician. He said “My antecedents are clear. I’m NOT a career politician, who makes promises he can’t keep. I’m flagging off officially today.”
When asked if there were areas he thought the current governor did not perform, Don Obaseki said “I will leverage on Oshiomhole’s successes. I’m not running to run down Oshiomhole. He’s my party leader and sitting Governor. I’d described Comrade Oshiomhole as the “Moses of our time”. But I will be the JOSHUA to take Edo State to the Promised land. I will Heal our Land.
I don’t just crave CONTINUITY. Rather, I offer Smarter, Better CONTINUITY. All programmes that elevates the well being of the common man will be retained and enhanced. I’d called for Townhall sessions to properly locate and the needs of all Edo people.
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State has continued as the state Publicity Secretary, Godwin Erhahon and a member of the House of Representatives, Philip Shuaibu have thrown support for the suspended Vice Chairman of the party, Barrister Gentleman Amegor.
Governor Oshiomhole
The duo insisted that Barr. Amegor remain the Vice Chairman, adding that those who signed the suspension letter were not executive members of the party.
Erhahon denied that the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole was behind the suspension, saying that “Amergor remains our Vice Chairman. I am one of the foremost leaders in Edo South, therefore, all those who signed the documents cannot claim to be higher leaders of the party from Edo South. I see those who signed that statement as swindlers who want to take advantage of the crisis. I want all the aspirants to think of peace after the primaries and we must avoid all antagonism after the primaries.”
“I also want to debunk the insinuation that the governor is behind his suspension. He is a peaceful person, those who did what they did acted on their own, they don’t have the backing of the state leadership of the party and the governor.”
A five-man disciplinary committee headed by Pa Ogbomo, HOn. Henry Okhuarobo, Hon Henry Idahagbon, Mr. Vincent Uwadiae, Chief Benson Osifo among others had issued a suspension for Barr. Amegor over allegations bordering on “failure to convene regular meeting of the district to discuss and resolve issues affecting the development of the party and anti-party activity committed during the last Presidential elections which led to the loss of his unit and consequently his Local Government
Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on Wednesday, the disappointed Vice Chairman described those who signed the suspension as a group of miscreant who are on a personal vendetta.
He confirmed the speculation that he was being targeted over his refusal to support the governorship ambition of the APC preferred candidate, Godwin Obaseki.
He said “They are grunted miscreants, i remain the leader of Edo South.
“They are talking nonsense, I was fully elected. The allegation was just porous, it is a fabricated lie. They were just looking for something. It is on a personal vendetta, just because i am supporting Odubu for governorship. Those who wrote this suspension are supporting Obaseki, that is our problem”
On the speculation that he refused Prado jeep to support Godwin Obaseki, Barr. Amegor said “Well i heard that too but i don’t know where they got that from, they are all measures to fight the insurgents so to speak from maligning my name.”
“I have written a rebuttal and let see how it goes”
Effort by the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole to push his preferred candidate, Godwin Obaseki as the next governor of Edo State took a different dimension on Wednesday after a five-man disciplinary committee suspended the State Vice Chairman and Senatorial leader, Barr Gentleman Amegor.
APC data Centre
The disciplinary committee headed by Pa Ogbomo, Hon Henry Okhuarobo, Hon Henry Idahagbon, Mr Vincent Uwadiae, Chief Benson Osifo among other APC leaders recommended suspension for Gentleman Amegor for what they described as anti-party activities.
The allegations includes: “failure to convene regular meetings of the district to discuss and resolve issues affecting the development of the party.
“Anti-party activity committed during the last Presidential elections which led to the loss of his unit and consequently his Local Government.”
Contrary to the reasons listed for the suspension, it was gathered that the Vice Chairman was actually suspended due to his loyalty to the deputy governor, Mr. Pius Odubu’s political ambition.
Effort by the state governor to change the mind of Mr. Odubu to obey party decision has proven futile which left him with no choice than to suspend or sack members, including his close aides who are found supporting his deputy.
Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on the suspension, Barrister Gentleman Amegor said those who took the decision are a group of miscreants, adding that he was only suspended because of his decision to support the deputy governor.
He described the decision as porous and a personal vendetta. He said “They are grunted miscreants, i remain the leader of Edo South.
“They are talking nonsense, I was fully elected. The allegation was just porous, it is a fabricated lie. They were just looking for something. It is on a personal vendetta, just because i am supporting Odubu for governorship. Those who wrote this suspension are supporting Obaseki, that is our problem”
On the speculation that he refused Prado jeep to support Godwin Obaseki, Barr. Amegor said “Well i heard that too but i don’t know where they got that from, they are all measures to fight the insurgents so to speak from maligning my name.”
“I have written a rebuttal and let see how it goes”
BENIN CITY—FORMER member of House of Representatives, Mr Rasaq Bello-Osagie, has said that Mr Godwin Obaseki’s credentials as a management expert was what Edo State people need as the next governor of the state.
He urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state to commend Governor Oshiomhole for his preference for Obaseki as APC governorship candidate ahead of the governorship election in the state, saying that being a politician alone cannot guarantee positive future for the people of the state, adding that those insisting that Obaseki was not a politician should have a rethink.
Bello-Osagie, who represented the people of Oredo federal constituency of Edo State between 2011-2015, said: “Oshiomhole was never a politician before he ran for the governorship of this state. But today, Edo State is one of the most vibrant states in the country despite its meagre resources.
“When Oshiomhole came, he constituted a team and this same Obaseki for instance, from day one, put a team together to support the governor. He supported the process to raise a strong team of professionals to help the administration of the governor. He remained in the policy cockpit of the Oshiomhole administration.
“What is needed in Edo State now as a recipe for development, not restricting the choice of candidate to those who see themselves as just politicians. We are looking for managers who can creatively manage our meagre resources for the benefit of Edo State. His antecedents as a management expert qualify him to aspire to the position of governor of Edo State. Edo State as presently constituted, in line with its own vision for the state needs a super manager not just a politician.”
BRITISH INVASION: ‘THE BINI REJECTED OBASEKI’S ADVICE’ SO ALSO THE BINIS REJECTS GODWIN OBASEKI GUBER ASPIRATION.
A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki may have bargained for more than he can handle over a statement credited to him.
Godwin Obaseki
Mr. Obaseki has said in Benin city that the state suffered setback in 1887 in the hands of the British colonialists because the palace refused to listen to his grandfather, Chief Agho Obaseki’s advice.
He made this statement in Benin when he hosted some of his relatives, possibly to inform them of his intention to run for governorship election.
Explaining the incident, Obaseki recalled that when the British colonialist entered Benin for an alleged business purpose, his grandfather advised the then Oba of Benin, Oba Ovonranmwnen Nogbaisi to sign a treaty with the foreigners but didn’t hearken to his advice.
He continued that the implication of the Benin kingdom refusal to listen to his grandfather’s advice was invasion of Benin Kingdom and the looting of its treasure.
Clearing the air on why two Obasekis are running for the governorship ticket, the governorship aspirant said there was nothing wrong with that.
Mr. Obaseki also revealed that his family remains the largest in Benin Kingdom, adding that more Obaseki can join in the governorship race.
It could be recall that Don Pedro Obaseki, has accused his elder cousin, Godwin Obaseki of betrayal.
Don Pedro in his explanation accused his brother of stabbing him in his back. He revealed that be informed his elder cousin of his intention to run for governorship election, only for him to hear from different sources months later that (he) Godwin Obaseki was now joining the race.
Reacting to the assertion, one of the Great Great Granddaughter of Oba Ovonranmwen, Roberta William said Mr. Obaseki lied to the people, adding that his grandfather, Agho Obaseki deceived the then Oba.
Roberta William said : “He lied to the people because Chief Agho Obaseki deceived Oba Ovonranmwen to go on exile to Calabar where he eventually died on 13th January, 1914.
Chief Agho caused a lot of chaos to Oba Eweka II because he wanted to be crowed as the Oba but loyal Chiefs and the Edo people kicked against it and said Ovonranmwen’s son should succeed the throne.
The British had to succumb to the people’s demand and forced Oba Eweka II to make Chief Agho Obaseki the Iyase of Benin, but he never paid homage to the Oba because he felt he deserved to be the King.
“Its good to tell history as it is no matter how bitter!! It’s not true that, “the binis rejected Chief Agho’s (The Obaseki of Benin) advice!!!! Matter of fact, it’s most likely Chief Agho Obaseki plotted the death of Oba Ovonramwen as well because history has it on record that whilst the Oba was on exile in Calabar, Chief Agho sent his son to serve the Oba. Chief Agho Obaseki’s son returned to Benin after Oba Ovonramwen’s death!!!!
A lot of deception was at play during that sad period in Benin Empire…”
An aspirant, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Don Petro Obaseki has expressed discomfort in the news of his elder cousin, Godwin Obaseki to run as governor in the next governorship election in Edo State.
Don Pedro Obaseki
He described the development as shocking and “betrayal of trust” by Godwin who rumour said has been chosen to run by the APC.
Don Obaseki who agreed that it’s the game of politics revealed that he informed his elder cousin of his ambition to run for governorship election but didn’t know he would go for the same position himself.
He assured that the action of Godwin Obaseki, who is the Edo State Chairman, Economic Team will not divide the Obaseki’s family, adding that he (Don Pedro Obaseki) is much accepted within the entire Obaseki’s family worldwide.
His words: “I am shocked that another Obaseki is running but be that is it may,this is politics. It really sounds funny and uncomfortable to many people outside.
He said “Me as child of tradition before I decided to run,I consulted massively with my friends and family. When am talking about my family I don’t mean my immediate family, I mean the enlarged Obaseki and to the extent that I have done two serious event to cement that announcement of my ambition.
“Everybody in my family is fully aware of my ambition,they are equally aware that I am seeking for the APC ticket.
Before the end of next week I will release the documentary of my adoption by the family and the blessing of my family and I have equally presented my intent to the upper room elders council of the Obaseki for me to go ahead with my ambition. So my quest is not based on share shenanigan or a few person sitting behind the sanctuary of open doors to anoint anybody.”
‘For me I have the corporate endorsement of the Obaseki’s clan,not just the Obaseki’s clan in Nigeria but the Obaseki’s clan world wide. Mine is not a forested ambition of one person but a collective decision of the Obaseki family.”
“My elder cousin, Godwin. He is eleven years older than I am, so I give him respect in the fact that I was shocked because I have actually gone to him to beg him to lead me to the Governor so when I was told some months later
that one of those I thought will be on my side was now also selling self, so let’s live the sea for the better mariner.”
A governorship aspirant on the platform of Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called for the strengthening of local security outfits, popularly called vigilantes across the state.
This followed the recent twin bank robbery at Igarra, Edo State.
In his New Year message to Edo State residents, the politician noted that for the police to effectively protect the people, there should be a collaboration between the communities and the police.
He cited the case of the Igarra and Makeke vigilance groups, which successfully foiled the twin bank robbery in Igarra.
Obaseki said, in line with APC’s manifesto, the design of an enduring community policing strategy would secure the lives and property of the residents from Gelegele to Somorika.
The governorship aspirant urged the people to always support the police with information that could help in the fight against insecurity.
Also, Obaseki pledged to deploy his goodwill in the private sector within and outside Nigeria to encourage the sector to show interest in the Gelegele-Atlantic Ocean link Port.
The politician said it has the capacity to open up the state’s economy to other parts of Nigeria and the world.
He added that as a Financial Management expert, he would not allow Edo State economy, with its potential, to be less than 10 in the ranking of Nigerian states, especially in doing business and youth employment.
Obaseki said Edo State would continue to leverage on its strategic location in Nigeria as an artery to push its economy to greater heights for the benefits of the people.
A aspirant for next year’s gubernatorial election in Edo State, Blessing Agbomhere, has faulted an alleged suppport of incumbent Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the Chairman of the state Economic Team, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, to succeed him as governor of the state.
Governor Oshiomhole
The aspirant who is seeking to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the governorship election, said it was a mistake for Governor Oshiomhole to support Dr. Obaseki.
Agbomhere who spoke at a maiden town hall meeting with youths in the state where he unveiled his blueprint for developing the state, described himself as the youngest aspirant in the governorship race.
He said Oshiomhole was “only testing the waters” with the alleged support for Obaseki, adding that the people of the state and not an individual would decide who emerged the next governor.
He stated that his team was carefully studying the APC constitution to ensure that the supremacy of the constitution is ensured during the party primaries.
“Governor Oshiomhole is an individual. He can decide to support whomever he chooses. Remember in politics, there is deceit.
“A time will come when people will analyze the history, successes and failures of these aspirants. Obaseki is the biggest mistake Oshiomhole can make in Edo State.
“Oshiomhole is only testing the waters. He is not supporting Obaseki and he will not support Obaseki. Obaseki does not have the quality and qualifications to govern Edo State. Dangote cannot produce the governor of Edo State.
“As the chairman of Edo Economic team, Obaseki was given the resources and the finances to bring investment to Edo State. He said he worked for Dangote and brought him to Edo State. They were given land and spent billions on it only to abandon it to the detriment of Edo people,” Agbomhere said.
P.M.NEWS reports that an alleged instruction by Governor Oshiomhole to his trusted loyalists to start marketing Obaseki as his preferred successor, has stirred anxiety and apprehension among leaders and stalwarts of the APC in the state.
Interestingly, the state Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie, who is allegedly also eyeing the governorship seat, is said to be one of those saddled with the responsibility of marketing Obaseki by Governor Oshiomhole.
BENIN—THE rumoured endorsement of the chairman of the Economic Team of Edo State Government, Mr Godwin Obaseki, as Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s preferred governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the state is causing tension in the party.
Governor Oshiomhole
The tension is due to the calibre of aspirants in the party, including the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, former governor of the state, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor, Oshiomhole’s Works Commissioner and political son, Osarodion Ogie, former Minister of State, Works, Dr Chris Ogiemwonyi, Kenneth Imasuagbon (Rice man) and Gen. Charles Airhiavbere.
Obaseki’s emergence in the governorship race came as a surprise to many due to the fact that he is seen as a technocrat and not a politician. He is alleged to be backed by business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
However, tension heightened in the state’s APC last week after some leaders of the party informed their followers that Obaseki was the governor’s anointed and urged them to key into it. Vanguard learned of an alleged plot to ensure that his emergence was frustrated at the primaries by other aspirants. Oshiomhole had in an interview with Vanguard, expressed his respect for each of the aspirants and assured that the leadership of the party would ensure the emergence of a candidate that will sustain the infrastructural development he put in place.
But a chieftain of the party, Rev Michael Egharevha, dismissed such threats, saying: “If Obaseki is the governor’s choice nobody will stop him. Oshiomhole made most of us what we are today and if he decides it is Obaseki, so be it, we will all support him. So if anybody is threatening, it is only a waste of time.”
