Governor of Edo State, South South Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obaseki who recently picked the nomination and expression of interest forms on the platform of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has submitted the forms.
Doing this is to make certain his resolve to contest in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state and on the platform of APC as against rumour that he secretly obtained such forms from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obaseki submitted the nomination and expression of interest forms at the National Secretariat of the APC on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
The form was received by Barrister Emma Ibidiro, the National Organising Secretary, The DEFENDER reports.
Addressing newsmen after the submission, Obaseki explained why he visited a chieftain of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and laid bare how APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is the biggest betrayal as against his being accused of same.
This came as he denied secretly obtaining the nomination and expression of interest forms of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP following his face-off with Comrade Oshiomhole.
The Edo State Governor, Obaseki, finally cleared the air on his alleged betrayal of Oshiomhole.
The governor, who was reportedly accompanied to the party secretariat by a handful of supporters, said Oshiomhole cannot be a judge in his own case as doing so is contrary to natural justice.
Therefore, he warned the National Chairman of the ruling APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to steer clear of all the processes leading up to the June 22 governorship primary election of the APC in the state “because he is an interested party”.
Governor Obaseki was also quick to dismiss claim that he betrayed Oshiomhole, his predecessor in office, declaring that available fact supports the opposite, stating that Oshiomhole was a greater betrayer, having reneged on the promise to uplift Edo State.
He said he was instrumental to Oshiomhole’s ascendancy and success as Edo State governor, adding that Oshiomhole benefited much more from him (Obaseki) than he benefited from the APC national chairman.
“In life everybody get helped, everybody get assisted. The person you talked about, 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 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.”
“That is the greatest betrayal of all. It is like betraying God. When you said to God, this is what I stand for and then God gives you power then you turn around and do the exact opposite. There is no greater betrayal than that.”
“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. So what are we talking about?”
Despite the misgivings, the Governor said he is still open to peaceful, harmonious resolution of issues in Edo state in the interest of the APC, and gave this as reason for his recent visit to APC National leader, Bola Tinubu and President Mohammadu Buhari.
Explaining why he visited Tinubu, Obaseki said: “The reason why I went to see our National Leader is that I do not want the party torn apart. I am a man of peace.
“For me and my colleague governors, we cannot see a party we built, destroyed. We cannot see a ruling party be so weakened and whatever it will take to secure peace, to secure harmony in the party, we are prepared to, I am prepared to make.
“That is why I joined my colleagues to go and see the leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to assure him that we are all working for the same cause, we are all working to build our party. From 26 States, we are now 20. We don’t want to lose any more state, there is really no reason to. We should all drop our ego and work for our party and the unity of our country.
“On a final note, I am actively pursuing peace, actively pursuing harmony in our party, particularly at home and I believe that we will secure peace”.
This latest development by Obaseki has finally laid to rest the much circulated report that he, admitting his wrong to Oshiomhole, ran to Asiwaju Tinubu beg for his intervension and help over the issues between them.
The DEFENDER reports that impression stands dismissed as Obaseki has told his own side of the betrayal story which means there could therefore be no reason to beg anybody.
