As the June date for the Edo State APC primary draws near, some Abuja based Leaders of Thought under the aegis of “Advanced Professionals Association” have once again called on the National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole to soft pedal, show maturity against his estranged political godson and use the opportunity to become a great hero.
The group under the leadership of Barrister Ibrahim Mohammed said this is the time for the national chairman to toe the path of peace and not drag this conflict to its logical end. “We want Oshiomole to have a rethink; we don’t want him to drag this matter further as if there is any trophy to be won”, said Barrister Ibrahim. “Obaseki is a human being and does not deserve to be humiliated; all those struggling to replace him are merely after themselves and their own welfare”, he stated.
Specifically, Barrister Ibrahim referred to one Dr. Pius Odubu whose campaign posters are everywhere and cautioned him to drop his ambition describing it as unhealthy. “There is no vacancy in Osadebey House, and Obaseki will not be disgraced”, he declared. “It is not only unpatriotic but sheer mischief for people like Odubu who had once served 8 years as deputy governor under Oshiomole and lost out to now want to rush back to office”, he disclosed adding that Osadebey House is not meant for Pius Odubu alone.
The group expressed dismay that Nigerians forget too soon lessons of the past where people of such unbridled character suffered disastrous defeat at the polls. “There is no reason for Obaseki to be removed from office; he has performed so well and it is clear that at the rate he is going Edo State will become the envy of 21st century”, sad Barr. Ibrahim. “But if they refuse to heed our advice, they can go ahead and confront Obaseki at the primary”, he stated stressing that nothing was new under the political sun.
Barr. Ibrahim explained further by recalling crucial moments when history went against “over-confident “and “recalcitrant godfathers”. He said that in 2003, notwithstanding the fireworks between Ibrahim Shekarau and his reputed godfather in Kwankwaso, Shekarau prevailed; He also said that Rotimi Akeredolu contested the APC primary against one Mr Abraham and Olusola Oke allegedly sponsored by the powerful Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; he floored them; even when Olusola Oke was shipped to Alliance for Democracy to confront Akeredolu at the polls proper, he was still defeated with all his Federal might.
Donald Duke was once godfather to Liyel Imoke in Cross Rivers State, what happened at the end? Barrister Ibrahim reminded the Oshiomole supporters that the era of godfatherism was over stressing that this is the reason for oshiomole to see the reality. “In the 90’s godfathers held sway; the case of Mbadinuju v Emeka Offor; the case of Ibadan strongman late Lamidi Adedibu v. Lateef Ladoja; Chris Uba v. Chris Ngige, which even resulted to his kidnap from government House; what about the late Anenih whose word was law and even resulted in Oshiomole’s ascendancy to power?
Barrister Ibrahim lamented that political leaders have forgotten that in democracy, what matters most is helping the grassroots and the under privileged. “We have scheduled a meeting with the APC national Chairman and we hope he will honour it and see reason to rally support for Obaseki”, Barr. Ibrahim disclosed. “We need to help Oshiomole become a hero.
As a former Nigeria Labour leader and two time governor of Edo State, he deserves our support and timely advice. The house he has helped build should not be destroyed on the altar of pride. Just as we all know that a wrestling challenge is not dragged for long when there is space for display of skills, so also when you throw a stone at a hard wood it will rebound at you.
Dr Pius Odubu should go and sit down; He has nothing to offer anyone in Edo State; so also the likes of Pastor Osaze Ize Iyamu and his fellow political wanderers’. Finally, as national chairman of All Progressive Congress, the ball is in the court of comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomole to settle this rift with Mr Godwin Obaseki and let peace reign in Edo State. He should instead use his strong relationship with the national leader of the APC and become a hero.
