SMATTERING FROM NATIONAL FALL, as a result of his tall ambition, former national chairman of the ruling All Progressive, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has returned to his country home in Iyamho, Etsako West, local government area of Edo State, to play local politics. He was said to have sneaked into Edo State, at night, and rode on a motor-bike to his country home.
On Saturday, July 18, Oshiomhole gathered local crowed of party supporters at his country home, and told them that APC would wrestle Edo State from the grip of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the governorship election scheduled for September 19. The same Oshiomhole, had on a platter of gold, handed over Edo State controlled APC to PDP, as a result of inordinate ambition.
Oshiomhole told the local crowd that: “We want to return to the government of the people by the people and for the people. We have a common mission to bring Edo back to the parts of sustainable development. I am back and ready for Edo, my home state.
“I have come home to join you and start the process of reclaiming the house back to the family of the APC. If the people say yes, and God says yes, there is no man born of a woman that can say no. So, now, I have only one mission and I know it is our common mission; to bring Edo back to the parts of sustainable development,” he stated.
Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, and his new-found political party, the PDP, responded that Oshiomhole was dreaming. Dan Orbih, on Tuesday, said Edo State was not the property of Adams Oshiomhole. Orbih is the PDP National Vice-Chairman [south-south] and Chairman, PDP Edo State Campaign Council for September 19, governorship election.
At the inauguration of the campaign council and sub-committees for the election, Orbih urged Edo electorates to vote for Governor Obaseki for sustainable development and growth of Edo State. He said Obaseki should be trusted for his refusal to continue with the culture of sharing money, at the expense of developing the state.
“Those at the forefront in the campaign to take the state back must be stopped. This state is not the property of Adams Oshiomhole. This is the moment of truth and not for self-proclaimed liars and political apologists. In 2016, Ize-Iyamu apologized for making Adams Oshiomhole governor. In 2020 it’s the turn of Adams Oshiomhole. Edo people are too politically sophisticated to be fooled.
“Edo people must be informed that government business is serious business. It is not a simple agenda! Edo people rejected the simple agenda in 2016 and will do so again in 2020. From today we are going to take our campaigns to the people. Let the people decides. Not in Adams but in God we trust, and with the support of the people Governor Godwin Obaseki will win again.”
A statement on Monday, by Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser, Media and Communications Strategy, to Governor Obaseki, said the ex-national chairman of APC, was disappointed because Obaseki refused to be use in Oshiomhole’s quest to become a godfather in Edo State.
Osagie said Oshiomhole’s outburst on Obaseki was expression of frustration over his failure to govern Edo State, for a third term, using Obaseki as a proxy. His words: “In 2016 when Oshiomhole nominated and supported Obaseki, his hidden motive was to use Governor Obaseki. who he thought would be a pawn in his game to defraud Edo people and enthrone himself as the ultimate godfather of Edo politics at the expense of the will and wishes of Edo people.
“However, Obaseki’s refusal to mortgage the interest of the majority of Edo people for the satisfaction of Oshiomhole and his handful of greedy followers is the cause of Oshiomhole’s bitterness which has led him to bury himself in pursuit of an innocent governor who is trying to do the right thing for his people,” Osagie said.
