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Edo 2020: Obaseki Reveals How He Assisted Oshiomhole When He Had No Money
Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday revealed how he assisted his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, financially when vied for the governorship election in 2007.
The governor spoke when he submitted his nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2020 governorship election to Emma Ibediro, APC national organising secretary, on Wednesday.
Oshiomhole, a former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), contested under the then Action Congress (AC) but lost to Oserheimen Osunbor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But he challenged the outcome of the election in court and was declared winner one year later.
Speaking with reporters, Obaseki said he not only helped Oshiomhole became governor but also worked pro bono for him for eight years.
He asserted it was wrong for people to say he betrayed Oshiomhole adding that he made sacrifices to ensure he emerged national chairman of the ruling party.
Also Read: Edo 2020: 8 Governors Meet Tinubu, Seek His Intervention In Obaseki, Oshiomhole Rift
He said “In life, everybody gets helped, everybody gets assisted. The person you talked about (Oshiomhole), he had no money when he left labour to contest. We knew what we did to make him Governor.
“I sacrificed eight years of my life pro bono, I collected to no Kobo to serve him in Edo. Today, we know what we have built because of where we started from. So, when you talk of betrayal, the biggest betrayal can be when people betray a cause, when they betray an idea.
“So, when you talk about betrayal, let us be very clear. I want to put it on record that I am grateful, he assisted me just as I assisted him. I know the sacrifices we made to make him national chairman.”
Obaseki, who is at loggerheads with Oshiomhole over political control of the state, enjoined the APC national chairman to refrain from meddling in the Edo governorship primary election.
The governor said Oshiomhole is an interested party and hence should recuse himself from the primary election processes so as to ensure a credible election and a chance to reconcile the party.
“I am using this opportunity to call on Comrade Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the Edo nomination process because he is an interested party,” Obaseki said.
“It is against natural justice for a man to be a judge in his own case. So I think the honourable thing to do is to recuse himself and let us have a free process and let us reconcile and build our party.
“I believe that ours is a lawful party and we will do things according to the Constitution of our party. So, direct or indirect, I am certain I will win the primaries but we have to respect our constitution and follow our constitution.”
Obaseki noted that a single term as governor was not sufficient for him but that an additional four years would enable him build on his achievements.
“Three years is not enough, four years is not enough to crystalize all these reforms. So, another four years will give me that opportunity to consolidate on what we have done and that is the promise of APC. We are a reformist party, we are a progressive party,” he said.
“That is why I am here today to indicate my interest and my desire to run for another term as governor of Edo so that I can continue in the service of my people.”
On June 22, 2020, Obaseki will slug it out with Osagie Ize-Iyamu, his PDP rival in 2016, for the governorship ticket of the APC.
Ize-Iyamu is believed to be the preferred aspirant of Oshiomhole.
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