Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant Dr. Pedro Obaseki has warned Governor Adams Oshiomhole against any imposition of candidate, saying that it may backfire.
He said the governor is not bigger than the party, recalling that last year, the governor’s candidate failed during the senatorial polls.
Obaseki urged the people, including Edo in the Diaspora, to make a good choice, adding that the choice they make will determine the progress of the state in the future.
Don Pedro Obaseki
The 49-year old politician stressed: “Edo is on the throes of motor park democracy. Change is good, but we must change properly. I don’t have a godfather. God is my father. I will take my message to the Edo people, even in the Diaspora, to make a good choice.”
Oshiomhole has anointed Obaseki’s cousin, Godwin Obaseki, as his preferred candidate. The governor, who described the Chairman of the Edo State Economic Team as a competent technocrat and administrator, justified his decision, saying that he has the constitutional right to make a choice.
No fewer than eight aspirants are struggling for the ticket. Other contenders are Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, former Governor Osherhimen Osunbor, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, a former minister, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Osarodion Ogie, and Kenneth Imasuagbon. Some of the APC contenders came from the PDP. Also, majority of the PDP aspirants defected from the APC.Obaseki, a broadcaster and film maker, cautioned the APC against over-confidence, stressing that the PDP is roaring like a wounded lion, seeking to devour the ruling party.
He said: “Edo is not an APC state. I can make it an APC state, leveraging on the achievements of Oshiomhole.”
The aspirant said the onus is on Oshipmhole, who rode to power on the back of his ‘one man, one vote’ campaign and serious resistance to godfatherism, to learn from the past. he said any manipulation of the selection process in favour of any aspirant will be to the detriment of the party.
Obaseki also condemned what he described as the evil of money politics, adding that stomach infrastructure will not play any role during the election. He said: “Only God anoints. I am not rich in terms of the interpretation of stolen wealth.”
Reflecting on the zoning debate, the former university teacher said: “I will not sacrifice competence on the altar of zoning. Edo people are one.”
He also warned against violence during the primary, saying the perpetrators of violence will be taken to task.
Unfolding his programmes, Obaseki said: “Edo is my political message, ideology and focus.” He said he will focus on agriculture, health care system, education, employment generation, culture and tourism.
He lamented that “Edo is where it is because of leadership laziness,” stressing that its natural endowment can take it far, if properly harnessed.
Obaseki, who shed light on his health manifesto, lamented the lack of ambulance serve in the health sector. He promise to introduce the ‘Edo health Initiative,’ which he described as a coordinated health policy to redeem the health sector. He said he will also create a data base in the health sector detailing the health history of the people.
On agriculture, he said: “We have the land. Nigeria imports 63 percent of its palm oil, which Edo can produce.”
As the political parties and aspirants prepare for this year’s governorship election in Edo State, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that alleged endorsement of one of the APC aspirants by Governor Adams Oshiomhole may have raised the stake in the politics of South-South state
Governor Oshiomhole
Ahead of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, a cold war is brewing within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), over a rumoured endorsement of one of the leading aspirants, Godwin Obaseki, by Governor Adams Oshiomhole as his preferred governorship candidate of the party.
Obaseki, who is currently the chairman of the economic team of Edo State Government, is seeking the ticket of the APC alongside other prominent chieftains of the ruling party like Oshiomhole’s deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, ex-Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor, incumbent Commissioner for Works and political ally of the governor, Osarodion Ogie, former Minister of State, Works, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Kenneth and Gen. Charles Airhiavbere.
Although there has been no official announcement by the governor on the matter, proponents of the endorsement theory are citing Oshiomhole’s body languages as well as some public statements as reasons for adducing that he has Obaseki in mind as the next governor of the state.
“The governor has never hidden his desire to have a technocrat succeed him. He has said that much at many fora. He has even given reasons for his preference. Obaseki is a technocrat and not a politician. He is one of the trusted allies of the governor and he is in the race.
“Recently, while speaking at a programme he attended with Obaseki, the governor told the gathering that the man who will succeed him is at the event listening to him and learning more. It was after this that the other aspirants went to town with the endorsement allegations,” a source told The Nation.
“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.
“Obaseki 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,” he said.
The Nation also learnt that some local party leaders informed their disciples about the alleged endorsement of Obaseki by the governor during the festive period while urging them to be prepared to work for his victory at the party’s primary election.
Consequently, other aspirants are alleging a plot to impose Obaseki on the party by the outgoing governor, vowing to resist such attempt. Observers of the politics of the state say if not well managed, the development is capable of affecting the chances of the ruling party at the governorship election.
Party position
But the chairman of the APC in the state, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, denied any plot to impose any aspirant as candidate while warning party members against misconstruing Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s rumoured preference for Obaseki as imposition.
The APC boss explained that it was the governor’s right to state who he prefers as his successor, explaining that will not stop the party from conducting primaries and providing a level playing field for everybody. He cautioned those threatening and abusing the governor over his preference for Obaseki.
He said: “It will be naive and unthinkable not to expect a sitting governor to have interest in who succeeds him in the governorship election. It is not true that the governor decided not to conduct primaries or whatever processes that may lead to the emergence of a candidate.
“I took it upon myself and I told the governor that we cannot leave this process open without managing it and that it is the job of the state executive to ensure stability. Now, we have almost 20 people parading themselves as aspirants in this party. If you don’t manage such a situation well you will be creating crisis.
“I am not aware that any statement has been made in terms of endorsement. But I can tell you now that if an endorsement is made, it will be legitimate. Endorsement is not imposition, it is a statement of expressing preference without prejudice to the processes of our party,” he stated.
The man Oshiomhole wants
Amidst the frenzy, Oshiomhole has insisted that his successor will have to come from the All Progressives Congress, APC, and must be someone who believes in the state and has the capacity to manage it well.
Addressing Benin Palace chiefs, led by Chief John Oviasogie, the Eribo of Benin, at the Government House recently, the governor said he is concerned about who will emerge as the party’s standard bearer just like any other member of the party, adding that there will be a level-playing field for all.
“May God give us a governor that will put Edo people first, that will respect the traditional institution and that will work for the unity of our people across the 192 wards, across the state.
“As I have said repeatedly, I think all of us must work together to ensure that we have a governor who, first and foremost, believes in Benin, and who believes in the state, because if someone does not believe in the state, and he has power, he will help himself.
“Running a government is different from running a private enterprise. When you are working for a government, the interest is the people of the state. The second is to have the capacity to manage finances prudently because you may wish to do your best, but you cannot give what you don’t have.
“If you don’t have the brain, if you don’t have the knowledge and you don’t have the capacity, you will not be able to do it. So, we need people who can apply resources creatively.
“From my inner insight of what this job entails, I believe we should look for people who believe in the state and have the capacity to run it. We have the right to educate the people about the person whom we think will be safe.
“Be rest assured that I am as concerned as yourselves because we have seen the damage which the wrong driver can do to our collective vehicle. Everything is the same, the only difference is the person who heads the government,” the governor said.
PDP watching keenly
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be watching the developments within the APC with keen interest, hoping to benefit from the crisis should it escalate.
Sources within the party said the PDP is determined to return to the Edo Government House this year and is doing everything possible to ensure victory at the governorship election.
Those who may have indicated interest to run for the 2016 governorship race under the PDP include immediate past Minister of Works, Chief Mike Onolememen; former member of the state House of Assembly, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen; Vice Chairman (South-South) of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri.
As the succession battle rages in Edo State, many All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains want Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other party leaders to ensure a level-playing ground for aspirants warming up for the governorship primary. Osagie Otabor reports.
Godwin Obaseki
All is not well in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State, as the battle over who succeeds Governor Adams Oshiomhole gathers momentum. The party primary is imminent, but there are fears that the party might implode, if the rumpus caused by Governor Oshiomhole’s choice is not handled properly.
Oshiomhole is said to have penciled down the Chairman of his economic team, Godwin Obaseki, as his preferred successor and reportedly asked other aspirants, who are his loyalists to step down for him.
The other aspirants include: Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Odubu and Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie; General Charles Airhiavbere; Chris Ogiemwonyi; Kenneth Imasuangbon; Chris Iyare; Don Pedro Obaseki; Blessing Agbomhere and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor.
Top contenders for the race were Ogiemwonyi, Ogie and Odubu, until Oshiomhole dropped the bombshell. Before now, Oshiomhole had announced at a colloquium in Benin City, the state capital, that somebody sitting in the hall was capable of achieving the set out agenda for his successor. Incidentally, when he was making the assertion, virtually all the aspirants were in the hall.
At the colloquium, Oshiomhole said Obaseki offered to serve without payment, but there are those who alleged that the amount he collects as commission from the loans sourced by the state is far more than that of officials on salary. It was also the first time Oshiomhole asked some of his cabinet members, including Ogie, Obaseki and Odubu, to speak on issues about his administration and post 2016. After the event, some APC members said they knew who the governor would pick as his successor.
It was learnt that Governor Oshiomhole told Ogie, at a meeting attended by the member representing Estako Federal Constituency, Hon. Philip Shaibu, to collapse his campaign structure and support Obaseki.
Oshiomhole was reported to have told them that his achievement, including the payment of salaries and project executions, despite cash crunch, was largely due to the advice offered by Obaseki. Ogie was said to have rejected the governor’s directive and insisted on stepping down for another aspirant, but not Obaseki.
A top APC source told our reporter that Ogie bluntly told the governor that he (Ogie) had been very loyal and focused on delivering the dreams of the governor.
Oshiomhole has told his loyalists to start marketing Obaseki, even though some said Obaseki was not a sellable material. The source said Oshiomhole would simply say, “Go and market him.”
The source said Oshiomhole has decided to use individual capacity to deliver rather than loyalty in seeking for a successor, should the move for Obaseki fail. Besides, Oshiomhole has reportedly told emissaries sent to lobby on behalf of some aspirants that the ticket was open to any contender and that he has only one vote.
Some analysts have said that Oshiomhole’s push for Obaseki, despite the stiff resistance from some members of his cabinet and party chieftains was because Oshiomhole believed he could repeat what he did in the 2011 general elections when he led vigorous campaigns that saw the elections of PDP defectors, Senator Ehigie Uzamere and Hon. Samson Osagie, despite reports of non-performance of Uzamere. Critics, however, said times have changed following the introduction of some policies, especially the property tax law, which they claim have reduced Oshiomhole’s popularity.
Besides the many battles fought by Oshiomhole, the push for Obaseki to pick the APC ticket to succee him would perhaps be Oshiomhole’s greatest battle. Sources said Oshiomhole has begun wooing party chieftains, but many are still refusing the candidacy of Obaseki.
Obaseki is rumoured to be favoured and backed by Alhaji Aliko Dangote. His emergence, according to his supporters, would lead to industrial boost as many critical economic roads have been constructed. Critics, however, said not a single investment has been attracted to the state by Obaseki-led economic team. critics say he should have been simply called Economic Adviser to the governor, because the members of the economic Team that started off with the governor have since pulled out. They pointed at Shoprite Shopping Mall and Dangote Fertilizer plant have failed to materialise despite initial assurances by the government.
Several odds have been adduced why the choice of Obaseki is causing ripples in the APC and among the party chieftains. Obaseki, according to some APC chieftains, has no political structure on ground. He has always described himself as a technocrat in government and not a politician. In many political rallies, Obaseki was said not to have provided any funding for any group, nor was he physically present.
Another setback for Obaseki is that he is accused of not being a card-carrying member of the APC and has always travelled out of the state during elections. Some even alleged he does not possess a voter’s card in Edo State because they have never seen him vote in any of the elections in the state, the last being the general elections of April 2015.
Unlike other aspirants that have built political structures either through philanthropic gestures or funding party activities ahead of the party primaries, Obaseki since he joined the Oshiomhole’s administration appeared not keen on seeking elections as he hardly grants press interview or spoke on any issues concerning the APC.
Also, Bini leaders in Edo South senatorial district are insisting that the governor should not unilaterally chooses a candidate from the zone. The APC has not zoned the governorship slot to any zone, but it is believed that an aspirant from the Edo South may likely emerge the party’s candidate because the Binis are rooting for a candidate from their zone.
The lawmaker representing Egor Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Crosby Eribo, re-echoed the Bini leaders stand when he said that APC leaders, and not a particular leader, would endorse the candidate for the party.
He said: “Any attempt to impose a particular candidate was capable of creating crisis in the party which I am sure the governor will not want, as the leader of the party.
“I have heard people saying that the governor told them that Obaseki is the candidate. For me, that is not true because as the lawmaker representing Egor, the governor should have told me but he has not and that is why I don’t believe that story. The governor has been in the forefront of the fight against godfatherism in the state and thank God he has done it well and we are happy.
“He also believes in the mantra of let the people lead and that has changed the politics of Edo State. So, I don’t see the governor now coming to make himself another godfather by anointing somebody unknown to us. We have come to the level where we now have the opportunity to choose who we want.”
The ambition of a cousin of Obaseki, Don Pedro, has also caused division in the larger Obaseki family on who to support. Don Pedro has already received the blessings of his family and has insisted he would not step down for anybody.
Describing the governor’s alleged endorsement as a rumour, Don Pedro said Edo could not be excluded from the change mantra of the APC.
He said: “It is a rumour. This is not the time to be bothered about an indoor one-man endorsement. We have seen and supported one-man one-vote. We should be working towards moving the state forward.
“I see myself as the Joshua that will take the state to the promised land. I have told my family members about my quest and they have asked me to go ahead.”
A top party official told our reporter that the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is also not happy about the governor’s position that some aspirants should step down for Obaseki. According to him, Chief Odigie-Oyegun preferred a situation where every aspirant will be given opportunity to participate in a free and fair primaries.
It appears most Bini leaders are visiting the alleged sins of Obaseki’s grand father, Agho Obaseki, against the Benin Monarchy during the reign of Oba Ovoranmen. Agho Obaseki was said to have collaborated with the colonial masters to suppress the Benin Monarchy and even wanted to become an Oba.
The youngest aspirant, Blessing Agbomhere, said Oshiomhole was ‘only testing the waters’ with his support for Obaseki.
Blessing, who spoke at the town hall meeting last week, noted that the people of state would decide who emerged as the next governor, adding that his team was carefully studying the APC constitution to ensure that the supremacy of the constitution is ensured during the party primaries.
His words: “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 analyse 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.”
Supporters of Obaseki’s aspiration are of the view that Oshiomhole would work hard to win more APC chieftains to support Obaseki. The supporters said the Benin monarch had long forgiven the Obasekis. They alluded to the fact that the Obaseki title was made hereditary and a former Chairman of the Nigeria Permier League, Oyuki Obaseki, was recently made a top Palace Chief.
Oshiomhole at a meeting with some traditional rulers said his choice of a successor must be someone who believes in the state as well as has the capacity to manage it.
According to Oshiomhole: “May God give us a governor that will put Edo people first; that will respect the traditional institution and work for the unity of our people across the 192 wards.
“I think all of us must work together to ensure that we have a governor who, first and foremost, believes in Benin, and who believes in the state, because if someone does not believe in the state, and he has power, he will help himself. Running a government is different from running a private enterprise. When you are running a government, you must have the interest of the people. The second is to have the capacity to manage finances prudently because you may wish to do your best, but you cannot give what you don’t have. If you don’t have the brain, if you don’t have the knowledge and you don’t have the capacity, you will not be able to do it. So, we need people who can apply resources creatively.”
A Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Oshiomhole, Nasamu Jacobs, said the economic team led by Obaseki had in the last seven years, worked tirelessly behind the scene for the rapid infrastructural resurgence in the state.
His words, “In the face of dwindling oil revenues, Godwin Obaseki and his team have had a herculean task in assisting the Comrade Governor focus emphasis on alternative sources of revenue which has in no small way stabilised the state economy.
“Edo people must look at the contenders, sift the serious from the pretenders, shun sentimental and primodal interests and focus on the serious issues of passion for development and the ability and capacity to harness and utilise most creatively the resources available to the state. This is where Godwin Obaseki who has shared in the Comrade Governor’s vision and mission these past years stands the best chance in keeping hope alive that the legacies of the Oshiomhole administration of which he has been a significant part will be sustained.
“In our search, therefore, Edo people must look beyond those who have remained on the political dance stage for some time without any meaningul contribution to our march to progress and development. We must search out the new breed leaders in the mould of Comrade Oshiomhole who have the qualities enunciated by him. All those jostling for the APC ticket are good people in their own right but we must pick the one who, after winning the election, will deliver the greatest good to the majority of Edo people. The Comrade Governor must lead while we the people follow in this ultimate search for a brand new and stainless governor for Edo State in 2016.”
AHEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, has warned party members against misconstruing Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s seeming preference for Mr Godwin Obaseki as candidate of the party as an imposition.
Godwin Obaseki
He explained that it was the governor’s right to state who he prefers as his successor, “but that will not stop the party from conducting primaries and providing a level playing field for everybody.”
He warned that the party may sanction those threatening and abusing the governor over his preference for Obaseki.
Ojezua who addressed newsmen in Benin City, yesterday, said that it will be naive and unthinkable not to expect a sitting governor to have interest in who succeeds him in the governorship election.
He said: “It is not true that the governor decided not to conduct primaries or whatever processes that may lead to the emergence of a candidate. I took it upon myself and I told the governor that we cannot leave this process open without managing it and that it is the job of the state executive to ensure stability.
“Now we have almost 20 people parading themselves as aspirants in this party. If you don’t manage such a situation well you will be creating crisis. I pleaded with the governor to invite leaders of our party to consult with them and do an assessment of all the aspirants as we know them. The guidelines are not farfetched. How much contributions have they made to the upliftment of our great party?
“The leaders will ask which role have you played, what have you contributed to the party materially and in terms of effort? Those who should know are the leaders and they are currently doing the assessment. I am not aware that any statement has been made in terms of endorsement. But I can tell you now that if an endorsement is made, it will be legitimate. Endorsement is not imposition, it is a statement of expressing preference without prejudice to the processes of our party,” he stated.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and one of the aspirants in the coming governorship election in Edo State, Don Pedro Obaseki has said he cannot be pushed out of the race.
“I Won’t be pushed out by any means, dubious or otherwise. I’m not a career politician,” he said.
The Playwright, Poet, Screenwriter, Film Director, and international Television content provider who is also a major force in Nollywood said as long as the primary is fair, he would go back to his business if he failed to secure the ticket.
Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS, Don Obaseki assured that his party won’t impose any candidate as widely speculated. He said “APC won’t. There will be Primaries. For sure. If I lose fairly, I will count my losses and go back to my business. A people get the leadership they deserve.
When asked of his next line of action should his party impose a candidate against all odd, The Playwright said:
“These are heady days yet. I’m resolved to see this to the end. The joke’s on anyone who chooses to under rate me.”
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.”
